DNR News: Give feedback Michigan’s wolf management plan

by | Jan 4, 2022 | Recreation

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– DNR News –
Jan. 4, 2022
Contact: Cody Norton, 906-202-3023

Give feedback on Michigan’s wolf management plan by Jan. 31

gray wolf in snowy fieldThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources is updating the state’s wolf management plan and is seeking public comment, via online survey through Jan. 31, about the future of wolf management.

The current plan, created in 2008 and updated in 2015, was developed using extensive public input to identify important issues and assess public attitudes toward wolves and their management and by reviewing the biological and social science relevant to wolf management.

New public input gathered on the 2015 plan will help inform an updated plan to be completed this year. The four principal goals within the 2015 plan are to:

  • Maintain a viable wolf population.
  • Facilitate wolf-related benefits.
  • Minimize wolf-related conflicts.
  • Conduct science-based and socially acceptable management of wolves.

The plan and, more specifically, these four principal goals have guided wolf management in Michigan for the last 13 years. The 2022 update will include recent scientific literature and new information regarding wolves in Michigan.

“As we work to update the 2015 wolf management plan, it’s important that we gather feedback from the public about how we can improve the plan to protect the long-term health of wolves while also meeting the needs of local communities,” said Cody Norton, DNR large carnivore specialist.

Michigan’s gray wolf population was nearly eliminated by the mid-1970s due to persecution and active predator control programs in the early part of the 20th century. Today, Michigan’s wolf population numbers close to 700 individuals in the Upper Peninsula. Gray wolves were removed from the federal endangered species list in early 2021, a decision that is currently being challenged in court.

Those interested in providing feedback should complete the online survey by Jan. 31.

For more information about wolves in Michigan, including links to the survey and the state’s wolf management plan, visit Michigan.gov/Wolves.

Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows.

  • Wolf: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is updating the state’s wolf management plan and is seeking public comment, via online survey through Jan. 31, about the future of wolf management.
DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR.
DNR News: Grow your appreciation for inland lakes

DNR News: Grow your appreciation for inland lakes

by | Jan 4, 2022 | Recreation

 
Michigan DNR banner

– DNR News –
Jan. 4, 2022
Contact: Paige Filice (MSU Extension), 517-676-7291 or Joe Nohner (DNR), 517-599-6825

Grow your appreciation for Michigan’s inland lakes with Introduction to Lakes Online course

Introduction to Lakes Course Lakes hold a special place in our hearts – no matter if you’re a Michigander born and raised, or a visitor to the Great Lakes State – and can provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Visiting natural areas can improve moods, reduce stress and boost immune systems.

Whether you live on a lake, visit a secret fishing spot or escape the daily grind on a camping trip to a serene lake in the woods, lakes provide irreplaceable benefits to our mental and physical health and deserve our appreciation and attention.

This month, Michigan State University Extension offers an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of inland lakes with enrollment in the Introduction to Lakes Online course, a nationally recognized, award-winning, six-week class in a convenient, self-paced online format. The course is designed for anyone who has a passion or curiosity for inland lakes, including lakefront property owners, local government officials, lake managers and educators. Course instructors include MSU Extension educators and state agency personnel.

Registration and course information

The 2022 course runs Jan. 25 to March 16 and costs $115 per person. Register by Jan. 10 to receive an early-bird discount of $95 per person. Registration is open now through Jan. 21. Scholarships are available. Registration information is available on the Introduction to Lakes course webpage.

Since the course was first offered online in 2015, more than 1,000 people across the country have participated. Participants continuously praise the level of content and interaction they have with instructors and other students in the class. One student said, “Hearing from other students broadened my perspective and definition of riparian. I now realize that as each lake is unique, so too are its caregivers and their priorities and concerns.”

