According to Amy Derosier, supervisor of the DNR Wildlife Division’s Planning and Adaptation Section, if you just bend down and look, you’ll be amazed at what you see.

Rare plants and animals often are dependent on healthy, well-functioning nature to survive. Vernal pools, which help reduce flooding and improve water quality by filtering runoff, can be strong indicators that an area is healthy.

“When we have healthy habitats for rare and unique plants and animals, we have clean water, clean air and places for people to enjoy nature,” Derosier said. “Michigan’s endangered species law is in place to protect the rarest plants and animals. They are part of Michigan’s natural heritage, and they are a part of Michigan’s – and our collective – history, identity and future.”

With host locations at state parks including Belle Isle in Detroit, Hoffmaster in Muskegon and the newest state park in Flint, interested fourth grade teachers can find a location near their school. Transportation grants for up to $1,000 are available for public schools, and every participating student receives a free voucher to return with their family to a state park of their choice for more outdoor learning and fun.

“We have worked hard to make all of our students feel safe, supported and psyched for their visits,” said Nature Awaits program coordinator Katie McGlashen. “Fourth graders are at the halfway point of becoming adults with responsibilities. We hope they visit Michigan state parks often throughout their lifetime in any way they choose, whether to fish, camp, bike, bird watch, snowmobile or simply soak up the sunshine.”

To learn more and reserve a field trip, visit Michigan.gov/NatureAwaits. Questions? Email DNR-NatureAwaits@Michigan.gov.

More than 10,000 people, in Michigan and across a dozen other states, participated in this spring’s Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K. Registrants picked their pace and place – anywhere outdoors – for this DNR virtual event that was held during the week of Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25).

This year, three additional states – Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee – joined the program that began in Michigan in 2019 as a collaboration between the DNR and Bob Ross Inc. Other participating states include Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin.

Participants, who each received a Happy Little T-shirt, sticker, commemorative bib and finisher’s medal, selected their preferred state to support with their registration.

The 2025 event brought in a total of more than $200,000 for tree-planting and forest-protection efforts, with each state receiving a portion based on their participant numbers. Event proceeds included nearly $40,000 in donations; when signing up, registrants could elect to donate beyond the price of their race entry, with these funds also going toward forest-health protection efforts.

In Michigan, funds raised support the purchase of native trees and shrubs, seed collection and forest canopy protection within state parks. Visitors to state parks where trees have been planted will see bright green “Happy Little Trees Ahead” signs to note the program’s important contributions.

Happy Little 5K is part of the DNR’s tree-planting program, which has produced more than 100,000 native plants, shrubs and trees since its start in 2004. With support from the Bob Ross partnership, more than 2,100 trees have been planted in 20 state parks across Michigan. (Note: The departmentwide impact, which includes growing and planting efforts across the DNR’s parks and recreation, forestry and wildlife divisions, is even bigger: In 2024 alone, the DNR planted more than 6 million trees!)

Registration for the 2026 Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K will open this fall. Watch the registration site for more details.

Questions? Contact Michelle O’Kelly at 517-899-5211.

Our sessions are designed to empower educators with practical knowledge on a range of vital topics, including effective strategies for incorporating outdoor education into the classroom and tackling subjects like climate change. This year also includes a special session just for prekindergarten through third grade teachers, who can become certified in the early elementary programs for the award-winning Project WILD, Project WET and Project Learning Tree curriculum.

If you are interested, join us July 13-18 for the Academy of Natural Resources Classic at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, located near Roscommon, or Aug. 3-8 for ANR North in the Upper Peninsula.

With a registration fee of $395 (which includes lodging, meals and course materials) and the opportunity to earn 30 state continuing education clock hours, or SCECH, credits, this is an investment in your professional development you won’t want to miss. See the descriptions for the classes and register today at Michigan.gov/ANR.

Questions? Contact Kevin Frailey, DNR Education Services manager, at 517-231-9046.

The annual award, presented to Ulberg at Thursday’s meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing, is the highest state honor for conservation officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to natural resources protection, law enforcement and community engagement.

Ulberg patrols Kent County, which offers both populated rural suburbs and expansive natural landscapes.

“CO Justin Ulberg’s commitment and dedication to our state have been nothing short of exemplary,” said Lt. Gerald Thayer, DNR district law supervisor based out of Plainwell. “He consistently steps up to take on assignments and leadership roles, including serving in multiple instructor positions and as a district recruiter. His strong work ethic and sound decision-making have not gone unnoticed. CO Ulberg is a tremendous asset to both our department and the people he serves each day.”

Ulberg demonstrates a high level of trust and professionalism within his community, navigating from Grand River fish patrols in downtown Grand Rapids to cold, rainy waterfowl patrols in rural fields.

