DNR Seeks Tips About Dead Eagles in Delta County

Michigan DNR conservation officers are requesting assistance with any information regarding five deceased eagles that were located in Delta County’s Garden Peninsula April 3-17. Anyone with information is asked to contact the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800. Tipsters may remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials are hoping someone can shed light on a recent series of deceased eagles in the Upper Peninsula’s Garden Peninsula – a piece of land that extends south from Delta County and is bordered by Big Bay de Noc to the west and Lake Michigan to the east.

Five bald eagles were found dead in a single area between April 3 and April 17.

“The DNR is requesting tips from the public to help solve this ongoing investigation,” said 1st Lt. Mark Zitnik, DNR Law Enforcement supervisor in Newberry. “We can confirm that the eagles did not die from natural causes, predators or vehicle collisions.”

Tipsters who provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of any individuals may be eligible for a cash reward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Eagles are a state and federally protected species. In addition to court costs, state penalties include:

  • 90-day misdemeanor.
  • Fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per eagle.
  • Reimbursement of $1,500 per eagle.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local tribes are assisting the DNR with this investigation. Read more

Poachers, Wildlife

FPC Announces End to Pennsylvania “Partially Manufactured Receiver” Gun Control Policy

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that after more than six years of litigation, FPC has secured a settlement with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) that resulted in the permanent revocation of the agency’s policy regarding “partially manufactured” firearm receivers. The PSP’s policy was imposed along with a December 16, 2019 opinion by then-Attorney General (now-Governor) Josh Shapiro. FPC secured a preliminary injunction against the policy in January 2020, blocking its enforcement, which has been in effect since and has protected Pennsylvania gun owners and lawful businesses.

“This FPC victory for the people of Pennsylvania ends the threat of this immoral and unlawful policy for good,” said FPC President Brandon Combs. “Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday should be commended for recognizing something that his ideologically driven predecessors refused to recognize: that they wasted six years of time and taxpayer dollars defending the indefensible. Pennsylvanians can rest easier knowing that Governor Shapiro’s pet policy is in the trash can where it belongs.” Read more

Gun Control

SAF Files Motion in Case Challenging ATF’s Frame and Receiver Rule

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Defense Distributed have filed a motion for summary judgment in Defense Distributed v. Blanche (formerly VanDerStok v. Bondi), challenging the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) rule which expands the definition of “firearm” in the efforts of the Biden Administration to regulate so-called “ghost guns.”

In April 2022, the ATF published its Final Rule amending the regulatory definition of the term “firearm” to encompass precursor parts that, with enough additional manufacturing operations, could become functional firearms frames or receivers, but in their current state were non-functional – and critically, non-firearm – objects. In seeking to regulate these “non-firearm objects” the ATF’s Final Rule directly contradicted Congress’ definition of “firearm” set forth in the Gun Control Act of 1968. The ATF’s re-definition of “firearm” in the Final Rule establishes a practical ban on the private manufacture of firearms – a constitutionally protected tradition.

“This rule was one of the primary attacks by the Biden Administration on the ability of peaceable citizens to acquire arms,” said SAF Senior Director of Legal Operations Bill Sack. “Self-manufacturing firearms for personal use is a time-honored tradition that countless citizens still practice, and one that is entirely legal under federal law. The frame and receiver rule that we have challenged here was promulgated with the goal of making self-manufacture so legally confusing as to dissuade Americans from exercising their rights.”

In December 2022, SAF filed to intervene in an existing lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas then known as VanDerStok v. Garland. The case challenged the lawfulness of ATF’s regulatory re-definition of a “firearm” under the Administrative Procedures Act. SAF scored a major victory in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which vacated significant portions of the Rule. The Biden Department of Justice, however, appealed to the Supreme Court, which ruled on only a portion of the lawsuit. Today’s motion for summary judgment seeks vindication on the remaining claims. Read more

Gun Control

Motion Filed to Strike Down National Firearms Act in FPC-Backed Lawsuit

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of a motion for summary judgment in an FPC-backed challenge to the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, Roberts v. ATF.

