Policy
Public comment needed for first wolf council meeting
The newest iteration of the Wolf Management Advisory Council is set to hold its first meeting Wednesday in Ishpeming. Public comments can be made in person or via email by emailing DNR employee Victoria Lischalk, executive assistant to the Wolf Management Advisory Council, at dnr-wmac@michigan.gov. The meeting is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.…
Read MoreFederal study shows Michigan deer exposed to SARS-CoV-2
Antibodies from the virus responsible for COVID-19 have been found in free-ranging white-tailed deer from Michigan, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania, a new study shows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released details of the study Wednesday after sampling 481 free-ranging white-tailed deer from January 2020 through 2021. About…
Read MoreAG Nessel: Wolves should be placed back on the endangered species list
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel submitted a brief to a California court Monday asking that wolves be placed back on the endangered species list. The brief is part of an ongoing legal case against the delisting and contradicts the administration’s stance as presented by public and written comments from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).…
Read MoreLethal cormorant control permits approved for Michigan, helps set management strategy
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is moving forward with lethal cormorant control following a federal ruling. Double-crested cormorant populations were impacted heavily in the mid-1900s by pesticides like DDT. Federal protections followed and helped populations increase substantially. From 1985 to 2005, cormorant nest counts increased from near zero to about 60,000. From 2004…
Read MoreDNR proposed order to close swimming on state-managed beaches too vague
A proposed director’s order related to swimming from state-managed beaches grew in scope last week per a presentation from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The order, first proposed for information at the July Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting, would prohibit “exit[ing] the state managed beach area for the purpose of entry into the water…
Read MoreDNR attempts to clarify proposed beach access order, presents deer survey at July NRC
A proposed director’s order that would limit swimming at state-managed beaches garnered the majority of public comment during last week’s monthly Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting. Other topics covered include: 2020 preliminary deer harvest survey results, the state’s land strategy, a fisheries order update and land transactions. Proposed restrictions on water entry from state-managed beaches…
Read MoreDNR director’s order would limit swimming at state-managed beaches on red flag days
A proposed director’s order up for information at the July 15 Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting would make it illegal to enter the water from state-managed beach areas during red flag days. Red flag days are universally accepted as a way to inform swimmers they should not enter the water because conditions are severe and…
Read More10-year anniversary: MUCC-led legislation paves the way for volunteer stewardship, habitat projects on public lands
Giving back to our public lands can take many forms — from planting a tree to clearing a field of rocks so it can be tilled to building small game brush piles. Oftentimes, conservationists’ most rewarding experiences are giving back rather than taking from the resource. What is little known, though, is that up until…
Read MoreMUCC-led bill tightens restrictions on public information, fair chase
Locations of game species obtained using scientific studies and monitoring will no longer be subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests after bipartisan-sponsored House Bill 4050 was signed into law last week. Sponsored by Rep. John Cherry (D-Flint), this legislation was drafted after Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff noted that an individual was…
Read MoreKalamazoo County commissioners support ending ‘wildlife killing contests’
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners passed a proclamation Tuesday in support of “opposing wildlife killing contests and asking Michigan policymakers to ban them.” The six to five vote in support was nearly party line – with Veronica McKissack (D-District 5) being the only Democrat opposing the proclamation. All four Republicans on the board voted…
Read More