Plus, learn more about all things scale, fur, feather and beyond with a new season of "Wildtalk"



Share or view as webpage [ [link removed] ]? |? Update preferences [ [link removed] ]




DNR banner [ [link removed] ]


"News Digest - Week of Feb. 13, 2023"

A winter forest of conifers and leafless trees alike dusted with snow. [ [link removed] ]

The Forest Health Highlights report is here ? check out the newest research and info.



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


* Photo ambassador snapshot: Freeze frame at Tahquamenon [ #link_1 ]
* Tell us about getting around on Belle Isle: Survey closes Sunday [ #link_16 ]
* Join our wildlife team! Apply for spring and summer positions [ #link_17 ]
* Season six of the 'Wildtalk' podcast is here! [ #link_2 ]
* Bad bugs and pesky plants: Forest health report covers threats to trees [ #link_3 ]

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 the images used below, and others, are available in this folder.

________________________________________________________________________

Photo ambassador snapshot: Freeze frame at Tahquamenon
A massive waterfall defies the chill of winter, casting dark, foaming water into the snow-covered river below.

Want to see more pictures like this, taken by Michigan state parks photo ambassador Karen Allmond [ [link removed] ] at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Chippewa County? Visit?Instagram.com/MiStateParks [ [link removed] ]?to explore photos and learn more about the photo ambassadors! For more on the photo ambassador program [ [link removed] ], contact?Stephanie Yancer <[email protected]>?at 989-274-6182.

________________________________________________________________________

Tell us about getting around on Belle Isle: Survey closes Sunday

Three people, presumably a family, take a moment to rest and laugh with each other while on their bikes.

With more than 5 million visits to Belle Isle last year, the Detroit island park is among the most-visited state parks in the country!?

People come for a variety of reasons ? cooling off at the beach, grilling with family and friends, a giant slide, access to hiking trails and paddling, food trucks, outdoor gardens, exotic and rare plant collections, and historic architecture. Whether guests get there on foot or by bike, vehicle or Detroit Department of Transportation bus, that?s an incredible amount of traffic and activity to accommodate.?

While public interest in Belle Isle is good news, increased visitation and use come with new challenges, such as traffic and parking demands. The DNR wants to hear your observations and suggestions about traffic flow, parking and movement around the island via a public survey [ [link removed] ] open through Feb. 19.?This survey is part of a comprehensive mobility study to make movement on the island easier, and your input is critical to making this effort a success.

Neary 2,500 people already have completed the survey, but park managers and study coordinators are hoping that number reaches 5,000 in order to get feedback and ideas from a broad cross-section of Belle Isle visitors ? the people who use, love and know the park best.

Find more information on the survey and the multimodal mobility study at Michigan.gov/BelleIsle [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact Amanda Treadwell <[email protected]> at 313-269-7430.


________________________________________________________________________

Join our wildlife team! Apply for spring and summer positions

Two people with heavy-duty headlamps work to record and band a woodcock at night.

If you or someone you know is seeking valuable experience working in wildlife conservation ? or just an interesting job that gets you outdoors ? apply now for one of 100 spring and summer positions with the DNR Wildlife Division.

The division regularly hires staff to work at DNR field offices, customer service centers and state game areas. Seasonal staff helps in several areas, such as:


* Assisting with wildlife habitat maintenance and improvement, which may include farming, planting trees, cutting forest clearings and using water control structures to adjust water levels in wetland areas.
* Mowing, landscaping and other facility maintenance duties.
* Helping with wildlife surveys, wildlife sample collection, crop damage inspections, nuisance animal control, and equipment operation and maintenance.

?These positions are perfect for college students, entry-level wildlife professionals, those looking to re-enter the workforce, and seniors or retirees who want to be involved in the outdoors,? said Jennifer Schafer, human resources liaison with the Wildlife Division.

Sound like you? Apply for seasonal wildlife job openings [ [link removed] ] by Feb. 26.

Learn more about seasonal positions with the Wildlife Division ? and other opportunities throughout the department ? at Michigan.gov/DNRJobs [ [link removed] ].

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


________________________________________________________________________

Season six of the 'Wildtalk' podcast is here!

A bear and a dear in different colorblock wildlife scenes in the shape of the state of Michigan.

Tune in for another great year of all things habitat, feathers, fur and beyond, with the DNR's "Wildtalk" podcast.

In February's episode, hosts Rachel Leightner and Hannah Schauer talk with John Niewoonder, field operations manager for the DNR Wildlife Division's southwest region,?about habitat in southwest Michigan, how to help forest birds, and tips for preventing conflicts with foxes and coyotes this spring.

Learn more about wildlife and habitat in Michigan on the first of every month, when new episodes of ?Wildtalk? release. Find the newest episode and listen to past episodes at Michigan.gov/DNRWildtalk [ [link removed] ], or on Apple Podcasts [ [link removed] ] and Google Podcasts [ [link removed] ].

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 or [email protected].


________________________________________________________________________

Bad bugs and pesky plants: Forest health report covers threats to trees

An adult spotted lanternfly, with black and white spotted wings and brilliant orange coloring underwing, rests in the palm of a hand.

Munching through the canopy, choking out seedlings or wilting backyard trees ? invasive insects and diseases that target plants and trees threaten the health of Michigan?s forests.

Forest health experts at the DNR work to protect our trees and forests. Their work is summarized in an annual report covering the status of key forest health issues.

The 2022 Forest Health Highlights [ [link removed] ] report shares details on the first detections of beech leaf disease and spotted lanternfly in Michigan. It also showcases university research that reveals progress on some of our toughest battles, collaborative work to protect forests and techniques to guide landowners in caring for their trees.

?Thanks to the collaboration of partners across the state, we are learning new techniques to protect trees and keeping watch for invasive plants and forest pests and diseases,? said DNR Forest Health Program manager Sue Tangora.?

Questions? Contact the forest health team at [email protected].


________________________________________________________________________



THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

It's always a good time to get in a bit of wildlife viewing, especially with so many migratory species returning as the seasons shift. Check out incredible opportunities to watch some wildlife [ [link removed] ].




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

Heading to warmer weather over spring break? If you?re renting a boat or personal watercraft (such as a Jet ski) while there, be sure you?re safety certified and take a copy of your boater?safety certificate [ [link removed] ].




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Did you know you can support efforts to bring track chairs to some of your favorite state parks [ [link removed] ]? Donate today to help make outdoor recreation more accessible for everyone.



Download the new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app [ [link removed] ]
facebook icon circle [ [link removed] ]twitter icon circle [ [link removed] ]YouTube icon circle [ [link removed] ]instagram icon [ [link removed] ]email icon circle [ [link removed] ]pinterest icon circle [ [link removed] ]




If you wish to no longer receive emails from the DNR,
please update your preferences here:
Manage Preferences [ [link removed]? ]??|??Delete Profile [ [link removed] ]? |??Help [ [link removed] ]

Need further assistance?
Contact Us [ [link removed] ]??|??Provide Feedback <[email protected]>

Visit us on our website: Michigan.gov/DNR [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

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