DNR News: Black Lake sturgeon season begins Feb. 3

DNR News: Black Lake sturgeon season begins Feb. 3

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DNR News

Jan. 9, 2024
Contact: Neal Godby, 231-340-2621 or Tim Cwalinski, 231-340-0276

2024 Black Lake sturgeon season begins Feb. 3

The largest sturgeon caught on the day by Matt Barber is shown on the ice of Black Lake.The 2024 lake sturgeon fishing season on Black Lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan, will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. All anglers must register online to participate in the fishing season, and those age 17 or older must have a valid Michigan fishing license.

The harvest limit for the 2024 season on Black Lake is six lake sturgeon. Officials will close the season when one of two scenarios occurs:

  • The sixth fish is harvested.
  • Five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day.

Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the season. The season will end either at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, or when one of the above scenarios is met, at which point anglers will be notified via text message and on the ice by DNR personnel that they must immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon.

Anyone who wants to participate this year must register online by Feb. 2. Get more registration and season information at Michigan.gov/Sturgeon.

Participating anglers must bring their own bright red flags (1-foot diameter or larger) to hang on their fishing shanties so that DNR personnel can identify those who are sturgeon fishing. Season officials emphasize that anglers are asked to hang one or more flags in highly visible locations on their shanties, because DNR personnel must be aware of which anglers are pursuing sturgeon fishing.

Anyone harvesting a lake sturgeon must immediately contact DNR personnel on the ice. Official registration of each harvested fish will take place at a DNR trailer located on or near the ice at the end of Zollner Road in the northwest part of Black Lake. Harvest registration may include an examination of the fish’s internal organs and removal of a piece of fin tissue for DNA analysis or aging.

Lake sturgeon rehabilitation efforts in Black Lake over the last two decades have been a successful collaboration between the DNR, Sturgeon for Tomorrow, tribal agencies, Michigan State University and Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership. This population has increased in the past 20 years due to lake sturgeon rearing and stocking efforts, research and protection of spawning adults, and this trend is expected to continue.

Anglers should be aware of marginal ice conditions on regional lakes so far this year and use extreme caution when fishing. DNR staff will notify participants by email if instructions and procedures change due to ice conditions on Black Lake. The Black Lake sturgeon season starting date will not change.

Visit Michigan.gov/IceSafety for tips to stay safe on the ice.

DNR News Digest – Week of Dec. 18, 2023

DNR News Digest – Week of Dec. 18, 2023

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News Digest – Week of Dec. 18, 2023

thin, dark brown branches of small red berries encased in thin layer of ice
Here are a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

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

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of many of the images used in this email, and others, are available in this folder.


Winter: It’s time for wonderfully weird ducks!

a gadwall, a light tan duck with black markings and some black and white under wings, floats in calm greenish blue waterWinter has officially become the season of the duck, thanks in part to Rosemary Mosco’s comic about weird winter ducks! Each winter, bird enthusiasts across Michigan rejoice as these cool, quirky fowl descend upon our open waters.

Many of these ducks, geese and swans migrate from as far north as the Arctic tundra when northern waters freeze over. For these birds, Michigan is the perfect winter paradise.

If you live near a body of water that doesn’t completely freeze over the winter, you are likely familiar with the raucous calls and splashing sounds of congregating waterfowl. You might see dabbling ducks bobbing along the water’s surface, dipping forward headfirst in search of seeds and aquatic plants, or spot geese and swans honking in chorus as they splash-land. Diving ducks can be found disappearing and reappearing as they dive for mollusks and small fish under water.

We’ve highlighted a couple of our favorite fowl that you can see this winter, along with their special quirks (and quacks).

Gadwalls

From a distance, males and females of this dabbling duck (pictured above) appear brown and drab and can sometimes be overlooked. Identify the male by his black rump, small white wing patch and dark bill. Upon closer inspection, notice the intricately patterned feathers on the male’s head, chest and sides. Look for these underrated but gorgeous birds in southern Michigan marshes, lakes and river mouths.

Buffleheads

Three bufflehead ducks, with black, white, gray and purple coloring, swim atop deep-blue, rolling waterOur most diminutive diver, the bufflehead (pictured here), has very energetic feeding habits. Their name is from the male’s odd, puffy-shaped “buffalo head.” While females lack the iridescence of males, they have large, rounded heads and an oval, white cheek patch. Look for these adorable ducks in pairs or small groups on sheltered bays, lakes, estuaries (where river mouths meet lakes), ponds and slow-moving rivers.

