Today, dozens of national, regional, and local hunting and fishing groups submitted final comments on the EPA’s proposed rollback of Clean Water Act protections for 50 percent of wetlands and 18 percent of stream miles in the U.S. Their comments underscore the potential economic consequences for rural communities and outdoor recreation businesses and the species that stand to lose habitat if clean water standards are weakened.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership has also mobilized more than 3,500 individual sportsmen and women to submit comments opposing the rollback during the brief comment period. Read more

The goal is to conserve habitat and protect migratory birds

Ottawa, ON, and Ithaca, NY— A new paper published Monday in the journal Nature Communications shows a blueprint for conserving enough habitat to protect the populations of almost one-third of the warblers, orioles, tanagers, and other birds that migrate among the Americas throughout the year. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

I had put in a long workday without any breaks other than a bowl of soup for lunch. With just enough light remaining and a relatively warm-weather day, I thought I’d finish just one more project outdoors. An old playhouse/turned shed inherited from the previous property owner at the homestead was in need of a final coat of paint to finish the renovation. The first two sides were complete, when I went inside the garage for more paint. As I looked out the back window, where I feed the perching birds in the pine straw, here they came: three jake turkeys for some fast food.

These year-old birds have been around the property since last spring, when there were nine of them in the family group including the mother hen. During our severe cold weather with a substantial layer of ice on the ground, I knew it was going to be rough on the birds and was happy to see them come in routinely for some chow. Now the gang has been pared to seven birds including four hens but I hadn’t seen much of them recently.

The adolescent big-game birds were now scratching and pecking through the pine needles mere feet from the garage, where I had become voluntarily captive; there was no way out of the building without being seen and frightening my guests. I laughed to myself and headed over to the refrigerator for a cool drink ready to watch the antics of the three brothers. The paint job was going to wait.

For some 20 minutes they remained until one of them began walking away; the other two followed. They got about 20 yards from the feeding area but not far enough yet for me to escape the confines of my lookout, so I stayed right there watching. One bird that apparently is the boss brother started jumping and with a stretched out neck, began circling one of the other birds. Obviously a show of dominance, the antics continued in my midst for another 15 minutes, as the group slowly moved away.

When the visitors got to about 50 yards from the garage, it was time to make a move with my paint bucket. I peered from the passage door and could still see them interacting but I stepped outdoors thinking enough is enough. One bird soon picked me off and all of them halted with heads high and eyes tuned to me. I took a few non-threatening steps toward the shed and big brother gobbled for all he was worth. It was as if to say, “Watch it, buddy. You’re invading our space!” Another step by me and another short gobble hurled at me.

Jakes don’t gobble quite the same as the adult males; it’s more of an abbreviated rendition of their effort. However, to see them and to hear them confirms that such gobbling emanates from young birds. This local group was not entirely committed to leaving and was content to take a few painting lessons from me, albeit from a comfortable distance.

I won’t be hunting these youngsters this season and am hoping they’ll survive another year and become mature. In the meantime, I’m glad to have watched the show.

Citizen-science data vital for breeding-bird studies

Ithaca, NY—Around the world, birds are building nests and raising families—even near homes, offices, or in local parks. Anyone who finds a bird’s nest can help scientists by reporting to the free NestWatch project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. NestWatch collects, analyzes, and distributes data, serving as a warehouse of nesting bird information. NestWatchers, in turn, get to witness the start of new life and help to preserve it with their valuable information.

A NestWatcher reports a nest from a birdhouse in upstate New York. Photo by Chelsea Benson.

“Every year, scientists use data collected by NestWatchers in published studies,” says Robyn Bailey, NestWatch project leader. “For example, in 2018, two studies examined the effects of spring temperatures on the timing of nesting activities, and showed that birds nest earlier when spring temperatures are warmer. Such studies help add to our understanding of how climate change can affect the lives of birds.”

Those who find a nest can report its location, the species using it, number of eggs laid, and other important milestones as the adult birds incubate, raise, and fledge their young. The NestWatch website and mobile app now accept reports submitted from anywhere in the world, enabling scientists to compare birds across their global breeding range. Read more

As a part of a joint wildlife disease initiative, Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are seeking grant proposals for collaborative research, education and outreach projects to address the most important issues around wildlife disease in Michigan, especially chronic wasting disease in deer.