In 2024, more than 170 tips reported through the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline (800-292-7800) listed Ulberg as the primary officer. This is in addition to the many tips reported directly to Ulberg.

Ulberg has strong relationships across a wide range of communities. He assists at police training programs through high school tech centers, attends events hosted by various outdoor groups, and volunteers to staff booths at hunting and fishing expos.

A member of the DNR Law Enforcement Division since 2014, Ulberg seamlessly serves many internal roles, including district recruiter, survival tactics instructor, Taser instructor, firearms instructor, field training officer and instructor at the CO training academy.

Peers describe Ulberg as an officer they can call anytime and who will be willing to drop what he is doing to get the job done successfully – which is reflected in his field work and investigations.

Ulberg has a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource management from Grand Valley State University, where he played football. He also received an associate degree in criminal justice from the Grand Rapids Community College Police Academy.

Ulberg’s previous career experience includes working as a reserve deputy for the Kent County Sheriff’s Department and as a Kent County animal control officer.

Michigan conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety, and protect residents through general law enforcement and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve.

Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers and follow the weekly blog with updates from the conservation officer recruits in Training Academy No. 13, underway now in Lansing.

This overland movement often involves crossing roads, which unfortunately results in noticeable levels of turtle mortality throughout the state. That roadkill can be high enough to affect local populations and likely is the largest direct loss of adult turtles by humans.

“I receive calls every year from people in my area about dead turtles on the roads and have few answers for them,” said Scott Heintzelman, fisheries biologist and Central Lake Michigan Unit manager for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “It is particularly sad to see or hear about turtles that have been intentionally hit on the road.”

Turtles don’t begin mating and laying eggs until age 8-10 and have extremely low natural mortality as adults. If not crushed by a car tire, they can and often do live for many decades.

Their low mortality as adults and ability to lay eggs annually for 20-50 years is necessary to overcome the extremely high mortality rate of juveniles and losses of turtle eggs.

With turtles, almost all the natural predation (what we might call “the circle of life”) is concentrated on the eggs and baby turtles, which are easy targets and tasty morsels for Michigan’s racoon, opossum and skunk populations. A floating baby turtle is also irresistible to bass or wading birds like great blue herons.

The interesting thing about turtles is not that they can live for 50-100 years in the wild, it is that they really must live and reproduce for that long to maintain stable populations. In fact, the margin on adult turtle populations is so slim that a 6% annual mortality for adults is often enough to threaten sustainability and push local populations toward local extinction.

Let that sink in for a second.

That means that in a population of 100 adult turtles, if six or more are lost every year, that population could decline and eventually disappear.

Comparatively, while popular Michigan game species like walleye or white-tailed deer can easily withstand sustained annual adult mortalities of 35% and 40%, respectively, turtle sustainability is threatened by very small increases above that 6% threshold.

“Turtles face many threats, but perhaps the most preventable is direct mortality from vehicle strikes,” said Jennifer Kleitch, the DNR’s endangered species specialist. “Michigan is home to 10 native species of turtles, three being listed as threatened and one being of special concern. Everyone can do their part in helping conserve these rare reptiles by following some simple steps.”

• Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) – state-threatened.
• Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) – state-threatened.
• Eastern box turtle (Terrapene Carolina) – state-threatened.
• Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) – special concern.
• Common map turtle (Graptemys geographica).
• Common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus).
• Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina).
• Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta).
• Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta subspecies elegans).
• Spiny soft-shell turtle (Apalone spinifera).

Because adult survival is so important for turtles, anything the public can do to help reduce roadkill during spring and summer months can greatly benefit local populations.

• When you see a turtle in the road while driving, slow down and try to avoid hitting it, if it is possible to do so safely. However, do not veer to avoid hitting turtles.
• Be aware near bridge crossings and stretches of road near lakes, streams and wetlands, where turtles are likely to be.
• Don’t attempt to hit or run over turtles on purpose. Not only is it harmful to the turtle and the local turtle population, it’s also dangerous for you, your passengers and other vehicles on the road.
• If you choose to help a turtle cross the road (and you can do so safely), place the turtle across the road in the direction it was heading. Otherwise, the turtle may attempt to cross the road again to get to its desired location once you leave.
• When you find a turtle, don’t pick it up and take it home. When an adult turtle is taken from its home range, that affects its local population in the same way as if it had died. All its potential future offspring are taken out of the ecosystem, too.
• Except when they are in the middle of the road or other location where they’re in immediate danger, turtles are exactly where they should be and do not need to be moved or helped by people.
• Report turtle sightings on MIHerpAtlas.org to help scientists measure changes or trends in their populations.

According to Heintzelman, “Maybe the suggestions provided and sharing some insight as to what makes these animals so special might save a few turtles this spring and summer.”