Dexter, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Dexter Greenhead Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will host their Annual Duck Banding Event at Otter Slough Conservation Area on Saturday, July 30th at 7:00 a.m.

The event will begin with Missouri Department of Conservation staff demonstrating electrofishing equipment on Cypress Lake. 

Fisheries Biologist Mike Reed will run a electrofishing boat along the shoreline and you will have a front row seat to the fish population of Cypress Lake.  Mike will also show how biologists tag fish for research projects.  While everyone is watching the show, Ducks Unlimited volunteers and MDC staff will be operating various capture equipment around Otter Slough hoping to catch mourning doves and ducks. 

Following the fish show, will be an opportunity for all youth to assist wildlife biologists band and release any birds captured on the area that day.  For a grand finale, we will travel out to a rocket net site on Otter Slough and see first hand how the nets are deployed to capture wildlife.  Ducks Unlimited volunteers will also be on hand to demonstrate retriever handling techniques and hand out some free stuff for the kids.  

The event will begin at 7:00 a.m. sharp in the large parking lot next to Cypress Lake and the equipment yard at Otter Slough Conservation Area. Most of the activities will occur in shaded areas and will conclude at approximately 10:00 a.m. 

No registration is required and the event is free to all ages.