GW:  Don’t forget to honor law enforcement by lowering flags at half-staff for May 15th.  This day is often ignored by many establishments and private citizens for the long-standing flag protocol.

Just about every conservation officer describes their work as incredibly rewarding – some would even call it a “dream career” – but the reality of harm is always present.

During National Police Week, May 11-17, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources joins communities across the United States to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who were killed or died as a result of incidents that occurred during the line of duty.

“We will never forget our fallen,” said Lt. Jeremy Payne, DNR law supervisor in Bay City, who helps coordinate the annual fallen officer events. “Our 17 brothers who paved the path before us went to work one day with the intent to return to their loved ones at the end of their shift. They were sons, husbands, fathers, brothers, grandfathers and friends, and they made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that, today, we all have the opportunity to enjoy Michigan’s vast natural resources.” Read more

May 13, 2025
Contacts: Josh Leisen, senior project manager, Huron Pines, 989-448-2293, ext. 16, or Tim Cwalinski, Gaylord unit supervisor, DNR Fisheries Division, 231-340-0276

Cornwall Dam will be renovated this year to address safety concerns

Renovations to Cornwall Dam will begin in May and extend through fall to satisfy state dam safety requirements. Vehicle access to the Cornwall Creek Flooding’s day-use area will be closed during this period, and a detour of the Shore-to-Shore equestrian trail will be in place.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, which owns the dam, committed to restoring the Cheboygan County dam in 2019. The flooding’s water levels were partially lowered in 2024, following a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Dam Safety Program recommendation to address concerns with aging infrastructure and embankment seepage issues. Read more

Our Nature Awaits program is returning this fall, and teachers can reserve their spots today! Almost a thousand fourth grade teachers from throughout Michigan registered for a free field trip during the 2024-2025 school year, with 100% of participating teachers reporting they would recommend the program to another teacher.?

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.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Friday confirmed a man and his dog were mauled to death by a black bear in Jerome — marking the first fatal black bear attack in state history.

Family members reported 89-year-old Robert Markel missing from his home and “signs of recent disturbances” that could have been caused by a bear or bears around the property.  The rest of the story here…

TiCK MiTT delivers innovative and chemical-free tick protection for humans and pets heading into prime tick season

TiCK MiTT, the tick solutions company is on a mission to reduce cases of tick-borne diseases through innovative, chemical-free products – a safer, easier alternative to traditional chemical-based methods. Ticks can survive and thrive in unexpected places, posing significant risks to both humans and pets. While the threat can be alarming, it doesn’t have to be. May marks Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and TiCK MiTT wants to ensure everyone has the tools and knowledge to perform effective tick checks in the palm of their hands. Read more

By TOM GONIEA
Fisheries biologist, Fisheries Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

As spring transitions to summer and the warm temperatures roll in, Michiganders weary of winter excitedly begin adventuring across the state. It’s a time of renewal and reinvigoration for many.But as you head out, be on the lookout for turtles, which are also on the move this time of year.

Late spring and early summer are times when turtles are moving en masse across the landscape. The females are actively looking for nesting sites, and males also just kind of wander this time of year, moving between the lakes, ponds and streams they call home.

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.” Read more

After consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated an adult male grizzly bear on May 2, 2025.

The grizzly bear was captured in association with conflict management efforts for cattle depredation, this bear was not the bear responsible for depredation and was released away from the calving pasture. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, the grizzly bear was relocated to the Ghost Creek drainage approximately 60 miles northwest of Cody. Read more

In the weeks ahead, ducks, mergansers, herons, terns, gulls and more will fly through Portage Marsh State Wildlife Area in Escanaba – one of Michigan’s premier Wetland Wonders and an Audubon Important Bird Area – as they migrate north back to their breeding grounds.

Join the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and partners from Common Coast Research and Conservation and the Laughing Whitefish Bird Alliance for a guided birding tour along the coastal wetlands of the state wildlife area.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 17. The meeting place will be at the Portage Marsh State Wildlife Area, at the dead end of Portage Point 11.4 Lane (Lat: 45.706675, Long: -87.079639). Read more

The chance to observe the nesting activities at a Great Gray Owl nest site in Montana will attract even more attention after the nestlings become visible.

It’s especially interesting to take a look at a few of the early nesting birds featured on a number of live cams that feature larger birds, mostly owls and raptors. Starting with the Cornell Lab’s live streaming nest cams – you can see large nestlings of a Great Horned Owl in Texas and Barred Owls in Indiana; plus recently hatched Red-tailed Hawk nestlings being attended by adults in Ithaca, New York. There is also a trio of live nest cams in western Montana provided by the Owl Research Institute in association with Explore.org, including an incubating Great Gray Owl, young Great Horned Owls that are about to leave the nest, and an incubating Osprey.

Each of the nest sites has its own pair of adults, eggs or nestlings, and a story that began earlier this spring, which is provided for each nest site. In the case of the 3 Cornell live cams, you can also view video clips of recent highlights recorded at each nest site. It’s always interesting and fun to look in on what’s going on at each nest location.

Wait! Did we forget to include the Peregrine Falcon eyrie cam? Yes, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is also providing a live camera feed from inside an artificial nesting eyrie on a skyscraper in St. Paul, Minnesota. The female is presently incubating 4 eggs that should begin hatching any minute now, and there is an interesting story behind that uptown falcon nest site too.

Direct links to each of the live cams are provided below, and we hope you enjoy the show!

Great Gray Owl Nest – live owl camera from Montana | Explore.org

Great Horned Owl Cam – live owl camera from Montana | Explore.org

Osprey Nest Camera – live from Charlo Montana | Explore.org

Barred Owls | Cornell Lab Bird Cams (allaboutbirds.org)

Red-tailed Hawks | Cornell Lab Bird Cams (allaboutbirds.org)

Great Horned Owls | Cornell Lab Bird Cams (allaboutbirds.org)

DNR FalconCam | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)

By providing a full menu of bird foods, you create the opportunity of attracting new birds to your yard (photos by Paul Konrad).

Similar to orioles, migrating hummingbirds could be enticed to stay and nest in your yard or nearby in your neighborhood when they find a reliable source of food, water, and nesting cover within their nesting range.

This is something of a last call to make your yard the most attractive little oasis for migrating songbirds. We all want attract the greatest variety of birds to our yards, and this is the best time of the year to attract new migrants as they arrive for a stopover or an extended period that may include nesting. The most important thing we can do is to provide a predictable source of favorite foods and fresh water on the edge of backyard habitat to benefit migrating birds. And you may be able to attract new birds to stop and stay a while – to nest in your yard or nearby. Read more