To learn more about Michigan’s ducks, visit Audubon Great Lakes for the full story, or watch MI Birds’ Winter Waterfowl Identification webinar, offered in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, River Raisin Institute and Detroit Bird Alliance.

MI Birds is a public outreach and engagement program created by Audubon Great Lakes and the DNR, which aims to increase all Michiganders’ engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities.

For media questions, contact Erin Ford at 313-820-0809.


Safari Club chapters honored for aiding accessible recreation, wildlife conservation

Three smiling men in jeans and long-sleeved shirts flank a camo-colored, wheeled track chair outside a building's concrete, glassed wallSeveral Michigan chapters of Safari Club International that recently stepped up to support outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation were recognized for their efforts at Thursday’s meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing.

The Roscommon area in the northern Lower Peninsula, which includes destinations like North and South Higgins Lake state parks and Backus State Game Area, is popular for outdoor recreation pursuits. With an extensive county and state forest road system, the area offers easy access for many people, but some of its more rugged terrain can be difficult to reach for those who use wheelchairs.

Six Michigan SCI chapters – Novi, Detroit, Flint, Michigan, Mid-Michigan and Southeast Bow Hunters – recently donated $1,000 each toward the purchase of a track chair for area visitors to use. Other support came from campers and boaters who added $2 donations when making campground and harbor reservations. This off-road, electronic chair can easily handle trails, snow, sand and even up to 8 inches of water, allowing users to explore places that traditional wheelchairs might not reach.

“Those donations, along with other contributions, will make better access available to Michigan residents and visitors with limited mobility and enhance their outdoor recreation experiences,” said DNR wildlife biologist Mark Boersen.

The SCI effort is unique, Boersen said, in that the track chair will be shared between the DNR Parks and Recreation and Wildlife divisions. Interest in and support for track chairs are high; just last week the DNR announced reaching a fundraising goal – nearly half a million dollars – to cover the cost of obtaining track chairs at more than two dozen state parks!

The track chair is expected to be available for use starting in early 2024. To reserve it for outdoor experiences, contact Mark Boersen at 989-275-5151 or South Higgins Lake State Park at 989-821-6374.

The SCI-Michigan Involvement Committee – made up of all 10 Michigan chapters of SCI, whose mission is to enhance wildlife conservation and education in Michigan – also recently supported advancements in technology used to manage Michigan’s wildlife resources. The committee contributed $17,000 toward the purchase of an Illumina MiniSeq Sequencing System.

The DNR will use this equipment to “harness advancements in genetic technology to modernize population monitoring methods, starting with U.P. black bears,” said DNR Genetics Lab coordinator Caitlin Ott-Conn.

Questions? Contact Dwayne Etter at [email protected].


DNR customer service ideas? Take our survey by Dec. 31

a man in T-shirt, jeans and backpack stands on a green DNR rug, next to a stone welcome counter in a well-outfitted officeWhether in person at service centers or by phone, email, U.S. mail, social media or website, the DNR talks with a lot of people every day. No matter how we connect with customers, we know we can always do better – and you can help.

Throughout December, we’re running a quick online survey aimed at learning how (and how often) customers interact with the DNR, what types of transactions and services they’re interested in, and what they’d like to see more of in the future.

If you have ideas, we’d love your feedback! Take the survey now; it should take no more than a few minutes to complete and is open through Dec. 31. Nearly 30,000 people have already submitted surveys, but every suggestion will better help us plan for evolving customer needs.

Questions? Contact Charlotte Kiefer at 231-590-5409.


Cold-weather safety tips for outdoor adventurers

three riders on sleek gray and yellow snowmobiles ride single file on a curving, groomed, snowy trail through forested areaAs people venture outside over the holiday break, the DNR reminds everyone to put safety first when enjoying favorite winter activities.

“People often get caught up in the excitement of the moment and overlook winter safety,” said Lt. Tom Wanless, with the DNR Law Enforcement Division’s Recreational Safety, Enforcement and Safety Section. “This is a beginning of the season reminder to please keep safety in mind this winter. Dress for the weather, check the forecast before you go out and, if you’re snowmobiling, please ride sober and at a safe speed.”

Before heading out, make sure to:

  • Wear light layers that can easily be added or removed – it is possible to overheat even during the winter.
  • Carry appropriate equipment for your activity, such as a flashlight, rope, ice picks or ice claws.
  • Have spare equipment available in case something breaks.
  • Stay hydrated and fueled – bring water and snacks.
  • Bring a buddy.
  • Tell others where you will be and how long you plan to be gone and schedule check-in times.
  • Carry a two-way communication device that receives service in remote areas.
  • Take an honest assessment of your health – if you’re not feeling well, don’t go out.

