Michigan’s got a big pig problem, and nobody wants to take the blame.

The presence of feral pigs has been widely reported in the media.

Yesterday, wired.com dubbed the Asian carp as an invasive species worth admiring. In total, nine species received the title including others in the Great Lakes region like, the wild boar, the European starling and the dandelion.
Reporter Brandon Keim thinks that admirable carp qualities include the fact that it grows to more than 100 pounds, eats several times its body weight daily and has an uncanny knack of slowing boaters down.
But Keim makes it clear that “worth admiring” does not equate “good for the environment.” He says that invasive species are …

A recent report found significant health disparities between races in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
Mortality rates are 3.5 times higher for American Indians and 3 times higher for African-Americans than for Caucasians, according to the report by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota. The report links the environments of communities to the health of the people living in them. 
David Wallinga, director of the Food and Health Program at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, said that pollution and access to healthy food would put more people at …

To kick off Native American Heritage Month the North American Indigenous Student Organization of Central Michigan University hosted an environmental awareness day.

One of the first things Michigan Gov.-elect Rick Snyder noted in his victory speech Tuesday is the need to restore his state’s central cities.
That’s hardly news. And it’s hardly the first time a politician highlighted the need.  Who could oppose such a thing?
But who can make it happen?
Better yet, who is making it happen now?
Echo is setting loose a team of reporters to profile a handful of the best, innovative and successful efforts at recycling the landscape in older communities throughout the Great Lakes region.
Which ones?
That’s where you come in.  …

Chalk it up to Robert Redford, cancer clusters, love of writing, questioning authority.

And then there is an eclectic fascination with environmental crimes, Richard Nixon, great beauty, a living laboratory and resiliency.

And of course there are the passionate crusaders.

And heaven’s baseball team.

The fight against climate change, invasive species and contaminated water in the Great Lakes has come to Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shoreline in Wisconsin. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated 17,000 acres there for research, education, outreach and stewardship.

Invasive species issues have been achieving publicity lately with the help of Mike Rowe, the host of Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel.
The show profiles the lives of workers around the United States who have particularly “dirty” occupations. For example, host Mike Rowe has worked as a bologna maker, a maple syrup maker and a diaper cleaner. And tomorrow, he will show the public how taking care of invasive species in the Great Lakes can also be a dirty job. In the 34th episode of this season, Rowe acts as …

It’s been a long road, but it’s time to reveal the Great Lakes SmackDown! champion.

Did the Eurasian Invasion take the gold? Or was it the Quagmeister? Click here to find out.