Wildlife agencies, groups applaud Senate introduction of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
Michigan DNR: Groundbreaking legislation provides critical funding for fish and wildlife in greatest need.
Michigan DNR
Michigan state park officers want right to carry guns
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The union representing Michigan state park officers says they should be allowed to have guns and bulletproof vests to handle unruly visitors. The Michigan State Employees Association says officers are in an unsafe work environment because of a lack of training and equipment, MLive.com reported . The union has filed a complaint with the state Occupational…
Michigan Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – July 6, 2018
DISTRICT 1 COs Smith and Boudreaux noticed a boat doing laps around Lake Michigamme with an infant who did not have a life jacket on. A stop was made and the child was found to be under a year of age. Smith explained to the parents that the child must wear a life jacket on a vessel until they reach…
First case of CWD suspected in Jackson County
Over 31,000 deer have been tested for the disease since May 2015. If confirmed by the federal lab, this would be the 58th CWD-positive deer in Michigan and the first in Jackson County. Chronic wasting disease already has been confirmed in Clinton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent and Montcalm counties.
Michigan Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – June 22, 2018
DISTRICT 1 CO Jenni Hanson received a complaint of a possibly injured or sick bear in Watersmeet Township. The bear was missing a patch of fur on its hind leg but was not injured or sick. The curious yearling had climbed onto the complainant’s deck and inside the fenced yard to eat from the bird feeder. CO Jared Ferguson was…
Fisheries biologists look for answers, grass carp in Sandusky, Maumee rivers
Part of continuing efforts to remove invasive grass carp, assess grass carp capture techniques and increase information on grass carp populations in the two rivers.
It’s official: Black buffalo taken on Ottawa County’s Grand River is a state record
The Michigan DNR confirmed a new state record black buffalo on June 12. The fish, a member of the sucker family, was taken by Brandonn Kramer of Muskegon, Mich., at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, May 25 on the Grand River in Ottawa County. Assistance was provided by Kramer’s friend and fishing cohort, Shawn Grawbarger, also of Muskegon. The fish weighed…
Survey: Upper Peninsula wolf population continues to thrive
DNR wildlife biologists estimate there was a minimum of 662 wolves found among 139 packs across the Upper Peninsula this past winter. Fifteen more wolf packs were found during this past winter’s survey than in 2016, but pack size has decreased slightly and now averages less than five wolves.
DNR gets boost in efforts to improve public shooting ranges in Michigan – to the tune of $1.25 million
(Michigan DNR)The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently approved a total of $1.25 million over a five-year period for the Michigan DNR to provide up to 75 percent of funding for improvements to partner shooting ranges throughout Michigan. The DNR received these additional federal funds via the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (Pittman-Robertson Act), through which hunters and sport…
Michigan honing in on CWD plan
DNR to present chronic wasting disease recommendations to Natural Resources Commission.
Michigan Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – June 8, 2018
DISTRICT 1 CO Mark Leadman received a complaint of a subject shooting two turkeys on private property within a safety zone. The suspect had shot the birds and quickly returned to his vehicle and tried to leave the area when confronted. The suspect’s vehicle became stuck in the mud allowing the complainant to get the license plate number and call…
Forest tent caterpillar outbreak continues in parts of Michigan
The insects, which are native to Michigan, occur in widespread outbreaks every 10 to 15 years. The most recent outbreaks peaked in 2002 and 2010. They’ve been spotted across the Lower Peninsula and in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Outbreaks usually last two or three years; this is the second or third year for outbreaks in some areas.
Michigan DNR continues efforts to bulk up muskie know-how
Fisheries staff in the northern Lower Peninsula have been tagging muskellunge in the Inland Waterway in an effort to gain better insight into the area’s populations.
Pelicans flocking to Pointe Mouillee as population grows
The American White Pelican is witnessing a population spurt, and as a result may be expanding its migratory range, an indication that the Great Lakes are healthy and that there’s enough fish for the birds to feed on.
Saginaw Bay coming off record walleye harvest during winter fishing
Anglers took 123,793 walleye, the most ever measured since creel surveys began on Saginaw Bay in 1983. Angler participation increased for January through March 2018 with a total of 545,226 angler hours, compared to the average winter of approximately 390,000 angler hours.
Michigan Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – May 25, 2018
DISTRICT 1 CO Dave Miller set up a trail camera on a known dumping site located on private property. As you enter the area, there are signs that read “NO DUMPING.” After 48 hours, Miller checked the camera. Less than one hour after setting it up, there was a picture of a pickup truck towing a dump trailer full of…
Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin to collaborate on West Nile virus monitoring in ruffed grouse
The three states are in the early stages of planning to test samples from grouse this fall, but at this point there is no evidence that the virus is having a population-level impact in the Great Lakes region.
Senate bills would give Michigan parks, trails slice of robust state trust fund
Would remove the Natural Resources Trust Fund’s $500 million funding cap and require that the Legislature direct 15 percent of oil and gas revenue toward grants for local public recreation projects.
New plan aims to reverse monarch butterfly decline
The draft plan builds on existing efforts of state, federal, and local agencies and private organizations and individuals and covers a 16-state region stretching from Texas to the Upper Midwest that encompasses the primary production and migratory habitat areas for eastern monarchs.
Salmon provide ‘a good life lesson’ for Michigan schoolkids
About 300 schools across the state take part raising salmon in classrooms with the goal of encouraging students to become advocates for the Great Lakes and the environment.
Michigan Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – May 11, 2018
DISTRICT 1 CO Jeremy Sergey was patrolling state land when he came across an individual collecting rocks. Upon further investigation, it was discovered some of the rocks were fossils containing imprints of fins. Sergey used this as an opportunity to educate the individual on the laws prohibiting the removal of marl, minerals and forest products on state land. CO Jared…
For birders, May is Christmastime in Michigan
The return of Michigan’s migratory birds from their southern wintering grounds is cause for celebration, and in May, many celebrate by heading to the fields, forests and wetlands to view these colorful harbingers of spring. “I love birding in May,” said Andrew Simon, a Macomb County resident and avid birder. “It’s the peak of migration and marks the return of…
Wisconsin teaming with Minnesota, Michigan in separate walleye efforts
Team efforts involve mulling reg changes with Minnesota on a stretch of the Mississippi and working with Michigan to help walleyes rebound at Lac Vieux Desert.
Michigan Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – April 27, 2018
DISTRICT 1 Conservation Officer Ethen Mapes was patrolling Lake Gogebic after the close of walleye and pike season when he discovered four unattended tip-ups. Eventually a subject came to check the lines and was found not to have a license. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, fishing with more than three lines and failing to be in…
Sharp-tailed grouse drought to continue in western U.P.
DNR wildlife biologists had planned to capture about 20 birds from the eastern U.P. and re-introduce them to Ontonagon County. However, late winter snowfall and a persistent groundcover of snow have delayed the effort until next spring for the game birds, which haven’t been seen reliably in the area since the mid-’90s.
DNR extends beaver, otter trapping by two weeks in U.P., northern L.P.
Heavy snowfall over past several weeks, along with frozen wetlands and now rising waterways, has hindered trappers.
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