Plus, learn more about why pruning your trees now is a good idea!



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"News Digest - Week of Nov. 25, 2024"

a few fallen orange and burgundy colored leaves lie on the green grass of a low-lying rise in the forest


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


* Join DNR, partners for ‘Inside Michigan State Parks’ webinar series [ #link_16 ]
* From extinction to abundance: Wild turkeys flourish in Michigan [ #link_17 ]
* Snowmobile season is near – are you ready? [ #link_2 ]
* ICYMI: Now is a great time to prune, protect your oak trees [ #link_3 ]
* Photo ambassador snapshot: Picture-perfect perspective [ #link_1 ]

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

*PHOTOS:* Larger, higher-res versions of some of the images used in this email (snowmobiling in Marquette County [ [link removed] ] and jumping girl [ [link removed] ]) are available in the DNR's public image gallery [ [link removed] ]. The wild turkey photos are available in a separate folder [ [link removed] ]. 

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Join DNR, partners for ‘Inside Michigan State Parks’ webinar series

young girl in black leggings, sneakers and jacket stretches arms up while jumping over rocks, logs and grass in forest at Bewabic State Park

Calling all fans of Michigan’s state parks and recreation areas! You're invited to the special two-part "Inside Michigan State Parks" webinar series highlighting a few of the exciting projects in the works around the state.

Each webinar features DNR team members and the partners who are helping bring these projects to life. Two webinars are coming up in December. 

"Creating a Sense of Place"
Monday, Dec. 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Space Haus [ [link removed] ] and the DNR are creating interpretive experiences at Muskegon, Orchard Beach, Dodge #4 and Sterling state parks this year. Hear about curating the stories that make each place special and the creative process for telling the stories in a way that is compelling for many generations. You'll also explore examples of how this has been done successfully around the country.



"Creating More Resilient Children through Nature Play"
Monday, Dec. 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

The DNR is proud to partner with the Natural Learning Initiative [ [link removed] ] to foster nature-based design thinking for our play spaces. These make play educational for our littlest visitors. Hear from the preeminent experts on nature-based play, who have insight into shaping experiences that help children engage in the natural world.

Register for the series [ [link removed] ] (you can sign up for one or both). These projects are made possible thanks to support from Recreation Passport [ [link removed] ] purchases and the $2 Difference (from campers and boaters who gave an additional $2 when making their camping or boating reservations), as well as donor contributions and purchases of outdoor-inspired products from the DNR’s These Goods are Good for Michigan [ [link removed] ] partners.

Questions? Contact Maia Turek <[email protected]> at 989-225-8573.

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From extinction to abundance: Wild turkeys flourish in Michigan

a beautiful wild turkey hen with dark brown, tan and cream markings perches on a narrow tree branch to pluck red berries from a twig

Did you know that turkeys not only gobble, they also cluck and purr? And in addition to flying, wild turkeys can even swim when they need to! Thanks to collaborative conservation, these incredible birds are thriving across Michigan.

In the early 1900s, overhunting and habitat loss nearly wiped out the state’s population, but the DNR and partners including the National Wild Turkey Federation worked together to reintroduce wild turkeys to the state and restore habitat they need to flourish.

Michigan’s oak-savannah habitats are of particular importance. These lightly forested grasslands with abundant oak trees provide turkeys with acorns to eat and habitat to build their nests at the base of trees, under shrub or in the tall grass. Oak-savannah habitats also support the nesting needs of migratory birds, such as the blue-winged warbler and eastern towhee. In addition to forests, Michigan’s wild turkey population can be found in fields, wetlands and urban and suburban parks.

The resurgence of wild turkeys is a conservation success story and a reminder of the impact that partnerships can have in protecting wildlife. Ongoing support and awareness of habitat conservation are essential to maintaining this progress. Learn more about Michigan’s wild turkey conservation efforts [ [link removed] ].



Two striking, mature wild toms with white heads and thick brown tail feathers stand together in low-lying grass, a sunny field in back

Michiganders can help by volunteering with the DNR on public lands stewardship efforts [ [link removed] ], establishing food plots [ [link removed] ] on their property, or participating in community science initiatives like turkey population monitoring [ [link removed] ] each summer.