Wanless said there are key things to remember if plans include snow or ice.

In Michigan, all snowmobile operators ages 12 to 16 must obtain a Michigan-approved snowmobile safety certificate to operate without a legal guardian or to cross a highway or street. Earn your snowmobile safety certificate or purchase a trail permit at Michigan.gov/Snowmobiling.

The DNR’s Ride Right snowmobile safety campaign emphasizes the importance of riding sober, at a safe speed and on the right side of the trail. Speed is the main factor in fatal and serious injury snowmobile accidents. There were 19 snowmobile fatalities during the 2022-23 season, and one occurring at the start of the 2023-24 season. Find more safety tips and snowmobile rules and regulations at Michigan.gov/RideRight.

Always use extreme caution around ice, as there is no reliable way to test ice strength. Wear a personal floatation device and carry ice picks in an easy to reach location.

Learn more about recreation safety at Michigan.gov/DNR/Education/Safety-Info.

Questions? Contact Lt. Tom Wanless at [email protected].


Photo ambassador snapshot: Red lights, cold nights

The lit-up pier at Grand Haven State Park, with the two bright red lighthouses against the blue sky; white snow piled in foregroundSee 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 Grand Haven State Park in Ottawa County.)


THINGS TO DO

Ready to try fat-tire biking? Learn all about the winter season at Silver Lake State Park, plus trail opportunities statewide!

BUY & APPLY

Whatever license or permit you need for your next outdoor adventure, visit the DNR eLicense site to get started.

GET INVOLVED

Hunters, if you take an extra deer in these closing weeks of the season, consider donating a deer to help feed hungry families.

DNR News Digest – Week of Dec. 11, 2023

DNR News Digest – Week of Dec. 11, 2023

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News Digest – Week of Dec. 11, 2023

looking down on Mackinac Island State Harbor, dozens of boats in the clear blue water, with white buildings and condos around shoreline

Mackinac Island State Harbor: Keep reading to see which DNR job is based here!

Here are a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

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

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of the images used in this email, and others, are available in this folder.


Did you know the DNR did that? Check out career videos!

a smiling woman, her brown hair pulled back, in a khaki short-sleeved work shirt with a DNR patch, sits outside in a forested areaAsk Michigan residents what careers there are at the DNR and most would respond with some of the more well-known jobs such as park ranger or conservation officer. Important positions, yes, but there are many other people who do a variety of work for the department in roles you might not ever have considered!

To highlight some of these career paths and opportunities, we’ve put together two new videos so you can hear from the employees themselves about the work they do, what it means and how they got started. Earlier this year, we shared the first batch (fisheries research biologist, park interpreter and deputy public information officer).

In the new installments:

  • Harbormaster Derrick Horn talks about his work at Mackinac Island State Harbor. Horn and his crew run the day-to-day operations, help dock boats, assign slips, ensure visitors have a safe, welcoming space, and maintain this Clean Marina-certified spot that is the destination harbor of northern Michigan.
  • Forest fire officers Jake Burton, Jen Hansen (pictured), Brendt Sheridan and Nick Wheeler discuss the diversity of their work – responding to wildland fires, assisting local fire departments and managing prescribed burns – and its direct influence on outdoor recreation, a thriving timber industry and healthy fish and wildlife.

Inspired? Check out the full Michigan DNR Careers YouTube playlist to see all five showcased positions. We’ll continue to add new videos as they’re completed. In the meantime, learn about DNR career pathways and job opportunities at Michigan.gov/DNRJobs.


Enchanting owls: Your guide to Michigan’s winter birds

young female snowy oil, white with thin, tan markings and bright gold eyes, sits in a low field of rust-colored brushEach winter, Michigan’s landscapes transition from bustling migration activity and bursts of color to leafless trees and frozen ground. This quiet season allows us to hear and see large feathered visitors from the north, such as snowy owls (pictured), boreal owls, great gray owls and northern hawk owls. Surprisingly, these owls spend the winter in Michigan each year for its warmer, balmier weather, which is considerably warmer than the northern boreal forests and Arctic tundra they left behind!

January and February are the best time of year for an owling trip, and Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula is one of the best areas to view winter owls. The Shore to Shore Birding Trail can help guide you. Birding trails are driving routes with specific stops identified that offer bird viewing opportunities and can highlight natural and cultural features of local communities.

