Join FWP bear specialist Jeremiah Smith and Kyle Orozco as they demonstrate the work and knowledge behind setting traps.

A huge thank you to our partners, including the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study, for their efforts on the ongoing research and management of these species. Learn more about being bear aware at: fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.

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Genesee is now the 16th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. An adult doe found acting ill in Gaines Township recently tested positive for the disease.

The CWD finding was confirmed by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which works with the DNR to identify CWD in Michigan’s wild deer herd. The sample will be sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa for secondary confirmation.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has also been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Washtenaw.

CWD is a chronic, slow-developing disease that spreads slowly across the landscape. It can be present in new areas at very low levels, making it difficult to detect. Genesee County was under focused CWD surveillance in 2022, when approximately 300 deer were tested, with none testing positive. The DNR has continued to test deer that appear sick in Genesee County when possible.

The 2.5-year-old doe that tested positive was reported as very skinny and drinking continuously, and walked directly up to a conservation officer who responded to a public report. Public reporting of sick acting deer is one of the best tools available to the DNR for identifying CWD that may exist at low prevalence in previously undetected areas. Read more

Article and Photos by Paul Konrad

During migration, Broad-winged Hawks often circle higher in rising air columns in what is commonly referred to as a “kettle” of hawks.

We are in the midst of International Hawk Migration Week, which runs through Sunday, and during this peak period of hawk migration I tentatively planned to visit one of the best count sites to witness a big migration surge. Hawk Ridge, located on the northwest tip of Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, is a special place for birders where a mid-September push of thousands of migrating Broad-winged Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks is possible when weather conditions are right. The same migration weather brings a variety of other migrating birds south too, including thousands of Blue Jays.

I was due for a return to Hawk Ridge, having visited the site 3 years ago during an epic day of raptor migration but, unfortunately, the weather forecast indicated it would be overcast and rainy with a south wind during my Wednesday-Thursday window of opportunity, which spoiled my travel plans. That said, I want to share how exciting a visit to a hawk count site can be. In fact, during my 2022 Hawk Ridge pilgrimage I was on hand early morning to witness a remarkable migration day, when a total of 8,066 birds of prey were counted! That was on September 13, during a beautiful blue sky day with temperatures steady at about 70 degrees – and the sky was alive with the flights of a variety of raptors, geese, and songbirds – what fun.

The migration excitement was fueled by a big push of Broad-winged Hawks in the afternoon, numbering 7,196, mostly in groups of less than 25. Other raptors included 585 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 97 American Kestrels, 73 Bald Eagles, 60 Northern Harriers, 24 Red-tailed Hawks, 8 Ospreys, 3 Peregrine Falcons, 3 Merlins, 1 Northern Goshawk, 1 Cooper’s Hawk, and 1 Swainson’s Hawk!

An amazing 4,528 Blue Jays also passed by the count station, along with 823 Cedar Waxwings, 1,491 Canada Geese, 134 Sandhill Cranes, 86 White Pelicans, and at least 30 more species of birds including 8 species of warblers. There were 42 species of birds migrating that day, including the 12 species of raptors. Unlike most raptor counting stations, Hawk Ridge staff count all species observed, which adds a great deal more to the information provided daily and throughout the fall migration season.

It was fun to be in the company of other birders, and while there were only 4 other birders on hand when I started my personal observations, numbers of birders steadily increased and probably peaked at about 40 enthusiastic observers by early afternoon, with a number of Hawk Ridge staff members and volunteers providing information and answering questions. I stood at a favored viewpoint for the first few hours, walking a bit from time to time, eager to see the next hawk or flock of jays fly into view above the surrounding forest. Eventually, I found a comfortable rock on the edge of the ridge to sit on while continuing to enjoy the show from one horizon to the next. The woods were changing colors with yellow, gold, orange, and red leaves breaking through, and the view to the east revealed the top of the extensive urban forest of Duluth stretching to the western edge of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. What a wonderful setting during perfect early fall weather in the Northwoods.

How impressive was the day’s migration count of 8,066 birds of prey? During the work week, the other daily totals of raptors were 401 Monday, 108 Wednesday, 24 Thursday, and 0 Friday when it rained throughout the day. It’s all about timing and weather when it comes to migration, and after that memorable Tuesday, rainy weather to the north really dampened or stopped the migration. On a national scale, raptors migrating past Hawk Ridge far outnumbered all other hawk counting stations north of Mexico that day. If you would like to learn more about Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, you can refer to Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, you can see the count summary for Hawk Ridge on Monday at HawkCount, and be sure to check in on hawk count totals being reported from Canada to Colombia at HawkCount.

