• Prepare your home and yard for fire seasons
• Explore nature, history and more with May events
• DNR marks mass timber milestone with Newberry building
• Help improve ecosystems and wildlife habitat, protect sturgeon
• Photo ambassador snapshot: West Michigan boating bliss

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.

PHOTOS: Larger, high-res versions of some of the photos used in this email (mushroom picking, Cambridge Junction barn and stewardship volunteer) are available in the DNR’s public online image gallery. Others (Newberry opening, tree planting) are in this photo folder.

Prepare your home and yard for fire seasons

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is Saturday, May 3! This annual campaign encourages people to come together to raise awareness about wildfire risks and take steps to reduce those risks. The weekend prep day presents a great opportunity to research and implement proven methods to prevent and withstand damage from wildfires. This year’s campaign highlights the value and impact of “Zone Zero” – the immediate 5-foot perimeter around your home’s exterior. Some proven actions to protect your home in the face of wildfire and reduce the risk of home ignition include: Removing potential fire hazards such as dead leaves and tree/shrub debris. Clearing roofs and gutters. Keeping lawns and native grasses mowed. Removing flammable items from decks and porches. Explore more firesafe resources on the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day website, and even pin your prep project on the nationwide map to share how you’re making a difference. Questions about fire safety? Contact DNR fire prevention specialist Paul Rogers.

Explore nature, history and more with May events

Spring is a great time to get outdoors, or into the classroom, and learn about Michigan’s natural and cultural resources. Following are just a few highlights from the DNR’s May calendar; discover what else is coming up in May and beyond on the DNR events calendar.

Fly fishing and wild mushrooms in Cadillac

The DNR Outdoor Skills Academy offers classes – including expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning – on fly fishing and wild mushrooms in May. Both will be held at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center, located in Cadillac’s Mitchell State Park. During the May 3 Fly Fishing Seminar, designed for beginners to intermediate enthusiasts, you’ll learn fundamental fly-casting techniques, discover the secrets of fly selection based on target species and gain the skills to confidently approach the next fishing adventure. The Wild Mushroom Clinic, May 10, dives into the world of Michigan’s seasonal edible wild mushrooms, with a focus on the “big five” – morel, chanterelle, chicken of the woods, hen of the woods and oyster mushrooms – plus other foods found in nature. See a full schedule of classes at Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.

Family fun at the Outdoor Adventure Center

If you live in or are visiting the Detroit area, check out the Outdoor Adventure Center activity schedule for fun, educational programs for all ages. The May calendar includes archery, yoga, birding, programs just for kids and seniors, and more.

There also are two special opportunities to learn about the OAC’s Detroit-area community partners in recreation, leisure and health services. During Grown-Up Gatherings: Partner Meet and Greet, May 16, enjoy partner presentations and activities while you mix and mingle. At the May 17 Partner Expo, community partners will share news about their work and the services they provide.

Finally, artists shouldn’t miss the chance to chance to create a sticker design that celebrates the Outdoor Adventure Center’s 10th anniversary – enter the OAC Sticker Contest by May 15.

Find Michigan’s stories at museums, historic sites

Several of the Michigan History Center’s seasonal museums and historic sites open in May. These include: Cambridge Junction in Lenawee County (historic buildings open May 11), along the Old Chicago Road, featuring exhibits and artifacts about people, travel and work during the 1840s and ’50s, and stories of early auto tourism and 20th-century Irish Hills tourist attractions. Fayette Historic Townsite in Delta County (opens May 9), a once-bustling industrial community that manufactured charcoal pig iron between 1867 and 1891 at the tip of the Garden Peninsula. Visitors can walk through the well-preserved buildings that have been standing for 150 years and learn about life during the 19th century. Fort Wilkins in Keweenaw County (opens May 15), home of a restored 1844 army military outpost, including 19 buildings, with a living-history program. Visitors can experience a look back at life on the northern frontier during the mid-1800s and a time when soldiers were stationed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Hartwick Pines Logging Museum in Crawford County (opens May 1*), which depicts the state’s 19th-century logging era, an industry that changed Michigan’s landscape, people and economy in ways that can still be seen today. (*The planned May 1 open date depends on whether Hartwick Pines State Park is set to reopen following the northern Michigan ice storm. Call ahead or check Michigan.gov/DNRClosures.) Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum in Crawford County (opens May 1), highlighting Michigan’s first tree nursery and the hard work of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

If you’re in the Lansing area, check out the new special exhibit at the Michigan History Museum, “Black Bottom Street View,” bringing Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood to life with panoramic, free-standing murals.