Learn how to identify these rare visitors, as well as our year-round resident owls including great horned, eastern screech and barred owls (pictured). These vocal flyers will start to hoot and holler at dusk and dawn in January and February to establish their nesting territories and find a mate.

a barred owl, with fluffy cream and tan feathers, pale yellow beak and dark, round eyes, perches on a branch in a lush green forestIf you manage to encounter one of Michigan’s wise birds, please follow these best practices:

  • Give owls space. View owls from a distance with binoculars or a scope.
  • Don’t lure owls with audio recordings. Hearing another owl’s call can be stressful.
  • Leave “live baiting” to the pros. Owls can learn to associate food with people and be drawn to dangerous areas like roads or airports.
  • Submit your eBird observation to scientists, but keep them hidden from the general public. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Happy owling!

MI Birds is a public outreach and education program presented by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan DNR that works to build and bring together wildlife enthusiasts across the state to engage with and conserve Michigan’s birds, wildlife and public lands.

Questions? Contact Erin Rowan Ford at 313-820-0809.


Let’s roll! Fat-tire biking returns to Silver Lake State Park

A lone tree stands on a large sand dune, as a spread-out, single-file line of bike riders off in the distance ride across the duneStarting Friday, Dec. 15, fat-tire biking at Silver Lake State Park in Oceana County is back, with cyclists invited to climb snow-capped dunes and cruise the sandy Lake Michigan shoreline all winter long. It’s a heart-pumping adventure, thanks to the low-impact cardio and the awe-inspiring views.

The park is home to 450 acres of motorized dune riding. Each summer, thousands of motorcycles, quads, four-wheelers and other off-road vehicles descend on these sugar-sand dunes, the only sand dune riding opportunity east of the Mississippi River. Come winter, the recreation options switch to shoreline horseback riding (Nov. 1-30) and then to fat-tire biking (Dec. 15-March 15).

The shoreline and dune opportunities are part of the DNR’s ongoing efforts to expand off-season outdoor recreation in the Silver Lake ORV Area.

“Fat-tire biking at Silver Lake draws cyclists of varying ages and experience levels,” said Jody Johnston, Silver Lake State Park manager. “It’s a one-of-a-kind outdoor activity that capitalizes on the area’s natural features and beauty, and we’re excited to bring it back for a second season.”

During the fat-tire biking season, cyclists on the sand dunes enjoy rolling through elevation changes of 80-100 feet, access to Lake Michigan and sunsets over the lake from the top of the dunes. There is no cost or registration.

For season information, including rules, maps, tips and other details, visit Michigan.gov/SilverLake. A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks. A Recreation Passport self-pay station is available at the lot entrance.

For general questions about the park and season, call the park’s main office at 231-873-3083. For media inquiries, email park manager Jody Johnston at [email protected].


Natural Resources Commission meets Thursday in Lansing

more than a dozen young sturgeon, long, olive-brown fish with slender noses and short, wide fins, swim in an aqua blue holding tankThe next meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission – Thursday, Dec. 14, in Lansing – leads off with a Fisheries Committee agenda that includes a discussion of the DNR’s lake sturgeon management plan. The Wildlife Committee follows with a deer season update from DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist Chad Stewart.

The meeting also will include presentations of a Lifesaving Award from the DNR Law Enforcement Division and the Shikar Safari Officer of the Year Award, along with several land use orders, land transactions and a legislative update.

The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. in West Campus Rooms M119-121 of Lansing Community College, 5708 Cornerstone Drive, in Lansing.

See the draft meeting agenda at Michigan.gov/NRC. For more information, email [email protected].


Photo ambassador snapshot: Pink Highland hues

indirect sunlight brightens a brilliant pink and purple sky dotted with filmy white clouds, over a dark green forest line and snowy foregroundSee 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 Kari Carr, for the Michigan DNR, at Highland Recreation Area in Oakland County.)


THINGS TO DO

Did you know that just about any fish you can target in the summer can be caught through the ice? Learn more about ice fishing and get ready to bundle up for some fun.

BUY & APPLY

If you’ve got hard-to-shop-for hunters on your holiday list, pick up Pure Michigan Hunt applications for the hunt of a lifetime and thousands of dollars’ worth of great gear!

GET INVOLVED

Looking for more ways to give back in 2024 and help the places you love? There are plenty of options on the DNR’s volunteering webpage; check it out and find your fit.