The plaintiffs challenging the federal law include T.J. Roberts, Zachary Cockrell, Meridian Ordnance, LLC, the Buckeye Firearms Association, the Center for Human Liberty, Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership, and the American Suppressor Association Foundation. The plaintiffs are represented by David Thompson, Peter Patterson, and Nicholas Varone of Cooper & Kirk, and supported by FPC. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the defendant as the agency responsible for enforcing the NFA.

The motion was filed on April 24, 2026. Briefing on the parties’ motions for summary judgment will take place through the end of July.

The motion was filed in Covington in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The NFA imposes felony prosecution for violations of its regulatory scheme over now-untaxed firearms. The plaintiffs seek a judicial declaration that such regulations are unconstitutional as they exceed Congress’ enumerated powers and violate the Second Amendment.

“The Trump Administration can’t keep forcing peaceable Americans to fingerprint, photograph, and register themselves just to own constitutionally protected tools like suppressors and short-barreled rifles. We filed for summary judgment to end the government’s unlawful NFA gun control scheme for good,” said FPC President Brandon Combs. Read more

Gun Control

Michigan DNR testing deer for bovine tuberculosis in Charlevoix and Antrim counties

In response to the detection of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in a Charlevoix County cattle herd, the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture & Rural Development, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture are conducting deer sampling in Charlevoix and Antrim counties to determine if the disease is present in the local wild deer population. There have been no previously documented cases of bovine TB in deer in these counties. Read more

Wildlife

New Documentary Grizzly Bears Beyond the Horizon Premieres on YouTube, Telling the Untold Story of the Grizzly’s Comeback

Click here to watch

Featuring perspectives from state and tribal wildlife managers, ranchers, outfitters, conservationists, and others living and working in grizzly country, the film highlights the importance of balanced, science-based wildlife management and public education.

SCI Foundation’s Education Department has released a new one-hour documentary, Grizzly Bears Beyond the Horizon, now available to watch on YouTube. The film takes viewers deep into grizzly country to explore one of North America’s most significant conservation success stories—the recovery of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems—and the modern realities of managing a thriving population alongside people.

Real voices from grizzly country

Through interviews with state and tribal wildlife managers, ranchers, outfitters, a bear attack survivor, and conservationists, Grizzly Bears Beyond the Horizon centers real voices from the communities most directly affected by grizzly recovery. The documentary examines the decades of collaboration that brought the species back from the brink and explores why the next chapter must be guided by science-based decision-making, public education, and shared responsibility for coexistence.

Production and partners

The film was produced by Discover MediaWorks. Funding partners include Safari Club International Foundation, Sables, Hunters Legacy Fund, Bear Trust International, and the Montana Outdoor Legacy Foundation. Contributing partners include Wyoming Game and Fish, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Natural Resources Department, People and Carnivores, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association, the Fire tribe, and Silverline Films. Read more

Wildlife

Biologists Set to Begin Grizzly Bear Captures for Research Purposes in Yellowstone National Park

As part of ongoing monitoring efforts to document recovery of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with Yellowstone National Park, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park. Agency biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin the field captures May 1 and continue through October 15. Capture operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is being conducted will have major access points marked with warning signs. It is critical that all members of the public heed these signs.

Monitoring of the grizzly bear population is vital to ongoing research and management of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. To attract bears, biologists use natural food sources such as recently road-killed deer and elk. Potential capture sites are baited with these natural foods and if indications are that grizzly bears are in the area, culvert traps or foot snares are used to capture bears. Once captured, bears are handled in accordance with strict safety and animal care protocols developed by the IGBST and approved by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Whenever bear capture activities are being conducted for scientific purposes, the area around the site will be posted with brightly colored warning signs to inform the public of the activities occurring. These signs are posted along the major access points to the capture site. It is important that the public heed these signs and do not venture into an area that has been posted. For more information regarding grizzly bear capture efforts call the IGBST trapping hotline at 406-994-6675. Information about the grizzly bear research and monitoring is available from the IGBST website: https://www.usgs.gov/science/interagency-grizzly-bear-study-team