DNR marks mass timber milestone with Newberry building

Those responsible for Michigan’s first mass timber building built with Michigan wood gathered April 16 to celebrate the official opening of the new DNR Customer Service Center in Newberry. The project, featuring cross-laminated panels made with Michigan red pine wood, achieves a significant milestone as this construction technique continues to gain in popularity across the continent. According to Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, “Mass timber buildings are cropping up across North America, along with factories that manufacture these versatile, sustainable, engineered wood building materials. That’s because mass timber offers a compelling suite of benefits.” Those include progress toward forest health management goals, rural economic development and new opportunities in manufacturing. Building with mass timber also can reduce construction times, costs, crew sizes and equipment needs, and create beautiful buildings that people love to work, learn and live in, according to MSU. “Mass timber materials result in fewer carbon emissions to source, make and transport,” Sandra Lupien, director of MassTimber@MSU, told the Newberry News in 2024. “As does all wood, mass timber products store carbon, holding it in place in the building, keeping it out of the atmosphere for 50, 100 to 200 years. With the Newberry customer service center, the DNR is demonstrating mass timber leadership by going first.” When groundbreaking for the DNR building occurred in 2024, there were five buildings in Michigan either built or in progress using mass timber. Today, there are 60. The DNR anticipates hosting a public open house this summer at the Newberry CSC, located at 5666 M-123. Meanwhile, the new facility is open for business! Take a video tour of this new mass timber building. Questions? Contact Matt Watkeys, DNR forest marketing and outreach specialist, at [email protected].

Help improve ecosystems and wildlife habitat, protect sturgeon

Each month, there are a variety of opportunities to help the DNR take care of Michigan’s natural and cultural resources. Following are a few ways to get involved this May. Discover more opportunities to volunteer, contribute and provide input at Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers.

State park volunteer stewardship workdays

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host stewardship workdays, where volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems. Workdays will take place at: Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 2. Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan County), 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3; 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24. Warren Woods State Park (Berrien County), 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 10, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31. Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County), 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, and 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 20. Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 11. Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County), 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 17. Get more workday and registration details on the DNR volunteer events calendar.

Sturgeon guarding along the Black River

Volunteers are needed in Cheboygan County through early June to stand guard as mature lake sturgeon head upstream to their spawning sites along the Black River. The Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow is working in partnership with the DNR and various tribes to protect the fish from illegal harvest during the spawning season.

Visit sturgeonfortomorrow.org for more information and to register.

On the Ground habitat improvement projects

Join in wildlife habitat improvement efforts with On the Ground, Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ volunteer program in partnership with the DNR. This month you can: Help improve habitat in Mecosta County. Starting at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at Haymarsh State Game Area. During this habitat workday in partnership with the Ruffed Grouse Society, volunteers will plant fruit-bearing shrubs and white spruce to support ruffed grouse and American woodcock habitat. Lunch and refreshments provided. RSVP is required. Contact Kevin Crowley at 616-292-6385. Plant jack pines for Kirtland’s warblers in Crawford County. From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 3, in the DNR Grayling Forest Management Unit. The goal of the annual Jack Pine Planting Day, a collaboration with the Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance and Huron Pines, is to improve and enhance Kirtland’s warbler habitat. MUCC will provide lunch and a volunteer appreciation gift to all registered volunteers. Registration for Crawford County event closes at 2 p.m. May 2. Plant trees for wildlife in St. Clair County. From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 10, at Port Huron State Game Area. The volunteer crew will plant oak trees for wildlife foraging and cover. Lunch provided. Registration for the St. Clair County event is required by 2 p.m. May 9. Pitch in and clean up for wildlife in Wayne and Monroe counties. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area. Help improve fish and wildlife habitat by removing trash from this unique wetland area. Lunch, snacks and supplies provided. Registration for the Wayne/Monroe County event closes at 2 p.m. May 16.

Photo ambassador snapshot: West Michigan boating bliss

See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors at Instagram.com/MiStateParks. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Sarah Goodwin, for the Michigan DNR, at Holland State Park in Ottawa County.)

Following a severe ice storm in northern Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources is assessing damage and conducting cleanup at several state parks, state park campgrounds, state forest campgrounds, boating access sites and state-managed trails. Find up-to-date information about closures, volunteer opportunities and more on the DNR storm recovery page.

Red Flag Warning: Delay burning today, especially in northern Lower Peninsula

Michiganders, if you were planning to burn outside today – don’t. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Monday, with fire danger higher than normal across the entire Lower Peninsula and in the eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula.

“It’s a combination of warm temperatures, relatively low humidity and winds gusting to 25 miles per hour,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Instead of burning waste left from the historic ice storm in late March, people who live in the affected area are advised to take debris to a collection station. Find a list of debris disposal sites on the state’s ice storm dashboard at Michigan.gov/IceStorm.

If you intend to burn leaves or yard debris, always check online for a burn permit to make sure weather conditions are safe for burning. In the southern Lower Peninsula, check with your local fire department or municipality to make sure conditions allow for safe burning.

Keep fire safety in mind 

Never leave any fire unattended, even for a moment. Whenever you have finished with your campfire, make sure to drench it with water, stir the ashes and drench again.

