Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
Just in time for Arbor Day this Friday, the DTE Energy Foundation along with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and ReLeaf Michigan announce the availability of the annual community tree-planting grant program.
A total of $70,000 is available again this year in matching grants of up to $3,000 each to support tree planting on public property. Read more
Western Sandpiper. An estimated 6 million of these birds migrate along the Pacific Flyway between northwest Alaska breeding grounds to Mexico and coastal areas of Central and North America where they spend the winter. Photo by Ian Davies. Download larger image.
Ithaca, NY—Dedicated bird watchers worldwide have May 5 circled on their calendars, ready to do their part for Global Big Day in parks, forests, backyards, desert scrub, and every habitat imaginable. On that day, participants report their observations to the eBird website (ebird.org) run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. A “Big Day” is an attempt to see or hear as many bird species as possible in 24 hours. Read more
Release of birds to western part of the region postponed until spring
Prolonged wintry conditions in the Upper Peninsula have forced the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to postpone a release of sharp-tailed grouse in the western part of the region – a place where they have not been seen reliably since the mid-1990s.
DNR wildlife biologists had planned to capture about 20 birds from the eastern U.P. and re-introduce them to Ontonagon County this spring. However, late winter snowfall and a persistent groundcover of snow, as deep as 3 feet in some places, have delayed the effort until next spring. Read more
Contact: Jordan Kennedy (Governor’s Office), 517-335-6397 or Ed Golder (DNR), 517-284-5815
ANN ARBOR, MI – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced private donations totaling $10.5 million to help build the Iron Belle Trail, a major development for Michigan’s 2,000-mile hiking and bicycling “showcase” trail that traverses the state.
“Our natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities in Michigan are second to none, and an important and defining part of who we are as a state,” Snyder said. “These generous contributions toward completion of the Iron Belle Trail help solidify Michigan’s reputation as ‘The Trails State’. I sincerely thank all of the sponsors for their vision and support of the Iron Belle Trail.”
The governor was joined by David Egner of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Ann Arbor-area entrepreneur Michael Levine at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor for the announcement. The Wilson Foundation has committed more than $5.5 million to date, including a recent $3.25 million grant for trail development in Washtenaw County and more than $2.3 million to support trail design and planning in Detroit. Levine previously pledged $5 million. The funding will be used for engineering, development, signage and other needs on the Iron Belle Trail and to leverage other donations in the ongoing campaign. Read more
MISSOULA, Mont.— The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s volunteer force of 11,000-strong donated more than $21 million in labor during 2017.
“We have a profound gratitude for our volunteers who give so much of their time, talents and energy on behalf of RMEF,” said Nancy Holland, RMEF president and CEO. “They constantly go above and beyond in helping to further our shared conservation mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.”
The Independent Sector used data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate the 2017 value of one volunteer hour as $24.14. RMEF volunteers average approximately 80 hours of service annually. If you do the math, that equates into $21,243,200 of total value for elk and elk country.
RMEF volunteers host fundraising banquets, membership drives and other events across more than 500 chapters from coast-to-coast. Those generated dollars are put back on the ground in their respective states and around the country to benefit elk, elk habitat, public access projects, hunting outreach events and scientific research. Read more
“CWD is not new news, but its threat to deer and elk is increasing, which should be a concern to every sportsman,” said Ben B. Hollingsworth Jr., president of the Boone and Crockett Club. “As hunter-conservationists, we’ve had to address threats to wildlife before, but none like this.” Read more
Oak wilt, caused by a fungus, makes oak trees suddenly wilt from the top down. Symptoms are most likely to appear from June through September.</div
>Have an oak tree on your property? To keep it healthy, don’t prune it from mid-April through the summer. That’s a key time for infection with oak wilt, a serious disease that can weaken white oaks and kill red oak trees within weeks.
Oak wilt, caused by a fungus, has been reported throughout the Midwest, including Michigan, said Ryan Wheeler, invasive species biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Red oaks are most susceptible to the disease. These trees have leaves with pointed tips and include black oak, northern red oak and northern pin oak. Trees in the white oak group have rounded leaf edges and include white oak and swamp white oak. They are less susceptible. Read more
According to a report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, on the evening of April 2, a cattle owner’s neighbors heard a commotion amongst the owners cattle. The neighbors and additional neighbors responded to the commotion, which included the sounds of a calf bawling loudly. Using spotlights, the responders observed three wolves in the pasture and found the cattle tightly grouped together. The responders honked a vehicle horn and shined a light on the wolves until they fled the pasture. Read more
Contact: Lt. David Shaw, 616-218-3762
Game ranch owner falsified information related to chronic wasting disease testing
A Mecosta County game ranch owner has been sentenced on charges resulting from an investigation by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Lester Jay Gemmen, 64, of Morley was charged with providing false information regarding the origin of two deer heads that were submitted for disease testing, and for failing to properly maintain fencing at the Super G Ranch. The ranch is a privately owned cervid (POC) facility, a designation that includes game ranches and hunting ranches.
He was sentenced by the 77th District Court to 60 days in jail for each count, ordered to pay $775 in fines and costs and must perform 80 hours of community service.
Read more
WHAT: EarthCam and the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) are bringing visitors a unique bird’s-eye-view of an osprey nest in Mooresville, NC with this new live streaming webcam! Located on Lake Norman, watch as these fish hawks hunt for food and prepare their nest for the arrival of some baby chicks!
WHY: This camera highlights the work of NCWF’s local chapter, the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists (LNWC), a community-based organization established for the purpose of environmental education, appreciation of wildlife and natural history, and conservation of wildlife habitat and natural resources. EarthCam is proud to support NCWF & LNWC’s important conservation initiatives by sharing views of the nest with this new live camera.
“Offering the opportunity to view an active osprey nest provides a unique educational experience to the public and helps foster awareness of our mission to protect, conserve and restore the wildlife and habitats of North Carolina”, said Billy Wilson, Vice-Chairman of North Carolina Wildlife Federation and President of Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists.
HOW: Fly into an osprey nest is Mooresville, North Carolina with EarthCam’s new live webcam, thanks to the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists! Read more