While it might seem counterintuitive, regulated hunting of wild turkeys also supports their conservation and management. Hunting license fees and excise taxes on hunting equipment support the DNR’s Wildlife Division. A portion of turkey hunting license fees also goes into the DNR’s “turkey fund,” which is used for habitat management on public lands to conserve populations and critical habitat. Learn more at the DNR turkey webpage [ [link removed] ]. Turkey hunting season is closed for 2024 and will open in the spring and fall of 2025.

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

Questions? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division <[email protected]> at 517-284-9453.



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Snowmobile season is near – are you ready?

Two people in winter gear ride green and black snowmobiles down a wide, gently sloping, well-groomed trail surrounded by trees

While we don’t yet know what winter has in store, state-designated snowmobile trails are open Dec. 1 to March 31, and trail grooming occurs when there is enough snow on the ground. Now is a good time to prep for the season (think snow!), starting with purchasing your snowmobile trail permit.

Michigan is home to 6,000-plus miles of DNR-designated snowmobile trails, public roads and public lands (only where riding is authorized).

Did you know that nearly 1,900 private landowners allow use of their land to create the trails network? Their generosity allows the DNR to offer trails that connect communities and bring snowmobilers to special places of interest that otherwise wouldn’t be available to them.

“We’re incredibly grateful to these property owners and their partnerships with their local snowmobile clubs,” said Jessical Roehrs, statewide motorized trails analyst for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “It’s important for all of us to give thanks to these landowners and to remember to be respectful of the land, wherever we ride.”



Michigan DNR snowmobile safety Ride Right graphic identifier

Here is ride-related info to keep in mind:


* Always Ride Right: Ride sober, ride at safe speeds and ride on the right side of the trail. Get more tips at Michigan.gov/RideRight [ [link removed] ].
* Your $52 snowmobile trail permit is valid for one year, which begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30 of the following year. Buy permits online through eLicense [ [link removed] ] (your sticker will be mailed within seven to 10 days) or the Michigan Snowmobile ORV Association [ [link removed] ] (which processes permit orders daily Monday through Friday) and in person at DNR license agents and dealers [ [link removed] ].
* Residents must also register snowmobiles with the Michigan Secretary of State [ [link removed] ] (unless sleds are used solely on private property). Registration is good for three years, and those registration dollars support the purchase of easements, law enforcement on trails and safety education.
* The snowmobile program is 100% funded by trail permit and registration dollars that are directly reinvested into the program to benefit snowmobilers. The funds pay for grooming, signage, maintenance, bridge and culvert construction, purchase of new equipment, liability insurance, maintenance of trailhead amenities (signage, bathrooms, plowing of parking lots) and other snowmobile-related expenditures.
* Remember that some snowmobile trails may not be open Dec. 1 due to trail conditions or other factors such as in-progress maintenance projects. Know before you go by checking the DNR’s closures webpage [ [link removed] ].

Learn more at Michigan.gov/Snowmobiling [ [link removed] ]. Questions? Contact Jessica Roehrs <[email protected]> at 517-331-3790. 



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ICYMI: Now is a great time to prune, protect your oak trees

A gray and black oak wilt fungal pad found underneath the bark of an infected oak tree.

Now that most trees across the state have dropped their leaves, tree maintenance may not be top of mind. When it comes to your oak trees, however, you might want to reconsider!

Oak trees in areas of the Lower Peninsula, as well as in Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Menominee counties in the Upper Peninsula, are dying from oak wilt. One of the best ways to help prevent oak wilt from infecting trees on your property is to avoid wounding them during the high-risk infection period, April 15 to July 15. In fact, the safest time to prune oak trees is the winter season. In case you missed it, this recent DNR news release [ [link removed] ] explains more about oak wilt, covers the benefits of off-season pruning and gives other useful information. 



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Photo ambassador snapshot: Picture-perfect perspective
bright blue sky and wispy white clouds reflect off calm lake surrounded by mature pines, downed wood and irregular shoreline

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 Stacy Pokrywka [ [link removed] ], for the Michigan DNR, at Craig Lake State Park in Baraga County.) 

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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

When it comes to Michigan's great outdoors, there's much to be thankful for. This holiday weekend, discover things to do [ [link removed] ] and enjoy a new adventure!




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

Snowshoe building, ice fishing (panfish, steelhead and walleye), turkey hunting and more, you can learn it all with the DNR Outdoor Skills Academy [ [link removed] ] in 2025.  




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Want to support Michigan's outdoors and history but aren't sure how to help? Visit our Get Involved page [ [link removed] ] and learn about ways to give, volunteer and partner.  

 




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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