Share your bird sightings and photographs at editorstbw2@gmail.com

Join us for the next Herd & Hunter: Bovine TB Connections meeting to learn more about bovine tuberculosis, deer harvest reporting changes and feral swine in Michigan.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting either virtually or in person at the Ossineke Township Hall in Alpena County from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7. To ensure you have the latest information on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Michigan, the meeting will include updates from the following speakers:

• Dr. Mike VanderKlok, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, will give updates on the cattle bTB program following a new agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Emily Sewell, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, will discuss deer harvest reporting changes and reminders.

In addition to these updates, the meeting will feature a presentation on feral swine in Michigan by Jake Nave, a USDA wildlife biologist who works with invasive species across the state. Feral swine have the potential to cause significant agricultural and ecological damage and can also transmit a number of diseases. Jake will share information on where feral swine have been detected in Michigan, efforts to eradicate them and their current status. Read more

There’s lots of reasons to be outside this time of year – hunting, fishing, hiking, fall colors, mountain biking and more. Keep in mind that bears are out there, too. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear specialists Danielle Oyler and Jamie Jonkel recently sat down to talk about some common myths about bears. Oyler is FWP’s wildlife stewardship outreach specialist and Jonkel is FWP’s bear management specialist.

Here’s part of that conversation:

Oyler: One of the things we hear a lot from people is that they’re worried about grizzlies but not so much about black bears. How do you answer that? Read more

Volunteer observers reported 428 sandhill cranes in Ohio during the 2025 Midwest Crane Count, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The count was coordinated by the Division of Wildlife, International Crane Foundation, and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative.

During the 2024 count, volunteers observed 412 cranes. The 2025 results show a 4% increase in reports in one year. Volunteers surveyed 31 counties this year and found cranes in 24 of them. The five counties with the most sandhill cranes reported during the 2025 count were Wayne (101), Lucas (97), Ottawa (59), Geauga (51), and Sandusky (19).

The inaugural Midwest Crane Count was in 2021 and has grown in each ensuing year. This was the fifth year for the count. Ohio’s count results, by year: Read more

Around 400,000 people in Michigan own land with trees on it. These forests may be small woodlots where families live, or larger forests up north used for recreation or investment. Collectively these “family forest landowners” manage 9 million acres, which comprises almost half of Michigan’s 20 million acres of forest and more than double the 4 million acres of state-owned forest land.

Taking good care of a forest is hard work and some guidance is helpful for any landowner. Many people, programs, agencies and organizations in Michigan serve family forest landowners, but how can any of them help 400,000 people with woodlands in all 83 counties?

Public-private partnerships are when the government works with the private sector to solve a complex problem together. Helping 400,000 family forest landowners is certainly a team sport with many agencies and organizations working together. One growing partnership is the collaboration between the Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Forest Association. It is made possible with generous funding from the USDA Forest Service.

What is the Michigan Forest Association? Read more

Following investigation by Bureau of Land Management law enforcement, two recreational shooters will pay more than $24,000 to the BLM after firing illegal exploding ammunition that sparked the 2024 Leeds and Chalky Butte fires in southwest Idaho. Together, the fires scorched more than 700 acres of public land, underscoring the costly risks of illegal ammunition use. The BLM continues to urge safe, responsible recreation to protect communities and natural resources.

“These settlements show that unsafe recreation has real consequences, while ensuring the public is repaid for the damages and restoration of Idaho’s BLM lands,” said BLM Boise District Manager Shelly Lynch.

Recreational target shooting has been the leading cause of human-caused wildfires in Idaho during 2025, despite restrictions outlined in the Bureau of Land Management’s Idaho Fire Prevention Order. Common violations include the use of steel component ammunition, shooting at steel targets, and using exploding targets—among several restrictions designed to reduce wildfire risk.

“Fires that recklessly originate on public lands often impact private property and harm our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott. “In both cases, our BLM Idaho Fire partners were able to control the spread of these two fires and protect private property. The restitution paid by both perpetrators was necessary to offset the damages and fire suppression costs and will serve as a deterrent against improper use of our public lands in the future.”

Leeds Fire: Read more

Despite setbacks from the White Sage Fire, new condors will join the Arizona-Utah flock on Sept. 27

Partners in Arizona-Utah California Condor conservation, including the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), will gather to celebrate Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, by witnessing five new members of the Arizona-Utah flock of endangered California condors take to the sky for the first time.

This year’s event, hosted by The Peregrine Fund and the Bureau of Land Management, marks its 29th anniversary and will again feature an in-person celebration at the condor viewing site in the valley below the release pen, as well as a livestream of the release on the Peregrine Fund’s YouTube channel.

The five new condors, hatched and raised at the Oregon Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, are healthy and ready to join the flock. Their release marks a return to normalcy for The Peregrine Fund’s Condor Release and Management Facility, which evacuated two resident “mentor condors” and one rehabilitating condor during the White Sage Fire. The captive birds were moved from the clifftop flight pen to a safe location below. The wild flock members stayed safe by avoiding the area entirely. Read more