New study shows impacts to native mushroom species

What started as a fun and tasty culinary trend – growing exotic mushrooms at home from a simple storebought or online kit – has become another threat to Michigan’s natural resources.

A recent article published in The Conversation describes U.S. Forest Service researchers’ findings regarding the impact of golden oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) on Wisconsin forests.

Native to Asian and Russian hardwood forests, these imported mushrooms are now growing in the wild in areas of the Midwest, including Michigan’s southern Lower Peninsula.

Golden oyster mushrooms, known for their bright yellow caps and nutty flavor, are featured on restaurant menus and in cooking videos. The mushrooms became popular among DIY enthusiasts with the introduction of grow kits in the early 2000s. By 2010, they began appearing in U.S. forests.

According to Aishwarya Veerabahu, a graduate student in the Department of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, “No one knows exactly how golden oyster mushrooms escaped into the wild, whether from a grow kit, a commercial mushroom farm or outdoor logs inoculated with golden oysters – a home-cultivation technique.”

To assist with research efforts, Michiganders are encouraged to report any sightings of golden oyster mushrooms in the wild. Observations can be recorded at iNaturalist.org.

Why be concerned? Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the DTE Foundation and ReLeaf Michigan, is offering $100,000 in grant funding through the DTE Foundation Tree Planting Grant Program. This initiative supports community tree planting efforts across Michigan.

The DNR is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 grant cycle. The program provides financial assistance to communities served by DTE Energy’s electric and natural gas services. Grants are available to support projects that plant trees away from utility lines along streets, in parks and near schools – all of which can help to mitigate climate change, enhance local beauty and engage residents in environmental stewardship. Read more

Pictured above is an oversized illustration of an ant moat, which you fill with water and install above the feeder hanger to keep crawling bugs from accessing the feeder.

As indicated by the number of hummingbird-related birding festivals across America, starting in late July and continuing into September, the post-nesting period of hummingbirds is an exciting time for birders at our feeding stations and flower gardens. And there may be as many as twice as many hummingbirds migrating south considering the addition of recent fledglings. Read more

July 28, 2025
Contact (Kirtland’s warbler species and survey): Erin Victory, 231-394-0896 / (Kirtland’s warbler habitat): Jason Hartman, 989-745-3337

A team of conservation experts from state and federal agencies and nonprofit groups is undertaking a long-term plan to stabilize the population of the once-endangered Kirtland’s warbler.

The 2025 census of the colorful songbird indicates a decline in the population. According to the recent survey, there are 1,477 breeding pairs of Kirtland’s warblers in Michigan, which is home to 98% of the global population. Another 12 pairs were counted in Wisconsin, for a global population of 1,489 pairs, with Ontario’s numbers yet to be reported.

The last census, in 2021, estimated the global population at 2,245 pairs.

The decline is projected to continue over the next few years before the Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Team’s efforts can stabilize the population through innovative strategies to manage the bird’s habitat Read more

This mid-summer tree issues update comes from the Wisconsin DNR and highlights multiple issues and insects that may also occur across the landscape in Michigan.

One issue is heavy seed crops from maple trees this year. When trees produce so many seeds, it reduces the amount of energy available for producing leaves. As a result, leaves can appear smaller and off-color into the summer. With fewer leaves produced, these trees will continue to look very thin throughout this year’s growing season.

The maple petiole borer is an exotic sawfly insect whose larvae bore into maple leaf stems or petioles, primarily sugar maple, damaging the petiole tissues and causing the leaves to drop prematurely.

The ocellate gall midge larvae feed on the leaves of maple trees causing the leaf to develop telltale colorful, concentric circles in that area of the leaf. Problems that might look similar include fungal leaf diseases and are cosmetic issues that do not impact the health of the tree.

The woolly elm aphid causes leaves to curl at the edges and develop a characteristic wrinkled appearance. Chemical control is generally not necessary and is rarely effective, because the aphids are protected within the curled leaf of the elms.

The dusky birch sawfly feeds on white birch and occasionally river birch and yellow birch. The defoliation is typically light, with a few dozen leaves per tree being eaten. This defoliation is only problematic on young seedlings with few leaves.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host the 30th annual Saginaw Bay Waterfowl & Outdoor Festival Saturday, Aug. 2, and Sunday, Aug. 3, at Bay City State Park.

With family-focused amenities like food trucks, bounce houses and activities for kids, the festival highlights the Saginaw Bay’s world-class migratory waterfowl destinations, the sport of waterfowl hunting and wetland conservation.

The festival runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Event admission is free, but a Recreation Passport is required for all vehicles entering the park.

“The Saginaw Bay region is a unique natural area with wetland habitats that attract tens of thousands of migratory birds each year,” DNR field operations manager Nate Levitte said. “This is a great opportunity to experience the arts, skills and traditions of waterfowl hunting. Whether you’re interested in waterfowl hunting, birding, wildlife watching or environmental conservation, the Saginaw Bay Waterfowl & Outdoor Festival is the perfect place to connect with the waterfowl heritage that makes this region special.” Read more

July 21, 2025

People using the Chippewa Hills Pathway trail system, near Alpena, over the next five years likely will notice timber harvest activity and changes to the landscape. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is sharing highlights and background to keep the public informed about what to expect, as work is anticipated to get underway as early as this week.

Key points 

• Planned harvests include aspen and oak clear-cuts, oak clear-cuts, thinning of red pine and irregular thinning of oak-aspen stands.
• Sections of the trail system will be closed at some times during harvest operations.
• Clear-cuts are a strategic and effective forest management tool that can promote forest health and help limit the spread of invasive species.
• More info on the specifics of trail section closures will be posted at the north and south trailheads and updated as harvesting progresses.

Background

Planned harvests along the Chippewa Hills Pathway over the next five years include aspen clear-cuts, oak clear-cuts, thinning of red pine and irregular thinning of oak-aspen stands. Read more

The Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) has made an important contribution of $25,000 to support the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) Range Rider Program that is directed by the department’s Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team.

Created in 1993, ECO includes Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties. The ECO counties have developed a leading role in natural resources and public lands management issues in eastern Arizona, including forest and watershed restoration, travel management and public land access, threatened and endangered species management, rural economic development, and recreation issues.

“The Arizona Game and Fish Department and its conservation partners are grateful to ECO for their support of the Range Rider Program,” said Jim deVos, AZGFD Mexican wolf coordinator. “One of the key activities AZGFD engages in is reducing livestock production/wolf recovery conflicts on the shared landscapes. Based on the number of documented depredations since 2019, when range riding was initiated, we have seen a decline in depredations which I believe can rightfully be attributed to the Range Rider Program.” Read more

A mountain biker safely managed a close encounter with a bear while riding on the Starry Goat Trail on national forestland near Troy last week.

The incident occurred when the biker, riding alone, noticed a bear approaching along the trail. The biker quickly dismounted, retrieved bear spray from his bike’s water bottle cage, and discharged it when the bear came within range. The bear reacted immediately, retreating approximately 20 yards into the woods. The bear sat at the base of a tree and the biker rode off without further incident. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The bear’s exact species remains unconfirmed, though the biker believed it was a grizzly bear based on its characteristics.

The Starry Goat Trail, located off Callahan Creek Road west of Troy, remains open but users are urged to remain cautious of possible bear activity. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff set up cameras on the trail to try and identify the bear but did not see any activity and recently pulled the cameras. Read more