Great Lakes Echo (http://greatlakesecho.org/tag/endangered-wildlife/page/7/)
The number of Kirtland’s warblers recorded in the Great Lakes region in 2009 was the highest since a census of the birds began in 1951.
The rare bird faces challenges from climate change and funding for its protection.
It lives only in parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario.
An Ohio activist dubbed “The Snake Lady” and a university researcher have been honored for their efforts to conserve the threatened Lake Erie watersnake. Kristin Stanford and Richard King of Northern Illinois University are among this year’s 18 recipients of the recently announced U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Recovery Champions awards. According to a U.S. F&W press release, the pair has put in a combined 35 years of work to save the snake and its habitat. King has been working since the 1980s and identified early declines in the population and threats to the species. Stanford has “worked tirelessly to reach out to residents of the Lake Erie islands” to teach them how to live with the snake.”
“The dedication of Ms. Stanford and Dr. King to the conservation of the Lake Erie watersnake, through both scientific methods and strong public involvement, has recovery efforts for this species to the point that the next step is to propose removing it from the list of endangered and threatened species. There is no greater measure of recovery success,” said Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius.
Michigan officials are surveying the Lower Peninsula for wolves. The agency confirmed two observations last year.
Other wildlife experts say wolves have been in the Lower Peninsula for 20 years, and that more may be moving south.
(ON) The Hamilton Spectator – A new $4.6-million, state-of-the-art research facility at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters will be used to try to better understand the environmental consequences of everyday chemicals and contaminants. Scientists at the Aquatic Life Research Facility, which opened yesterday, will look at the downstream implications of consumer products such as dyes and cosmetics on fish and aquatic life. More
(WI) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – The growing population of the gray wolf in Wisconsin represents a remarkable comeback for the animal.But the wolf’s robust population also has created problems and heightened tensions in some quarters. The latest example: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the killing of 16 gray wolves in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during November and December. More
(MI) The Detroit News – Federal agents are investigating a recent rash of illegal wolf killings across northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday asked for the public’s help in finding suspects in 16 wolf killings across the three states in November and December. More
(MI) Detroit Free Press – A reward is being offered for information about a bald eagle poaching case in the northern Lower Peninsula. Wildlife officials say the bird likely was killed sometime between Dec. 20 and Dec. 22 in Otsego County near Johannesburg, about 60 miles northeast of Traverse City. More
(MI) The Detroit News – A Wisconsin man who poached a wolf in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula must pay more than $25,000 in fines and perform 20 days community service. Judge C. Joseph Schwedler on Monday also sentenced 37-year-old Stephen Popp Jr. of Green Bay to six months’ probation and banned him from hunting for two years. WLUC-TV says Popp’s community service will be performed in Green bay in lieu of serving 10 days in jail. More
(MI) Detroit Free Press – Michigan hunters would be able to take aim at a new big-game species — moose — under legislation introduced in the state Senate on Wednesday. The bill sponsored by Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, would require the state to create a moose hunting advisory council and order the Natural Resources Commission to establish a moose hunting season for at least one year. More
(MI) Bay City Times – A wildlife poacher from Saginaw was nabbed and ticketed after a two-month investigation by officials from the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Painted turtles, snapping turtles, largemouth bass and channel catfish were removed from the vicinity of the refuge’s Green Point Environmental Learning Center, refuge officials said. The turtles were kept in swimming pools in the basement of the poacher, identified as a man from Saginaw. More