DNR: NFWF grants aid 73,000-acre conservation effort

DNR: NFWF grants aid 73,000-acre conservation effort

 
DNR banner with link to websitean adult moose and young calf walk through a sunny clearing of a mature forest

NFWF grants aid 73,000-acre conservation effort in Michigamme Highlands

Awards from Walmart’s Acres for America program and the Life Time Foundation will direct $1 million to the project 

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation today announced $5.6 million in 10 grants through Walmart’s Acres for America program that will help to permanently protect more than 148,000 acres of wildlife habitat across nine states. The grants will leverage $107.3 million in public and private matching funds for a total conservation impact of $112.9 million.

The Acres for America program is a nearly two-decades-long partnership between NFWF and Walmart.

Read the full story ►

NFWF also announced the support of the Life Time Foundation to conserve forests and wildlife habitat and increase access to nature. The foundation will provide a $1 million grant to support the permanent conservation of approximately 100,000 acres of North American forest to benefit the environment, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, climate resilience, public access and recreation. This effort is part of Life Time’s longstanding “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” mission.

This year’s largest project for both programs – a combined $1 million to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources – will support a roughly $20 million effort to acquire a conservation easement of more than 73,000 acres of vast forest, coldwater lakes, trout streams and wetlands in the Upper Peninsula’s Michigamme Highlands. (Much of the project funding, more than $15 million, is being sought through a federal Forest Legacy Program grant.)

Led by the DNR, the project will ensure sustainable forest management, offer full public recreation access, and protect and improve habitat for moose, white-tailed deer, brook trout and dozens of migratory songbird species. The project also adjoins the federal McCormick Wilderness and Craig Lake State Park.

“The acquisition of a working forest conservation easement in the Michigamme Highlands will protect critical fisheries and wildlife habitat,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “It will also provide for a variety of public recreation opportunities and help secure some of the most climate resilient landscape in Michigan. We are very grateful to NFWF and Walmart for supporting this effort and investing funds to help manage and protect Michigan’s treasured natural resources.”

DNR News Digest – Week of Dec. 18, 2023

DNR News Digest – Week of Dec. 4, 2023

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News Digest – Week of Dec. 4, 2023

red lantern hangs from a think tree branch near a snow-covered trail in a sunlit forest
Here are a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

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

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of many of the images used in this email are available in this folder.


Want to capture a wild Christmas tree?

a man and a young girl and boy in winter coats and hats stand around a cut-down spruce tree; it's a bright, sunny day in the forestLooking to cut down a fresh-from-the-woods Christmas tree? You have options!

First of all, though, cutting of Christmas trees is not allowed in Michigan state forests. Only dead and downed trees in certain areas are available to people who have purchased a $20 fuelwood permit.

However, you can buy a $5 permit to cut a tree in Michigan’s three national forests: the Huron-Manistee in the northern Lower Peninsula and the Hiawatha and Ottawa forests in the Upper Peninsula. Permits allow people to cut a Christmas tree within designated areas of the forest.

Trees are for personal use only and cannot be sold. All stumps must be cut within 6 inches of the ground, and you may not take a tree taller than 20 feet. You have to take the whole tree; don’t cut the top off of a taller tree.

If stomping through deep snow in the forest isn’t your jam, or you don’t live close to a national forest, good news: Michigan is among the nation’s top producers of Christmas trees and there are plenty of you-cut farms to help you find the perfect tree to bring a little piece of the forest inside for your holiday season.

To make sure your fresh tree stays that way, cut off about an inch on the base after you get it home to make sure it can take up water. Use a Christmas tree stand with a large water reservoir and check it daily. Display your tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, vents or south-facing windows. Only use lights certified as safe by Underwriters Laboratories. Never leave lights on when you’re not home.

General questions about Michigan’s forests? Contact Kathleen Lavey at 517-930-4218 or visit Michigan.gov/Forestry.


Let it snow(birds)! Guide to winter finches of Michigan

As winter begins across Michigan, bird-watchers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of winter finches moving in large numbers outside their typical range.

The latest winter finch forecast from the Finch Research Network predicts that purple finches, common and hoary redpolls, pine siskins and nomadic white-winged crossbills will move through the state this winter. As crops of berries, seeds and cones deplete throughout the winter, we could see some late movements of evening grosbeaks, pine grosbeaks and red crossbills into Michigan, though most movements will likely occur west of Lake Superior.

These birds depend on cone and berry crops of the boreal (northern) forest for food each winter. When there is not enough food, they will migrate outside their usual wintering grounds. This unusual migratory movement is called an irruption, which will bring northern finches south into lower Ontario, the Great Lakes and beyond. Irruptions don’t happen every year, which makes winter finch sightings particularly magical.

Learn how to identify, find and attract some of these winter gems.

