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Being a wolf biologist requires various skills, including howling, endurance, identifying tracks, and braving cold toes. Wolf-carnivore management specialist Sarah Zielke has all these skill sets, which are essential for today’s fieldwork as we head to a wolf den looking for evidence of wolf pups. Learn more about how wolf specialists monitor Montana’s wolf population and discover what she encounters along the way in the latest episode of Field Trips.

You can learn more about FWP’s management of gray wolves at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/wolf

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In this episode of the award-winning “Wildtalk” podcast, we talk to wildlife biologist Pete Kailing about all things habitat in the southwest Lower Peninsula, fly away with a discussion about the great horned owl and wrap up the episode with a chat about the short-tailed weasel.

Don’t forget to participate in the wildlife quiz part of the show for a chance to win a “Wildtalk” podcast camp mug. The deadline for submission is Dec. 15, so don’t delay. These mugs are exclusive and not available for purchase, so be sure to listen and submit your answer via email to DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov with the subject line “Mug me.” Keep an ear out for the December episode, when we will announce the lucky winners.

You can be on the show

If you have a general question about wildlife or hunting, record a voice memo on your phone and email it to DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov, and we might play it on the air. Don’t worry if you make a mistake recording your audio. We’ll be sure to edit your voice memo to help you be as concise and articulate as possible with your question. Submitted questions are not guaranteed to end up on the show, but we’ll do our best to work in as many as we can.

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By JOHN PEPIN
Deputy public information officer
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Earlier this week, along a snow-covered highway near the Schoolcraft-Luce County line, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jason Ruth pulled his vehicle over to the side of the road.

DNR wildlife biologist Kristie Sitar had arrived there in her truck too.

Sometime over the past few days, a vehicle passing the area had struck and killed a white-tailed deer. Crows, ravens and at least one bald eagle had found the carcass and began scavenging meat from the roadkill.

At some point, when a vehicle or vehicles sped past, the adult eagle flushed from the carcass and tried to fly away – likely to a branch in a nearby tree where it could overlook the scene.

But the tremendous bird, with a wingspan of nearly 7 feet, couldn’t gain enough altitude on take-off before it too was struck by passing traffic and thrown down to the side of the road with the force of the impact. Read more