WESTFIELD, Massachusetts –– Savage Arms proudly announces “Aldo Leopold | Serve the Land” which debuted exclusively on Carbon TV on April 26, 2023 and is now available on Savage’s website. This complete film breaks down the impact, importance and of course, legacy, of Leopold. Viewers will learn why he was such an influential person in the history of wildlife conservation in North America and also discover a direct tie Savage Arms had to Leopold.

Many people know Leopold as a pioneer in wildlife conservation and are familiar with his life story and major accomplishments. Leopold’s collection of essays “A Sand County Almanac” is iconic in many conservation, environmental and hunting communities. With more than two million copies sold, it is one of the most respected books about the environment ever published and is a driving force behind Leopold being regarded as the most influential mind in conservation in the 20th century.

“Aldo Leopold’s name, story and many of his accomplishments are well-known within the hunting community,” said Megan Harten, Marketing Manager at Savage Arms. “But this film highlights specific stories and paramount events with great detail. Our partners on this project present information and unparalleled knowledge that will allow even the most dedicated followers or studiers of Leopold to learn something new. We’re proud of this film and look forward to hearing how viewers gained new perspective and appreciation for the work of a great man, conservationist and hunter.”

Leopold, like many who truly make a difference in their field, fully dedicated himself to conservation. In 1928 he believed wildlife conservation was so flawed, he quit his high-paying, comfortable job at the Forest Service to pursue, develop and implement his progressive thoughts on the topic. At the time he had five children and the country was about to enter The Great Depression.

Leopold’s urge to step out and make a difference was fueled by the initial reasoning that wildlife conservation was not sufficiently achieved by wildlife protection—it required active management. This meant that having Game Wardens enforce laws was not enough, and that effective wildlife conservation required wildlife managers. Read more

Contact: Kristen Bennett, 248-431-1265

DNR outlines temporary closures due to enhancement projects in state parks this spring and summer

Thanks to $250 million in federal relief COVID-19 funding made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, several of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ planned improvement projects at state parks are getting underway this spring and summer.

The result? Temporary closures will be in place so the DNR can address a long list of critical needs.

Because of this work, visitors will be able to enjoy new and upgraded camping amenities, park roads, electrical and water distribution systems and toilet and shower buildings, as well as visitor center enhancements and historic preservation work – all things that contribute to a better visitor experience.

“Although there may be some dust and some campgrounds and amenities may temporarily close during construction, staff is working hard to minimize the duration of any closures and the inconvenience to our guests,” said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief. “Shovels in the ground are a true testament to the historic investment being made in our state parks and recreation system, and we appreciate visitors’ patience this season.”

Stay up to date on closures

Get the latest information on closures at all DNR facilities at Michigan.gov/DNRClosures. Some of the planned state park closures include: Read more

Head into the outdoors without worrying about pesky insects with Zone Protects Realtree Invisible Insect Repellent.

This two-pack features the Zone REALTREE Invisible Hunter Insect Repellent and Tightline Insect Repellent.

Both the Invisible Hunter and Tightline Insect Repellent are made from a 20% Picaridin, DEET-free formula. Odor-free and unscented, the formulas are designed for 12 hours of invisible protection from mosquitoes, ticks, flies, chiggers, gnats and no-see-ums.

Non-greasy and non-sticky, both versions comes in a convenient 4-ounce mist spray that will fit in your pocket, backpack, boat bag or tackle box.The repellents will not damage your hunting gear or fishing gear, stain your clothing or leave you feeling sticky or oily. They are safe for adults, children and pregnant/nursing women.

Features:

• 12 Hours + protection and invisibility from mosquitoes, ticks, flies, chiggers, gnats and no-seeums
• 20% Picaridin formula, EPA registered
• Non-oily, non-greasy, non-sticky formula goes on easy and clean
• Safe for adults, children, and pregnant women
• DEET-Free formula. Better chemistry, better results

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife recently auctioned off $51,542 of ginseng and yellow root that was forfeited from illegal possession cases. That total came from 59.7 pounds of ginseng and 3.1 pounds of yellow root from evidence collected following cleared Ohio court processes.

The money raised in the auction was added to the state’s Wildlife Diversity Fund, which supports projects for species of greatest conservation need such as sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, and lake sturgeon.

The recent Division of Wildlife auction contained roots that were illegally harvested or possessed and were subsequently forfeited by the court of jurisdiction. During the auction, 23 lots of ginseng and one lot of yellow root were sold to licensed ginseng dealers, averaging a price of $861.52 per pound of ginseng sold and $35.16 per pound of yellow root. Read more

A screenshot of a BirdCast bird migration map resembles a radar screen. This screenshot is dated April 1st at 4:20am EDT.

Spring migration brings a number of high-tech options for birders to use online when planning birding trips and to keep in touch with bird migration across the Lower 48 States. BirdCast provides migration forecasts that show predicted nocturnal migration activities for tonight and the next 2 nights. You can also see real-time BirdCast migration maps that show intensities of nocturnal bird migration as detected by the US weather surveillance radar network between sunset and sunrise each night.

Nocturnal Bird Migration Radar Maps – BirdCast real-time analysis maps show intensities of color-coded radar movements throughout the nighttime hours as detected by the US weather surveillance radar network from sunset to sunrise across the Lower 48 States. The migration movements progress with time, with a red line that moves east to west to show the timing of local sunset, followed by colored flight patterns detected by the radar, and a yellow line moves across the states to show the progression of sunrise.

Bird migration intensity is indicated on the maps with areas showing a range of colors from purple and blue for light migration rates and lighter colors where higher migration rates are detected. Brighter colors indicate a higher migration rate, expressed in units of birds per kilometer per hour. Orange arrows also show the directions birds were flying.

You can now monitor the maps daily, weekly, or whenever you think of it during this spring migration season at Live bird migration maps – BirdCast including access to the library of past migration maps for any date during present and past spring and fall migrations. Read more

Join the International Crane Foundation and more than 1,800 volunteers on Saturday morning April 15 from 5:30 to 7:30am for the annual Midwest Crane Count. Each year participants travel to their local wetlands and favorite birding locations to survey Sandhill Cranes, and possibly Whooping Cranes, then report their observations. The survey takes place in more than 150 counties in 7 states – including all of Wisconsin and portions of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Read more

Duncraft’s Best Nesting Shelf is an option to a DIY nesting shelf.

Not every bird nests in a birdhouse or nest box; actually, just a small percentage of birds are specialized cavity nesting birds, but some birds will build their nest on the edge or corner of buildings where they can fit a nest that offers a degree of protection and stability. The most obvious among these birds are robins, doves, phoebes, and House Finches. To attract these species, or to redirect them to a certain location, some years ago a creative birder tried building a simple shelf that proved successful, and over the years the design has been improved.

Today, a nesting shelf tends to be something of an open-ended box, but the best ones tend to be a little more open, with partly open sides so the birds can see more of the surrounding area. They have a slanted roof with a bit of an overhang, a drain hole drilled in each corner of the floor, and many nesting shelves have a low “curb” on the front. Read more