Awards from Walmart’s Acres for America program and the Life Time Foundation will direct $1 million to the project

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Thursday announced $5.6 million in 10 grants through Walmart’s Acres for America program that will help to permanently protect more than 148,000 acres of wildlife habitat across nine states. The grants will leverage $107.3 million in public and private matching funds for a total conservation impact of $112.9 million.

The Acres for America program is a nearly two-decades-long partnership between NFWF and Walmart.

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GW: “…stable governance has not been achieved…”

The Boone and Crockett Club board of directors passed a new position statement supporting the delisting of recovered wolf and grizzly bear populations and resuming state management and oversight of the two species. The position statement was passed last week during the Club’s 136th Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. For most of its history, the Club and its members have been actively involved in wolf and grizzly bear policy, research, and developing best management practices. The Club understands the biological, sociocultural, economic, and political factors associated with managing these two species, and is well-positioned to help promote results-driven, successful conservation strategies moving forward.

“Keeping species at no risk of extinction listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) misuses the ESA, wastes the resources of the ESA program needed for other species, impedes conservation, and erodes support for the ESA,” the statement reads. “The Boone and Crockett Club maintains that state and tribal wildlife agencies have the expertise and the capacity to successfully manage recovered wolves and grizzlies and refine their management policies to ensure populations remain robust and to mitigate any new challenges that arise. These agencies and their associated commissions are also in the best position to address the effects on wildlife and people from wolf and grizzly conflicts.” Read more

As winter begins across Michigan, bird-watchers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of winter finches moving in large numbers outside their typical range.

The latest winter finch forecast from the Finch Research Network predicts that purple finches, common and hoary redpolls, pine siskins and nomadic white-winged crossbills will move through the state this winter. As crops of berries, seeds and cones deplete throughout the winter, we could see some late movements of evening grosbeaks, pine grosbeaks and red crossbills into Michigan, though most movements will likely occur west of Lake Superior.

These birds depend on cone and berry crops of the boreal (northern) forest for food each winter. When there is not enough food, they will migrate outside their usual wintering grounds. This unusual migratory movement is called an irruption, which will bring northern finches south into lower Ontario, the Great Lakes and beyond. Irruptions don’t happen every year, which makes winter finch sightings particularly magical.

Learn how to identify, find and attract some of these winter gems. Read more

Looking to cut down a fresh-from-the-woods Christmas tree? You have options!

First of all, though, cutting of Christmas trees is not allowed in Michigan state forests. Only dead and downed trees in certain areas are available to people who have purchased a $20 fuelwood permit.

However, you can buy a $5 permit to cut a tree in Michigan’s three national forests: the Huron-Manistee in the northern Lower Peninsula and the Hiawatha and Ottawa forests in the Upper Peninsula. Permits allow people to cut a Christmas tree within designated areas of the forest. Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host a public meeting next week in Houghton County to present conceptual designs for development of a state scenic site at Douglass Houghton Falls.

The meeting will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the auditorium of Lake Linden-Hubbell High School, located at 601 Calumet St. in Lake Linden.

At the meeting, DNR staff and U.P. Engineers & Architects, Inc. representatives will present conceptual designs for the site, followed by an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

“Douglass Houghton Falls is a natural gem in Michigan’s Copper Country, and it’s a place we want to ensure more people can discover and enjoy,” said DNR Parks and Recreation Division Chief Ron Olson. “It’s a special site with great significance locally and regionally, too, so it is key that the public has the opportunity to share their input as plans move forward.”

In 2018, the DNR purchased the 115-acre site from a private landowner through a 2015 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant of $300,000.

The site itself offers Michigan’s tallest waterfall, at 110 feet, which presents spectacular panoramic views of pristine wilderness in the heart of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Read more

Invasive pest now confirmed in seven Michigan counties

The Michigan departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development encourage those who have eastern hemlock trees on their property to take time this winter to inspect the trees for signs of hemlock woolly adelgid. Anyone taking to the woods also can help by looking for signs of this invasive insect while hunting, hiking or enjoying other outdoor activities.

Winter is the best time to look for evidence of an infestation, according to Robert Miller, MDARD’s invasive species prevention and response specialist.

“Cooler temperatures trigger feeding activity,” Miller said. “As hemlock woolly adelgid feeds, it secretes a white, waxy material that creates ovisacs. The presence of these small, round, white masses makes it possible to identify infested trees.” Read more

Whether you live on a lake, enjoy a secret fishing spot or escape the daily grind at a serene lake in the woods, you already know that lakes provide big benefits to mental and physical health and deserve our appreciation and attention. You can discover even more connections through an upcoming Michigan State University Extension opportunity.

A nationally recognized, award-winning, six-week class for anyone with a passion or curiosity for inland lakes, including lakefront property owners, local government officials, lake managers and educators, MSU Extension’s Introduction to Lakes Online course is full of information and inspiration. Led by Extension educators and state agency personnel, it covers lake ecology, watersheds, shorelines, water law, aquatic plant management and community involvement.

Registration, course information

The course runs Jan. 30 through March 20. Register by Jan. 12 for the early-bird discounted rate of $95 per person; after that, the rate is $115. Registration closes Jan. 28. Course details and scholarship and other information are available on the Introduction to Lakes Online course webpage. Read more