Book gathers historic accounts of Michigan cougar encounters
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By Anna Barnes
A new book from a Rogers City-area writer collects tales of the contentious issue of the presence or absence of cougars in the Northern Lower Peninsula and UP.
Wildlife
Michigan’s wolf numbers are growing, presenting challenges
By Dylan Engels
Michigan’s wolf population has grown since the animal was listed as an endangered species a half-century ago, and that raises some concerns. Meanwhile, a new study from the National Park Service and the University of Wisconsin looks at how the reintroduction of wolves on Isle Royale has affected the diets of two other island predators, the American marten and the fox.
Climate
Ice fishing returns to Lake Erie after years of thin ice and open water
By Clara Lincolnhol
Ice fishing has returned to Lake Erie this year after several seasons of thin ice and open water. Business owners and anglers have noted an increase in activity, with some reporting higher turnout than in previous years. At the same time, changing ice conditions in recent years have raised questions about long-term trends on the Great Lakes.
Land
Cover crop mixes can cut carbon emissions from farms, study says
By Victoria Witke
A new U-M study done in Lenawee, Tuscola and Monroe counties finds that cover crop mixtures on farms can help mitigate adverse impacts of climate change, instead of single species cover crops. There are concerns about the freezing of federal payments for agriculture programs.