Hunters who own or lease land that they want to improve for wildlife realize that one of the most effective things they can do to improve habitat is to plant food plots.

For those who are not already running large farming operations, that means they need economical, easy-to use and effective equipment to do the planting.

That’s why The Firminator is so popular: it’s an all-in-one machine that prepares the ground, plants the seed, and cultipacks the ground afterwards for top yields. Read more

American Bird Conservancy Supports Bill to Suspend Neonics

‘Saving America’s Pollinators Act’ Would Protect Birds, Bees

Washington –Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have introduced the Saving America’s Pollinators Act of 2017, directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to suspend registration of a toxic group of pesticides called neonicotinoids, or “neonics.” Now the most commonly used insecticides on Earth, these chemicals are deadly to birds, bees, and aquatic life. Read more

DNR offers tips for avoiding problems with beautiful but plentiful birdsPerhaps one of the most recognizable birds in Michigan is the large, regal-looking Canada goose. Once a rare sight in Michigan, Canada geese now are very plentiful in the state – so plentiful that some people tend to think of them as pests. The Department of Natural Resources reminds Michigan residents that, with a little patience, understanding and perseverance, homeowners can learn to respect and appreciate these beautiful birds.

The subspecies of goose that is most plentiful in Michigan is the giant Canada goose. Because they are so abundant, many would never suspect that the giant Canada goose subspecies nearly was extinct in the 1950s because of unregulated overhunting and wetland habitat loss.

In recent years, the giant Canada goose has experienced population explosions in areas throughout North America due, in part, to the success of wildlife management programs and the adaptability of these birds. In Michigan today, the number of giant Canada geese counted each spring is well over 300,000. They nest in every Michigan county, but are most common in the southern third of the state, where 78 percent of the goose population is found. Read more

National Pollinator Week: June 19 – 25, 2017EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation works throughout the year to improve habitat not only for wild turkeys but also for some of our upland habitat’s most important visitors — pollinators. Bees, birds and butterflies are a part of the pollinator group, which has seen drastic declines over the past 20 years. This week, during National Pollinator Week, the NWTF asks you to join our celebration and help keep our pollinators protected.

According to the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, birds, bees, butterflies, beetles, bats and other small mammals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food. An estimated one-third of all foods and beverages is delivered by pollinators, and pollination produces nearly $20 billion worth of products annually. Pollinators also provide us with one-half of the world’s oils; they prevent soil erosion and increase carbon storage. Read more

Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologists estimate the number of moose in the western Upper Peninsula core population area at 378 animals, up from 285 in 2015.

“Our survey findings this year are encouraging because a possible population decline detected in 2015 was transitory,” said Dean Beyer, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife research biologist who organizes the sampling and generates the estimate for the biannual survey effort.

The results were reported to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission Thursday at a meeting in Houghton. A moose hunt in Michigan is not currently being considered.

Moose are found in Michigan at Isle Royale National Park and in two population areas on the mainland of the Upper Peninsula.

The western U.P. moose range covers about 1,400 square miles in parts of Marquette, Baraga, and Iron counties. The population there is the result of moose reintroduction efforts in 1985 and 1987. Read more