Michigan Mixed Bag: NotMiSpecies webinars cover spotted lanternfly, climate change

Lansing — Want to fight back against invasive species? For starters, you can learn more about what to look for and what to do if you see it.

That’s where the NotMiSpecies webinar series can help. It’s a collection that explores how agencies, universities and local organizations are working together to protect our state’s natural resources through the Michigan Invasive Species Program. There are more than three dozen past webinars you can watch on topics ranging from best boating practices to steps you can take to protect your backyard.

Two upcoming webinars will address tactics to combat spotted lanternfly and look at how climate change is heightening risks to Michigan’s trees. A Q&A session will follow each presentation.

Spotting the Spotted Lanternfly: What to Know and What You Can Do, will be held 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, July 29.

They’ll Need That Hug: How Climate Change is Increasing Native and Invasive Threats to Michigan’s Trees, will be held 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Contact Joanne Foreman at (517) 284-5814 for more info.

Campers Identified in Isle Royale Deaths

Houghton, Mich. — The two campers who were found dead at a remote campground at Isle Royale National Park have been identified as Bradley Baird, 30, and John Baird, 60, of Northville, Mich., the Keweenaw County Clerk and Register of Deeds office confirmed recently.

The two campers are believed to have died by murder-suicide, according to Keweenaw County Medical Examiner Dr. Michael McAllister, who told MLive that the victims are father and son, though it’s not clear who died first.

The National Park Service (NPS) received reports of two dead people at a backcountry campground in the park at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, the NPS said in a news release. Rangers hiked about 11 miles overnight to the site at the South Desor Lake campground and reached the scene the morning of June 9, and confirmed finding two bodies. An investigation remains ongoing.

Child Released from Hospital After Being Buried in Sand

Oceana County, Mich. — A 9-year-old boy from Livingston County is reportedly home and doing well following an incident July 4 in which collapsing sand at the Silver Lake State Park Sand Dunes, in Oceana County, temporarily buried the boy.

The child, who was visiting the Silver Lake area with family, was digging a hole in the sand, when sand collapsed and covered him in about 5 feet of sand for more than five minutes.

Emergency responders were notified at 9:28 p.m. Michigan DNR Conservation Officer Logan Turner and Silver Lake State Park Ranger Cody Anscombe were patrolling the dunes and were the first emergency responders to arrive at the scene.

At 9:30 p.m., Turner and Anscombe met the group of bystanders who dug the child out of the sand. Turner evaluated the child, who was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Turner immediately began performing CPR and, after 70-80 compressions, the child began breathing and moving his arms and regained color.

By 9:35 p.m., Turner and Anscombe confirmed the child was in stable condition and used their side-by-side ORV to transport the child and his mother to an ambulance waiting in the parking lot.

The child was transported to Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital, then transferred to DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.

The DNR was notified July 6 that the child had been released from the hospital and was at home, doing well with family.

Easement Protects Duck Creek in the Flint River Watershed

Groveland Twp. Mich —  Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy (BHHC) is proud to announce the permanent protection of a vital stretch of Duck Creek, thanks to the donation of a conservation easement by Kirk and Sheri Falvay. This easement ensures the long-term conservation of ecologically important land within the Flint River watershed, reinforcing BHHC’s mission to protect the headwaters and natural habitats that sustain our local ecosystems.

Duck Creek, a pristine tributary feeding into the South Branch of the Flint River, supports diverse wildlife, helps recharge groundwater, and plays a key role in the health of the broader watershed. The newly protected property includes critical riparian corridors, mature woodlands, and wetland habitats that provide natural flood control, water filtration, and refuge for native species.

Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements that allow landowners to retain ownership of their land while permanently limiting development and protecting natural features.

Outdoor Adventure Center Celebrates 10 Years of ‘Up North’ Downtown

Detroit — The DNR Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit turns 10 years old this month and invites Michiganders to stop by and see why it’s a birthday worth celebrating.

Located on the city’s riverfront in the historic Globe Building, with the Dequindre Cut greenway running through its front yard, the Outdoor Adventure Center opened to the public July 20, 2015.

The aim of this innovative destination: offer “up north” downtown, providing hands-on experiences focused on Michigan’s many outdoor recreation opportunities and teaching visitors about natural resources and conservation.

Visit Michigan.gov/OAC for more info.