The surprisingly complex prairie vole

ESA anniversary logoNature is surprising.  And the more you explore and learn about the critters around us and their habitats, the more amazing the world seems!

The prairie vole is inconspicuous, but leads a fascinating life.

prairie voleThe prairie vole is a small, mouse-like animal that is only about 5 inches long and can be found in prairies and old fields in the southwest corner of Michigan. They prefer thick, grassy vegetation where they create highways under the grass. These networks of “roads” protect them from predators, give them access to multiple living chambers, and allow them to travel around their home territory gathering seeds, acorns, fruit, grains, and forbs to eat. They will cache (or store) food in underground chambers that can hold up to 4 liters of food – that’s almost a gallon of food for a critter only 5 inches long! Read more

Wildlife

Midway Announces Better Shipping Rates

There are no order minimums or small order fees and shipping costs are calculated ‘real-time’ as you add products to your shopping cart

Today, I’m very pleased to announce one of the most important improvements for Customers we’ve ever made — our new Nitro Express Shipping® system. We’ve spent several years and millions of dollars to develop one of the best, most efficient shipping systems in the country; and we’ve negotiated very hard with our freight partners — all to save our Customers money on shipping costs.

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Ammunition, Firearms, Hunting, Self Defense, Wildlife

Smugglers Force Haitian Migrants Into Sea to Avoid Interdiction

Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Key Largo rescue a Haitian migrant from the water west of Mona Island, Puerto Rico, Friday. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Coast Guard repatriated 43 Haitian migrants Wednesday from two separate interdictions in the Mona Passage, including a pair of migrants who had to be rescued after they were forced into the water by smugglers attempting to avoid interdiction at sea.

The Coast Guard Cutter Confidence repatriated the migrants to Haiti Wednesday. Read more

General

Leading Charity Evaluator Slaps Animal Rights Groups with Donor Advisory Warnings

(Columbus, OH) – Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities, has stripped their rating of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights groups and replaced them with a “Donor Advisory” warning.

Charity Navigator rates organizations from one to four stars, with four being the highest rating possible. According to Charity Navigator, a “Donor Advisory” means that “serious concerns have been raised about this charity which prevents the issuance of a star rating.”

The move comes after Feld Entertainment, Inc., operator of the Ringling Brothers Circus, recovered $15.75 million in attorney fees from HSUS and their codefendants who include Born Free USA/Animal Protection Institute, Fund for Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, and the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) as reported by USSA in early June. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

New Jersey Passes Ivory Ban

Gilbert, Arizona: In a move that caught just about everyone by surprise, the New Jersey legislature quietly passed S. 2012/A. 3128, a draconian total ivory ban bill with no exemptions for existing legal ivory and that even bans 10,000-year-old mammoth ivory. Knife Rights has asked Gov. Christie to veto this irrational and very destructive bill. We need all New Jersey residents and all who do business in New Jersey to WRITE or CALL the Governor TODAY and ask him to VETO S. 2012/A. 3128, the ivory Ban Bill! Read more

General, Wildlife

Women and Guns – the New Normal

The number of women applying for concealed carry permits has continued to steadily increase as more and more of them have decided to take responsibility for their own safety, as well as the protection of their families. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Beth Alcazar, a freelance writer and editor, with degrees in language arts, communication and education. Beth currently teaches college-level English, speech and critical thinking classes. She is a wife and mother of three and writes for the USCCA Concealed Carry Magazine as well as having her own blog, “Pacifiers and Peacemakers” on the USCCA web site. She just took another step in her journey to become more proficient in self-defense by attending the fourth USCCA Instructor Certification training course. Read more

Firearms, Self Defense

Threatened and endangered species feature: peregrine falcon

ESA 40th anniversary logoJune 18, 2014

Through generous support from DTE Energy, the DNR is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Michigan’s Endangered Species Act from now through September. Each week, an important species will be featured.

Peregrine falcons are the fastest-flying birds in the world, reaching speeds of 200 miles per hour in a dive. Powerful and fierce, the peregrine falcon hunts small and medium-sized birds, dropping down on them from high above. Distinguishable by their dark brown backs and white faces with a black tear on their cheeks, these regal raptors can be seen on cliffs in the Upper Peninsula and in cities across the state.

peregrine falconPeregrine falcons are currently endangered in Michigan. They were included on the first list of endangered species created under Michigan’s Endangered Species Act. Pesticides took their toll on this bird of prey, and they were virtually eradicated from eastern North America by the middle of the 20th century.

After World War II, the use of a new insecticide known as DDT increased. Small birds and mammals accumulated the pesticide in their bodies. Raptors feeding on the contaminated birds and rodents were, in turn, poisoned by a progressive build-up of the pesticide. DDT was especially harmful to birds because it caused eggshell thinning, which resulted in weak eggs that broke under pressure.

After significant recovery efforts, peregrine falcons have made an incredible rebound and are now regularly seen in many large cities and coastal areas. In 2012, there were 12 confirmed nesting pairs in Michigan!

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Wildlife
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