Purple finch

side by side view of male and female purple finches on thistle branches; the male is colored with red and gold, the female with pale rose and yellowMales of this small finch species have a raspberry-red head, breast and back. Females have thickly streaked undersides, with a whitish eyebrow and a dark line down the side of the throat.

  • Find them in wooded and semiopen areas, including forests, suburbs, swamps and overgrown fields.
  • Attract them with sunflower seeds, nyjer (a small, thin black seed) and millet. Use small and large tube feeders or hopper feeders. Plant native, seed-producing trees and grasses.

Pine siskin

two tan and gray birds with yellow streaks, wings stretched upward, perch on dried thistle branchesThis bird behaves like a goldfinch but is brown and streaked like a sparrow. It has a sharp, pointed bill and subtle yellow edges on wing and tail feathers.

  • Find them in semiopen areas, woodland edges and weedy fields.
  • Attract them with sunflower seeds and nyjer. Use small and large tube feeders and small hopper feeders. Plant native, seed-producing trees and grasses.

Read the full MI Birds story to learn more about the winter finches of Michigan.

MI Birds is a public outreach and engagement program created by Audubon Great Lakes and the DNR, which aims to increase all Michiganders’ engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities.

Questions? Contact Erin Rowan Ford at 313-820-0809.


Love snowmobiling? Here’s your chance to shape riding routes

three snowmobiles, lights on, travel single-file down a snow-covered, forested trail. Blue sky peeks through tall, bare treesIf your ideal winter day in Michigan involves hitting the snowmobile trails, and if having a say in the future of the state’s designated riding routes is important to you, the DNR wants to hear from you – your riding experience and insight could be a perfect fit for an open position on the Michigan Snowmobile Advisory Workgroup.

“We’re looking for someone with a passion for snowmobiling and an interest in helping maintain and shape Michigan’s more than 6,200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails,” said Tim Novak, state trails coordinator for the DNR. “Specifically, we’re seeking an owner or operator of a snowmobile-related business to serve on the advisory workgroup, which plays a tremendous role in Michigan’s snowmobile community.”

The position could be filled by an individual who owns a power sports dealership, a repair facility or a hotel, gas station or other snowmobile tourism business, Novak said.

This new member will offer advice related to the creation, development, operation and maintenance of the designated snowmobile trail system. Other members of the workgroup represent trail sponsors, at-large trail users, the Michigan Snowmobile Association and the DNR.

Workgroup members help develop safety education and training programs, assist in determining how best to use funds from the DNR’s recreational snowmobile trail improvement fund, and serve as ambassadors and advocates on behalf of snowmobile users statewide.

The workgroup, which works closely with the Michigan Trails Advisory Council and the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, consists of seven individuals each serving four-year terms and contributing as volunteers (travel expenses to and from meetings are eligible for reimbursement). The group meets quarterly at varying locations around the state.

“Members tell us that being part of this workgroup is a rewarding experience – it’s not overly time-consuming and provides an opportunity for avid snowmobilers to express themselves and connect with others who enjoy the sport and wish to contribute to our state’s awesome snowmobile trail network,” Novak said.

Interested in getting involved and sharing your expertise? Apply for the position by filling out this form. The DNR will accept applications through Jan. 8. For more information, contact Anna Centofanti at 517-331-6219.


ICYMI: Nominate your forest for protection funding by Dec. 15

Flurries of snow float through the air in a wintry forestA round of special Inflation Reduction Act funding is available through the Forest Legacy Program to protect environmentally important forests. Funding will support projects in three key categories: large landscape projects, state-tribal projects and strategic small-tract projects.

In case you missed it, the deadline to nominate your forest land for proposal consideration is just over a week away, Dec. 15. Learn more about the opportunity and eligibility in a recent DNR news release.

Questions about the Forest Legacy Program or IRA funding opportunity? Contact program coordinator Kerry Heckman.


Plenty of ways to lend a hand this month

small group of men and women in winter gear and flannel, some holding trimming tools, on a snow-covered road in forestIf you’re interested in helping protect, preserve and promote Michigan’s natural and cultural resources, here are a few ways you can get involved with the DNR in December.

Nurturing nature

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host volunteer stewardship workdays. Volunteers are needed to help restore natural areas by removing invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems. Workdays will take place:

  • 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 9, at Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County).
  • 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 9, at Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County).
  • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County).
  • 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Dec. 10, at Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County).
  • 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County).
  • 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 16, at Belle Isle Park (Wayne County).
  • 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County).
  • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County).

