The increased fire incidence is expected in August and September as a long winter and late spring delayed the fire season. Continue Reading →
Above average number of wildfires predicted by summer’s end
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Forests
Recent Stories
Here’s how to hunt for morels
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During the month of May, a different type of hunter takes to the Michigan woods. Their prey, the low-lying honeycomb shaped fungi, morels. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Recreation, Catch of the Day, Current State, food, Forests, plants, podcast
Wisconsin officials cut diseased trees at state park
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Wisconsin State officials are cutting down trees in Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County that are infected with beech bark disease. The park has lots of beech trees and those that are infected pose a safety hazard, said Linda Williams, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources forest health specialist. Weakened limbs and trunks can snap off or fall over during strong winds. The idea is to remove dead trees before they harm visitors or staff. Infected trees that are within 75 feet of park trails are targeted, said Arnie Lindauer, a program analyst for the park. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Land, Catch of the Day, Echo, Forests, Insects, Invaders
Photo Friday: Michigan ice skirts
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These photos taken by Ken Scott on April 14 show ice skirts formed near the bottom of trees and shrubs in northern Michigan. The images are posted on the Earth Science Picture of the Day feature produced by NASA’s Earth Sciences Division. This phenomenon was caused by heavy springtime rain falling on top of several inches of snow. As the water receded, temperatures in the area plunged – causing top layer of water (also the coldest layer) to freeze while the layers below the surface were more insulated and melted away. Have you ever seen an ice skirt before? Continue Reading →
Filed under: Land, Catch of the Day, Forests, Photo Friday
Controversial Michigan bill would remove ban on state-owned land
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Sponsored by Rep. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, the bill would raise the 4.626 million acre cap on land and allow the Department of Natural Resources to acquire more. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Land, Capital News Service, Echo, Forests, public lands
Climate change opens door to forest pests new to Great Lakes
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As climate changes and growing seasons are interrupted by drought and frost, trees become more vulnerable to insects and disease. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Echo, Climate change, Echo, Forests, Invaders
Poplars modified for ethanol production still fight bugs
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A recent University of Wisconsin study looked at whether genetically modifying poplar trees to more easily produce ethanol could also make them vulnerable to insect pests.
Continue Reading →
Filed under: Energy, Echo, Forests, Insects
Re-leaf Duluth seeks to restore the environment
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By Daniel Badhwa
The city of Duluth, Minn. has launched a new program to restore and plant more trees in urban neighborhoods. Trees have disappeared from Duluth due to higher energy costs, pollution and unhealthy growing environments. The city of Duluth established the Re-Leaf program three years ago after setting aside a $5,000 annual budget to re-leaf the city. Urban trees provide shade for houses and businesses and soak up rainwater to lessen polluted runoff into lakes and streams. To many people though, urban trees simply provide a more pleasant living environment. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Land, Catch of the Day, Echo, Forests, LakeVoice, Urban
Preserving history, mitigating climate change, saving forests
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The Globe Elevator is a piece of Great Lakes history and a source of old growth Eastern white pine. Wisconsin Woodchuck hopes to preserve both, claiming that destroying the elevator would have environmental consequences. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Land, Climate change, Echo, Forests, Recycling
Pot woes well hidden in Michigan forests
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Drug traffickers have been conducting business deep within the lush canopy of Michigan’s forests since at least 2008. After five years of eradication efforts, police say the problem shows no signs of going away. Continue Reading →