Here are additional fire safety tips:

• Whenever you burn anything, keep a hose or other water source nearby.
• Prevent sparks. Keep trailer chains from dragging and don’t park hot equipment on dry grass.
• Don’t burn plastic, hazardous materials, foam or other household trash. This can release dangerous chemicals into the air.
• Use a burn barrel with a screen on top to burn paper, leaves and natural materials.

Learn more about fire safety at Michigan.gov/FireManagement.

Successful climate action is a balance of two key pillars within the Michigan Department of Natural Resources: climate mitigation, or the actions we take to reduce the predicted impacts of climate change, and climate adaptation, the actions we take to help our infrastructure, people and the environment adjust to the impacts already felt from climate change.

With climate change already affecting our state, we cannot depend only on mitigation actions. Our work here reflects that. We think creatively and outside the box, using the latest science and technological advances to drive successful outcomes. Most importantly, we are driven by a dedication to protect natural resources that current and future generations can enjoy, and where Michigan species can thrive.

Read on to learn more about current projects the DNR is leading to advance climate action on all fronts.

• Using research to guide conservation
• Reconnecting Michigan’s rivers
• Finding climate solutions in buildings
• Partnering to make an impact
• Lend a hand
• Resources

Using research to guide conservation

Climate change and habitat loss are putting Michigan’s wildlife at risk. Rising temperatures, shifting ranges and invasive species are a few key issues threatening their survival. To combat those threats, the DNR Wildlife Division is conducting research using climate model prediction to complete vulnerability assessments, alongside the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, to better understand how species currently are affected and may be further affected. This will help us identify needed changes in our state’s management plans and where we need to prioritize conservation for the most beneficial outcomes.

Reconnecting Michigan’s rivers

Supported by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant, the DNR Forest Resources Division is working closely with partners to remove six improperly sized and failing road-stream crossings along the Upper Manistee River and replace them with properly sized culverts that are more climate-adapted and resilient.

This effort will restore 25 miles of natural stream flow and function, allowing aquatic organisms to once again access the native habitat and spawning grounds that were previously blocked. This is a vital component to Michigan’s Arctic grayling recovery initiative, as the Upper Manistee River is a priority watershed for this species.

Another way we are restoring our rivers is through responsible dam management, working toward removal where needed and improved infrastructure and oversight where possible. Dams are a leading cause of river fragmentation, interruption of a river’s natural flow, poor river quality and warmer river temperatures – all of which are dangerous to our coldwater fish species that rely on cooler stream temperatures for survival.

Learn more about the Arctic grayling’s journey to reintroduction.

Check out a successful dam removal and its benefits to fish habitat.

Finding climate solutions in buildings

DNR Newberry Customer Service Center, constructed from mass timber; photo from Walbridge.

You might not think of building materials as climate solutions – but they can be! The DNR, in a long-standing partnership with MassTimber@MSU, is working to advance mass timber manufacturing and use in our state. These large, engineered wood products store carbon for the life of a building, turning structures into carbon sinks and reducing emissions in our built environment.

Beyond cutting greenhouse gases, mass timber supports sustainable forest management, strengthens the forest economy and lowers wildfire risk. Responsible harvesting prevents overcrowded forests, which can fuel and accelerate fires and their resulting damage. To encourage more mass timber use, the DNR later this year plans to release a Mass Timber Catalyst Fund that will include grants to help support early adoption of mass timber projects.

Learn more about mass timber and see the newest DNR mass timber building here in Michigan.

Partnering to make an impact

Recognizing that funding and community awareness are two of the biggest challenges to effective climate action, the DNR is creating unique solutions through partnerships. Since March 2024, we’ve teamed up with Saugatuck Brewing Company through a common interest in protecting Michigan’s freshwater resources. Our first collaboration, with proceeds from sales of SBC’s Rainbow Rodeo IPA, raised $10,000 in just eight months and boosted public awareness of the value of river restoration and habitat protection for trout species.

Building on that success, the DNR and Saugatuck Brewing Company have collaborated on the April 2025 launch of the Lake Street Light campaign to support ongoing lake sturgeon restoration projects. Lake sturgeon have been swimming our waters for more than 100 million years, but overfishing, pollution and habitat loss have seen those populations decline since the 1800s.

Learn more about this partnership to support lake sturgeon recovery and promote the species’ importance to the Great Lakes.

Lend a hand

Although great work is happening here at the DNR, we know we are stronger in numbers. You can help by continuing to support and engage with climate action, finding more ways to get involved locally, and supporting your favorite parks, trails or waterways. Together we can make a difference! Learn more about volunteer opportunities with the DNR!

Resources

• Beekeeping Clinic: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Your Hive.
  • Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, April 26, 9 a.m.
• DNR Outdoor Adventure Center’s Trails Expo.
  • Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit, April 26, 11 a.m.
• Check out the DNR events calendar to find more programs near you and across the state.