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Coming off another record-breaking Sheep Show®, and in celebration of our 16th chapter & affiliate summit held this year in Calgary, Alberta, the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) announced a commitment of $1 Million in Grant in Aid for Stone’s sheep conservation in northern British Columbia.

“Since our founding in 1977, a lot of emphasis has been placed on recovering and sustaining bighorn and desert bighorn sheep populations,” said WSF President and CEO Gray N. Thornton. “With dedicated efforts by our chapters and affiliates, alongside our agency and tribal partners, great successes have been achieved for bighorns. It is time for WSF to dedicate similar efforts to Stone’s Sheep. Our Board of Directors has put an exclamation mark on this need with this $1 million funding pledge.” Read more

Grant will enhance efforts by The Duck Hunters Organization to conserve at-risk, vital duck-producing wetlands in the prairie pothole region

A generous grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund will advance efforts by Delta Waterfowl to conserve critical breeding duck habitat in the prairie pothole region. In bolstering Delta’s Habitat Conservation programs, the $100,000 grant will support the breeding efforts of multitudes of ducks by helping to maintain the PPR’s robust wetland base.

“We are grateful to stand alongside our customers to support the vital work being done by Delta Waterfowl to help protect and support the prairie pothole region,” said Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder. “There’s no way to overstate the importance of these waterfowl breeding grounds, and the impact that these initiatives contribute will make a positive difference for future generations.” Read more

GW:  Still way too high, since the agreed upon level has been a total of 200 wolves in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota combined!

The survey estimates 762 wolves in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, showing a consistent population for the past 14 years

The 2024 winter wolf population survey estimate from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources found a minimum of 762 wolves in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This year’s estimate showed an increase of 131 animals compared to the 2022 estimate of 631; however, the results demonstrate a continued trend of statistical stability in Michigan’s wolf population.

“This year’s survey findings are statistically consistent with our wolf population surveys for the past 14 years,” said Brian Roell, the DNR’s large carnivore specialist. “When a wild population reaches this stable point, it is typical to see slight variations from year to year, indicating that gray wolves may have reached their biological carrying capacity in the Upper Peninsula.”

In other words, Michigan’s U.P. wolf population has achieved an equilibrium between availability of habitat and the number of wolves that habitat can support over time.

The survey, completed last winter, found the population distributed among 158 packs in the Upper Peninsula, with an average of 4.8 wolves per pack. This year’s survey represents the highest population estimate since 2012, when the department began doing the semi-annual survey. The survey is conducted during the winter because it relies in part on identifying wolf tracks in the snow.

Prior to the winter of 2007, the DNR sought to count wolves throughout the entire Upper Peninsula. However, as the wolf population increased, this peninsulawide survey method became more difficult and time-consuming, especially the process of distinguishing among adjacent packs.

As a result, the department developed and evaluated a different sampling method to reduce the search area and allow additional time to accurately count wolves in neighboring territories. The new approach uses a geographic stratification – essentially breaking up regions into small pieces and ensuring those regions have representative samples – and produces an unbiased, precise minimum estimate of wolf abundance in Michigan’s U.P. during midwinter when wolves are at their lowest point in their yearly population cycle.

The DNR is currently evaluating two other techniques for estimating wolf abundance in the U.P. One relies on a track survey similar to the department’s current method. The other uses trail cameras spread across the U.P.

If successful, these additional techniques may have advantages over the current methodology, mainly by decreasing staff time. The camera model would have the added benefit of producing estimates at times of the year other than winter.

This March 2024 Showcasing the DNR story shares more about the survey pilot programs. Read more

This year’s warm, wet spring was prime time for some of Michigan’s nuisance insect species. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently issued tips to avoid bites by ticks and mosquitoes. Bug bites can be more than just an annoyance – they can have future health implications, so it’s important to stay informed and take steps to protect yourself and others.

Every summer in Michigan, bites from mosquitoes and ticks carry the risk of spreading diseases to people and animals. Ticks are known to carry Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, while infected mosquitoes can transmit eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus. Mosquitoes collected in Saginaw County last month tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus at the DHHS Bureau of Laboratories, the first infected mosquitoes detected in 2024.

Signs and symptoms of tick-borne disease typically begin one to two weeks after a tick bite, often after being in wooded or brushy areas where ticks commonly live. Early symptoms can be nonspecific and include fever or chills, rash, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Early treatment with appropriate antibiotics can decrease the risk of serious complications.

The easiest way to protect from mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses is to prevent bites in the first place. Try these tips: Read more

Would you know how to survive if you ever found yourself stranded outdoors? Landing in an unforeseen situation can be nerve-wracking, but learning the skills to handle it can make outdoor activities a breeze.

Besides tapping into a deeper awareness of nature, having the skills to survive outdoors can seriously boost your confidence, too. Interested in learning the basics? Check out the DNR Outdoor Skills Academy’s Bushcraft, Survival and Wild Edibles Clinic, June 28-30 or July 19-21 at Mitchell State Park in Cadillac.

You’ll learn how to find your way when no modern navigation tools are available, wilderness first aid, how to identify plants you can eat (and ones to avoid), how to safely start a fire without matches – plus how to shoot a bow and arrow and more. Read more

27 Mexican wolf pups fostered into 8 dens from 5 SAFE facilities