Students have week-by-week, 24/7 access to six online units, complete with prerecorded video lectures, activities, resources and quizzes. Students communicate with each other and instructors through lively discussion forums and biweekly webinars. Ask-an-Expert webinars provide opportunities to learn from experts at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Course topics include lake ecology, watersheds, shorelines, Michigan water law, aquatic plant management and community involvement. A certificate of completion is awarded to those who complete the course, and students receive a free, one-year membership to Michigan Lakes and Streams Association.

Students also can receive continuing education credits, including 16 Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Pesticide Applicator Re-Certification credits and credits in the MSU Extension Master Citizen Planner, Master Gardener, Master Naturalist and Conservation Stewards programs.
DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR.
Oakland County Encourages Home Radon Testing

Oakland County Encourages Home Radon Testing

by | Jan 4, 2022 | Regional News

Oakland County Encourages Home Radon Testing During National Radon Action Month

​Pontiac, Michigan – Take action to protect your health by testing your home for radon during National Radon Action Month. Visit Oakland County Health Division to purchase radon test kits for $5 – half-off full price – during the month of January.

“Exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, director of Oakland County Health and Human Services. “Since you cannot see, smell, or taste radon, testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk of radon exposure.”

The Health Division recommends testing homes for radon gas during the winter months, since windows and doors typically remain closed during cooler temperatures allowing radon gas to collect inside and be more easily detected. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) recommends radon testing every two years as homes settle and new cracks form in the foundation that may cause radon levels to change.

Radon test kits for homes are available for purchase at Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield:

  • North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph, Building 34E, Pontiac
  • South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield

Hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. To purchase more than 15 radon kits, please call 248-858-1312 to preorder. Note that Health Division offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 17th. After January, the cost of a radon test kit will return to $10.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is usually harmless outdoors. The gas can sometimes get into homes through cracks in floors or walls and can accumulate, becoming a health hazard.  According to EGLE, approximately 30 percent of homes tested in Oakland County have had elevated levels of radon. The only way to know if your home has high radon levels is to test. If high levels of radon are found, contact the Health Division’s Environmental Health Services at 248-858-1312 in Pontiac or 248-424-7191 in Southfield.

Visit www.epa.gov/radon or www.oakgov.com/health for more information, or contact Nurse on Call, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 800-848-5533 or [email protected]. For up-to-date public health information, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter.

MDHHS will update quarantine guidance

MDHHS will update quarantine guidance

by | Jan 4, 2022 | Health and Wellness

MDHHS banner with logo no names

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 31, 2021

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS will update quarantine guidance for
general public based on CDC recommendations
Quarantine and isolation guidance for K-12 and congregate care remains in place 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will be updating its quarantine guidance for the general public to reflect the recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

Notably, the CDC recommends a shortening of the quarantine and isolation duration for those who aren’t vaccinated or haven’t received their booster to five days followed by an additional five days of wearing a well-fitting mask around others. The updated guidance is specific to the general public and does not change the current guidance recommendations for congregate settings, early childcare or K-12 settings – these settings should continue to use existing guidelines and policies regarding quarantine and isolation. Guidance will continue to evolve as more information is learned from CDC. 

“We have safe and effective tools for preventing the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “Getting vaccinated continues to be the best protection against severe illness and hospitalization, and we urge all Michiganders over age 5 to get vaccinated as soon as possible. These most recent updates to the quarantine and isolation guidelines are a reflection on our progress as we learn more about COVID – but we are not in the clear as variants like omicron continue to create new challenges in the fight to end this pandemic. Continue to wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth, test and social distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19, avoid large gatherings and get vaccinated and boosted if you haven’t already.” 

Michigan data demonstrates that those who are unvaccinated have 4.3 times the risk of testing positive for COVID-19 and 12.2 times risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to people who are fully vaccinated.  

The specifics of the new COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance will be shared as further information becomes available from the CDC.  

Last week MDHHS adopted updated CDC guidance on isolation and quarantine for healthcare workers. 

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus. 

To find a vaccine location near you, visit VaccineFinder.org.