“Michigan is not alone in this fight against CWD; many other states are trying to better understand these same issues,” said DNR Wildlife Chief Russ Mason. “Collaboration with other states and agencies that leverages available data, knowledge and programming to advance the rate of discovery and impact of work is encouraged.” Read more

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. As spring nears, Michigan residents may occasionally see some smoke, courtesy of prescribed fires, or burns, carried out in different areas of the state by the DNR. They can be conducted any time of year, but most burns are done in the spring and fall.

The DNR works closely with local officials in areas where burns are planned. Weather is carefully monitored, too, and burns will be canceled if conditions are unfavorable.

These carefully staged fires help control invasive species and create critical habitat for wildlife. And, strange as it may sound, these fires also help our forests grow! Want to learn more? Check out the DNR’s Prescribed Fire Explained webpage for some history, a map of past burn locations, a link to a prescribed burn story map and the opportunity to sign up for email updates.

By Glen Wunderlich

The pending plan to manage the over-populated moose herd on Isle Royale National Park is to import wolves – including starving wolves from Canada that have wiped out an entire caribou herd already. There’s no doubt that wolves will do the dirty work of moose management by running the moose ragged and killing them off one by one. However, wolves don’t come with an off button. Saving moose from starvation only to have them eaten alive presents a dire future for not only the moose but also the wolves when they eat too much.

Although some 56 miles from the coast of Michigan, Isle Royale is part of Michigan. Treaties with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community complicate management, because rights have been granted to the Indian Community to hunt and fish, and they would have the final word, if hunting were to be allowed.   And, if you haven’t guessed by now, that’s exactly what should be proposed in some manner.

One of the groups involved in this current experiment certainly has a dog in this fight, so to speak. The International Wolf Center (IWC) is a research and educational organization based in Ely, Minnesota, that, in its own words, “advances the survival of wolf populations.” This group and others have pledged $75,000 to airlift wolves to the island. The trouble is that some of the relocated wolves will die from the apparent trauma of being moved. Since the fall of 2018, two wolves died in the moving process, while another ran away on an “ice bridge” that developed in winter, thus wasting the money and effort.

Here’s a different approach. If we are going to inject wolves into the equation, then maybe we should think about a prescribed number of them. To keep them from running out of moose meat, they could be neutered first, thereby limiting their potential for over-killing.

In conjunction with the plan, hunters could be employed in strategic areas but would have the benefit of not only transportation to and from the island but also with assistance to haul out any animals taken – even if that means by helicopter, just as is done in rugged terrain in other parts of the world. Hunters would have two-way radios and units to communicate with officials to get the precious cargo handled safely.

To offset costs, hunters could apply for hunting tags through a lottery system with the cost of applications and actual license fees going to the effort’s expense similar to what Michigan does with its elk population. Unlike wolves, the number of moose taken could be strictly regulated. Plus, hunters could be required to take certain animals to balance the herd’s composition according to sound management principles. Wolves, on the other hand, are indiscriminate.

When hunting is dismissed out-of-hand, the dilemma presented to wildlife management gets complicated. Drastic and expensive endeavors always seem to be the only reasonable answer, just as it is with Ann Arbor’s deer over-population and controversial deer sterilization campaign. Ethical hunters can ease the pain and suffering of the moose and will pay for the privilege to become part of the management plan, if only given consideration.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has awarded a total of $100,000 in deer habitat improvement grant funding to a dozen entities for projects in the Upper Peninsula.

The Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative is a competitive grant program designed to enhance deer habitat on non-state lands in the Upper Peninsula.

“I think we have a good crop of projects this year, and some new partnership and project opportunities,” said Bill Scullon, DNR wildlife field operations manager and administrator for the grant initiative. “These projects will allow us to continue making deer habitat improvements on private lands, which is an important component of our Upper Peninsula deer management strategy.”

A 25 percent match is required for the projects, which allows the DNR to reach beyond the original grant investment to accomplish more important habitat work. Read more