More details about each workday and how to register can be found on the DNR volunteer events calendar.

Bird counts

Enjoy bird-watching? You can help scientists better understand bird movement and population health and protect birds and their habitats by counting and reporting the birds you see this winter. Join these upcoming community science bird counts:

Gifts for good

Give holiday gifts that give back! Check some shopping off your list and support natural and cultural resources with our holiday gift guide. Find unique gifts for just about anyone on your list – choose from a variety of products benefiting Michigan’s state parks, trails and waterways, history and wildlife education programs, habitat restoration and management, and the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative.

For more ways to volunteer, contribute and provide input, visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers.


Photo ambassador snapshot: Sledding at Cheboygan

three young boys in winter coats and snowpants sit on green saucer sleds on the snow-covered, forested groundSee 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 Jamie Ball, for the Michigan DNR, at Cheboygan State Park in Cheboygan County.)


THINGS TO DO

Winter disc golf, fishing, stargazing and fat-tire biking? Yes, please! Discover all this and more on our winter fun webpage.

BUY & APPLY

It’s not too early to think about the start of summer camping season; check out available reservations and book your spot.

GET INVOLVED

Thanks to all the hunters who have registered their deer harvest this season! Better deer data means better management.

DNR News Digest – Week of Nov. 20, 2023

DNR News Digest – Week of Nov. 20, 2023

DNR banner

News Digest – Week of Nov. 20, 2023

bright orange and russet-colored maple leaves interspersed with narrow, gray-barked tree trunks stretching upward
Here are just a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

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

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of many of the images used in this email are available in this folder.


This November, we’re thankful for future forests

A small conifer seedling is planted in sandy soil by a forestry workerSee any fields full of tree tubes during your travels? Those sleeves are protecting little trees that will become the next generation of state forests. Although at this time of year our leafy trees are bare and heading into their winter sleep, we’re looking ahead to spring, thanks to the efforts of DNR foresters and donors.

This year, we planted 5.6 million trees in state forests, plus another 820,000 in national forests through the Good Neighbor Authority partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

Donors from the Arbor Day Foundation, American Forests, Finkl & Sons and One Tree Planted contributed to the effort, providing more than $1.4 million to add more trees to Michigan’s landscape. Funds helped purchase seedlings and planting equipment such as tree tubes to protect young trees from hungry herbivores like deer.

Tree species planted include jack pine, red pine, northern red oak and white pine.

These new trees will produce an array of benefits. Renewable forest products, outdoor places to hunt, hike and explore, and habitat for wildlife including the rare Kirtland’s warbler and game species such as grouse and elk are all provided by Michigan’s sustainably managed forests.

Tree planting isn’t the only way the DNR renews forests. While seedlings are planted to regrow some areas following timber harvest or insect damage, natural regeneration also is encouraged. Heavy machinery is used to rough up the soil and allow seeds from nearby trees to take root. Soon, what was once a bare field is full of young saplings stretching toward the sun.

Questions about tree planting on state-managed lands? Visit Michigan.gov/MiTrees to view our statewide planting map and add your own new trees, or contact DNR silviculture expert Jason Hartman.


Buy your snowmobile trail permit! Trails open Dec. 1

Two snowmobile riders in winter gear and helmets ride single file down a straight, groomed, snow-covered trail, flanked by thin brown treesIf you’re thinking about suiting up and sledding Michigan’s thousands of miles of state-designated trails, it’s time to pull your sled out of storage, prep it for winter and purchase your 2023-24 snowmobile trail permit. The snowmobile program is 100% funded with trail permit dollars.

Get ready! State-designated trails are open Dec. 1 through March 31, and grooming occurs when there is enough snow on the ground. Learn more and purchase your trail permit today.


Online course offers deeper dive on inland lakes learning

colorful graphic for MSU Extension Intro to Lakes Online course, depicting fish and  plants underwater, kids jumping off a dock up topWhether you live on a lake, enjoy a secret fishing spot or escape the daily grind at a serene lake in the woods, you already know that lakes provide big benefits to mental and physical health and deserve our appreciation and attention. You can discover even more connections through an upcoming Michigan State University Extension opportunity.

A nationally recognized, award-winning, six-week class for anyone with a passion or curiosity for inland lakes, including lakefront property owners, local government officials, lake managers and educators, MSU Extension’s Introduction to Lakes Online course is full of information and inspiration. Led by Extension educators and state agency personnel, it covers lake ecology, watersheds, shorelines, water law, aquatic plant management and community involvement.

