Plus, great opportunities to lend a hand at MUCC On the Ground events this month



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"News Digest - Week of Feb. 5, 2024"

light snow covers a red picnic table, the ground and edges of tree branches in the forest, with sunlight filtering through


Here are a few of this week's stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:?


* February 'Wildtalk': Crows, otters and elk, oh my! [ #link_2 ]
* Winter Bird Feeding 101: Follow these tips to keep birds safe [ #link_16 ]
* Natural Resources Commission meets Thursday in Lansing [ #link_17 ]
* This week on 'Wardens': Turkey hunt, illegally tagged deer [ #link_3 ]
* Photo ambassador snapshot: Winter walk at Ludington [ #link_1 ]

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom [ [link removed] ].

PHOTO FOLDER [ [link removed] ]: Larger, higher-res versions of many of the images used below are available in this folder.

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February 'Wildtalk': Crows, otters and elk, oh my!

a sleek, brown and light tan river otter stretched out on glinting, white ice

The newest episode of the DNR Wildlife Division's "Wildtalk" podcast is now available. February's show includes a cheeky chat about river otters and a deep dive on the behaviors of crows, one of nature's most intelligent creatures.

Scott Eggeman, the Wildlife Division's field operations manager for the northern Lower Peninsula, talks about habitat work such as a grassland management program and food plot planning. DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing stops in with an overview of hunting and trapping opportunities available this month.?

Visit the "Wildtalk" webpage [ [link removed] ] for the February episode and show notes and links to past episodes. Questions about the podcast? Email [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Winter Bird Feeding 101: Follow these tips to keep birds safe

three birds, tan and white with dusty rose bellies, around a bright-yellow seed feeder hanging in an ice-covered, wintry tree

To survive Michigan?s frigid winter temperatures, some birds store food from feeders to eat later in winter, while others expand their food sources and change their diets.

Despite these incredible adaptations, winter can still be a stressful time for birds. We can help support winter birds by feeding them when other food sources may be scarce. Here are a couple of tips on how to feed them safely and responsibly in your space:


* *Keep your bird feeders and birdbaths fresh and clean* *throughout winter*. Freshen the water every other day, if possible. Clean your feeders once every one to two weeks in a 9:1 solution that is nine parts water and one part bleach, scrubbing away any debris. Dry the feeder before refilling. Clean bird baths with a scrub brush in a 9:1 solution of water and vinegar.
* *Don?t place seed directly on the ground or use platform feeders*, which tend to attract larger numbers of birds, deer and other unwanted guests. Mess-free birdseed options can help keep the ground clean.


These tips are important year-round, but especially now as the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is still circulating among wild birds in Michigan. While most HPAI cases have been found in waterfowl and scavenging birds (e.g., eagles, hawks and owls), the DNR is continuing surveillance efforts and will test wild birds from die-offs that include six or more birds. You can help by reporting sick or dead birds through the DNR?s Eyes in the Field app [ [link removed] ].

Learn more about HPAI and what you can do to help limit the spread of this virus at the DNR?s HPAI Frequently Asked Questions webpage [ [link removed] ].

Visit the Audubon Great Lakes website for tips on attracting common winter birds [ [link removed] ] to your space.

Questions? Contact the DNR's Julie Melotti <[email protected]> at 517-243-1953.

"MI Birds [ [link removed] ] is a public outreach and education program presented by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan DNR that works to build and bring together wildlife enthusiasts across the state to engage with and conserve Michigan?s public lands for the benefit of birds and people."

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Natural Resources Commission meets Thursday in Lansing

A black bear among lush green grass, next to a large tree trunk in a sunny, forested area

The next meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission ? Thursday, Feb. 8, in Lansing ? leads off with a Wildlife Committee agenda that includes an analysis of bear population trends and an update on the antler point restrictions survey. The meeting also will cover furbearer regulations, a legislative report and several land transactions.

The day starts at 9:30 a.m. in Rooms M119-121 of Lansing Community College, West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Drive. See the draft meeting agenda [ [link removed] ] and remaining 2024 meeting dates at Michigan.gov/NRC [ [link removed] ].

For more information or to request time to speak at the meeting, email [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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This week on 'Wardens': Turkey hunt, illegally tagged deer

a male conservation officer in brown camo uniform with POLICE on the back talks to a hunter wearing orange cap outside a camo ground blind

It's almost time for a new episode of "Wardens" ? the Outdoor Channel's weekly show that tells the story of dedicated DNR staff members and the work they do to protect and conserve Michigan's natural resources.

This week's show packs in a lot, including a turkey hunt with the DNR's acting director and highway patrols that turned up some illegally tagged deer. Check out this sneak-peek video [ [link removed] ].

To get the Outdoor Channel, ask your local TV service provider or go to outdoorchannel.com [ [link removed] ], myoutdoortv.com [ [link removed] ] or Amazon Prime Video, or call 855-44-OUTDOOR. More than 78 episodes of "Wardens" have featured Michigan and tallied over 36 million viewers!

Episodes air on the Outdoor Channel every Friday at 9 p.m. Previous episodes air on FOX UP/WLUC-TV6 every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The show also is available under the title "Wardens of the North" or "Michigan Wardens" on Animal Planet.



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Photo ambassador snapshot: Winter walk at Ludington
woman in winter gear, orange knit hat and boots walks down a snow-covered, wooden bridge over frozen, snowy waterway. Sun peeks through clouds

See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors [ [link removed] ] at Instagram.com/MiStateParks [ [link removed] ]. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer <[email protected]> at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Aubry Healy [ [link removed] ], for the Michigan DNR, at Ludington State Park in Mason County.)

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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

Pine cone birdfeeder crafts, hot cocoa, winter hikes and more ? enjoy family fun at Birds and Blooms Feb. 17 [ [link removed] ] at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center!




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

Need to book a harbor slip, a campsite or a safari tent for an early-summer getaway? Visit the DNR reservations webpage [ [link removed] ] for these and other options.




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Removing invasive species and building wood duck nest boxes are just a few ways to help at upcoming MUCC On the Ground events [ [link removed] ]. Find your favorite!

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ? Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 ? 1-800-439-1420