Like many Montanans do this time of year, a man was shed hunting in north-central Montana near Dupuyer on Friday. The man was searching for antlers on a brushy hillside when he first saw a bear. As he was leaving the area, the bear charged him at close range. He shot and killed the bear. Fortunately, the man was uninjured.

The bear was an adult female grizzly in good condition with no history of conflict and was estimated to be 13 years old and weighing around 250 pounds. Read more

A historic ice storm devastated northern Michigan last month, including the eastern Upper Peninsula, and triggered a state of emergency. Consequently, all Department of Natural Resources-managed motorized and nonmotorized trails are temporarily closed for safety, assessment, infrastructure repairs and cleanup. We anticipate a phased reopening over the coming weeks.

Similarly, several state parks, campgrounds and boating access sites are temporarily closed until safe access can be restored, including hazardous tree assessment and removal.

Volunteer action plan development Read more

At times this spring you may need to bolster your offerings of grape jelly and sliced oranges by adding another cup or bowl of jelly to feed the crowd (Baltimore Oriole photo by Paul Konrad).

Western birders will be delighted to see Bullock’s Orioles return to their yard and countryside. Beyond your feeding station, check flowering trees for orioles in your neighborhood (photo by Fernando Ortega).

Visiting an oriole nectar feeder with indented jelly bowls, this adult male Orchard Oriole shows 1 of the 3 different plumage types for the species. Watch for adult male, female, and yearling male plumages (photo by Paul Konrad).

Soon, sometime in the next month the migratory species of hummingbirds and orioles will arrive for all of us to enjoy and appreciate for days or weeks or months ahead. How can you entice them to stay longer while benefiting these birds in a big way during their long migration north? By providing much-needed high-calorie foods and fresh water, which should keep them in your yard and neighborhood a little longer. In fact, some orioles and hummingbirds may even be encouraged to stay and nest in your area if they find a trusted source of food and water at your feeding station. Read more

In the middle of a long day of clearing fallen trees and branches from roadways near Lewiston, Mich., Jason Mittlestat was able to put down his chainsaw and enjoy an unexpected treat: lunch at a community meal.

Sponsoring the lunch was St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, which also provided hot showers and beds for people who couldn’t stay at home due to the ice storm that devastated parts of a 12-county area of northern Michigan starting March 30-31.

“It was donated food and all volunteers running it,” said Teresa Collins, church secretary. “One day we served 600 meals.”

Mittlestat, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources forester from Baraga, reflected on what will really stick with him from this effort: “Neighbors helping neighbors. People helping out,” he said. “That’s how people are getting out of this.”

His story caused us to ask a similar question to another crew member, then another and another at dinner last night.

We’ve talked extensively about the mission of clearing roads and access to communications towers. This time we asked our crews: “After all of this, what is going stick with you?”

None of those we asked talked about trees or roads.

Mittlestat’s coworker Todd Markham, also of Baraga, chimed in “The human spirit is to be kind. I don’t want people to think we’re bragging about the stuff we cut. So many people were out there doing all of this. Neighbor to neighbor. All over. And we got to see that.” Read more

TiCK MiTT delivers tick protection solutions to keep your pets safe from even the smallest threats

TiCK MiTT, a scientifically engineered, chemical-free solution designed to help find and remove ticks before embedding into the skin, is celebrating National Pet Day with the greatest gift of all – protection from tick-borne illnesses.

Checking your dog for ticks is crucial, especially as we head into Spring, and spend more time outside. Ticks are notorious carriers of various diseases, such as Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis, which can be harmful and even life-threatening to both pets and humans. Early detection and removal of ticks are both vital in significantly reducing the risk of transmission.

TiCK MiTT was developed by father-daughter duo Olivia and Steve Abrams, who were inspired to take action by their own personal challenges with Lyme Disease. The brand offers a unique, chemical-free approach to tick removal. Unlike traditional methods that might use chemicals like DEET or permethrin, TiCK MiTT works mechanically to trap loose ticks without exposing one’s pet or your family to toxins. It’s perfect if you’re looking for natural pet care solutions and is effective at removing several ticks at once. Read more

April 10, 2025

Following severe ice storms in northern Michigan, Department of Natural Resources staff members are assessing damage and conducting cleanup at several state parks, state park campgrounds, state forest campgrounds, boating access sites and state-managed trails.

DNR crews are also collaborating with local agencies and utility companies to clear debris, prioritize the restoration of essential services and ensure access to critical infrastructure. Much of the work is being coordinated with the Michigan Army National Guard.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a 12-county disaster area last week, which includes Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties.

As a result, the DNR temporarily closed several state parks, state park campgrounds, state forest campgrounds, boating access sites and state-managed trails until safe access can be restored, including hazardous tree assessment and removal. Read more

 MUCC is in a lawsuit to protect Proposal G—and we need YOU!

Your Voice Is More Important Now Than Ever!

Email the NRC: Express your support for year-round coyote hunting and the importance of adhering to scientific management principles. 

Testify at the Commission Meeting: Attend the NRC meeting tomorrow to provide public comment. Your testimony can directly influence the commission’s decision. Email nrc@michigan.gov to request a 5 minute testimony.

Protect Proposal G: Stand up for science-based wildlife management by advocating for decisions grounded in sound scientific principles, as required by Proposal G.

To learn more about the Coyote closure, visit ?https://www.mucc.org/protect-your-rights.

April 9, 2025

Resource includes areas cleared by Department of Natural Resources Incident Management Team, cooperators   

A new interactive map provides a tool for people to track roads that are now open following the massive ice storm in northern Michigan.

All roads on the map were identified as public safety priorities by the State Emergency Operations Center and were cleared of debris by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Incident Management Team, along with the Michigan National Guard and other cooperators.

“Making sure there are clear roads for vehicles in the event of an emergency has been one of our top missions since we got saws, trucks and equipment out in communities hit by these storms,” Keith Murphy, Incident Management Team Operations Chief, said. “Our crews and cooperators have already cleared more than 630 miles of roadway and we’re not done yet.”

Murphy added, “This map is a tool people can use to find clear routes to their destinations, providing options to keep them and their loved ones safe.” Read more

April 7, 2025

Hundreds of miles of roads cleared, communications protected

Clearing tree debris to reopen roads and gain access to communication towers has been mission number one for the Michigan Department Natural Resources Incident Management Team following the recent massive ice storm in northern Michigan.

In its first five days on the ground, the team, working with the Michigan National Guard and many other cooperators, put public safety first as hundreds of miles of roads were cleared in the 12-county area hit hardest by the storm.

“Our crews have been working from early in the morning until sunset to clear trees, branches and brush to make sure emergency vehicles can access roads in case people need help,” said Mike Janisse, Incident Commander.

“We currently have 15 crews in the field who are continuing to work in some of the hardest hit counties. They’ve pushed through wind, rain, slush, snow, and even more ice to help make life a little easier for people who have been hit hard by this storm.”

Working with multiple agencies, the team has cleared nearly 500 miles of roadway since the storm response began April 2. Read more