Registration, course information

The course runs Jan. 30 through March 20. Register by Jan. 12 for the early-bird discounted rate of $95 per person; after that, the rate is $115. Registration closes Jan. 28. Course details and scholarship and other information are available on the Introduction to Lakes Online course webpage.

More than 1,850 people across the country have taken the annual course since it was first offered online in 2015. Participants regularly praise the content and level of interaction they enjoy with instructors and other students.

Students will experience:

  • Week-by-week, 24/7 access to six online units, complete with prerecorded video lectures, interactive activities, other resources and quizzes.
  • Lively discussion forums and biweekly webinars with classmates and instructors. Ask-an-expert webinars let you learn from experts at the DNR, MSU and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Upon finishing the course, students receive a certificate of completion. They also can receive continuing education credits, including 16 Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Pesticide Applicator Re-Certification credits and educational hours in the MSU Extension Master Gardener, Master Citizen Planner and Master Naturalist programs.

Questions? Contact Paige Filice (MSU Extension), 517-676-7291 or Joe Nohner (DNR), 517-599-6825.


Hunters, reporting your deer harvest takes just a few minutes

a white-tailed doe stands in chest-high green grass, against a backdrop of thick spruce treesIf last year’s results (the first year of mandatory online reporting of deer harvests) are any indication, the DNR is hopeful to see 2023 reporting that goes just as well.

Online reporting provides the most efficient and effective data for deer management and conservation, and it’s pretty easy, too. More than 208,000 hunters submitted online harvest reports in 2022, with nearly 83% of those hunters able to complete their report in under five minutes.

Earlier this month, we shared a news release outlining steps for smooth, simplified reporting, including three key points: 1) Download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, 2) Have your hunting license/kill tag number ready, and 3) Wait for the confirmation number to pop up and then record it for your records. Read the full story for detailed reporting and assistance information.

Questions? Contact Dustin Isenhoff at 517-275-1468 or the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.


Gobble, gobble! Good news: Michigan’s wild turkey comeback

Small group of brown and tan wild turkeys, two in bright sunlight, stand in a forest clearing among tall treesWild turkeys can be found across Michigan roosting in trees (really!) and strutting and puffing out their feathers. But that wasn’t always the case. By the turn of the 20th century, wild turkey populations across the state were decimated due to the destruction of critical habitat and unregulated hunting.

Did you know that turkeys not only gobble, they also cluck and purr? In addition to flying, wild turkeys can even swim when needed! Thanks to collaborative conservation, these incredible birds are once again thriving across Michigan’s forests and open woodland habitats.

In the 1950s, the Michigan DNR began an effort with partners to reintroduce wild turkeys to the state. Fifty wild turkeys were purchased from Pennsylvania and released into the open woodlands of Allegan County, helping to strengthen and diversify the population. Thirty years later, wild turkeys from Missouri and Iowa were released across the state. There are now 200,000 wild turkeys gobbling across Michigan thanks to a half-century of partnership.

two men in jeans and green T-shirts organize rows of black planter pots on a tarp, some of them with saplings in them“Conservation success stories like the reintroduction of wild turkeys in Michigan are examples of what is possible through years of strong partnerships and community support,” said Adam Bump, DNR upland game bird specialist. “We work closely with conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation and their local chapters to restore and enhance habitat that wild turkeys need to thrive.”

NWTF is a MI Birds partner and has co-hosted immersive birding field trips at oak-savannah restoration sites, engaging the birding community in wild turkey conservation. Some songbird favorites like eastern towhees and blue-winged warblers rely on the same habitat to thrive.

Read the full MI Birds story to learn how you can help support Michigan’s wild turkey populations.

MI Birds is a public outreach and engagement program presented by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan DNR that works to build and bring together wildlife enthusiasts across the state to engage with and conserve Michigan’s birds, wildlife and public lands.

Questions? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.


Photo ambassador snapshot: Bare-branched beauty

A medium-sized leafless tree with curved branches and tiny twigs is framed by sunset and orange sky on sandy shore of a large, calm lakeSee 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 Greg Viau, for the Michigan DNR, at Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon County.)


THINGS TO DO

If you’re ready to get out and hunt but need a place to do it, check out Mi-HUNT for available public lands, a variety of ground cover types, nearby recreation facilities and more.

BUY & APPLY

Sign up for the 2024 Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K, and get ready for April. Run, walk, ride, paddle … do your race your way, while doing good for state parks!

GET INVOLVED

Illegal dumping of trash on public land is a big problem. Help us clean it up by reporting any dumpsites you find on state or federal land, and add locations to the interactive map.