Wildlife

Volunteers guard Michigan’s spawning sturgeon

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From now through early June, volunteers will be standing guard over the Black River in Northern Michigan.

They’ll be on the banks of the river making sure that the lake sturgeon, a rare and threatened species in the state, are able to leave their homes in Black Lake and successfully spawn in the Black River.

Why do the fish need guarding?

Ann Feldhauser, who coordinates the program through the group, Sturgeon for Tomorrow, says the goal is to have a presence on the river 24/7 to prevent illegal taking of the fish.

Wildlife

Celebrate migratory bird day early

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Detroit Public Television is webcasting live an interview with author, blogger, columnist, educator and birding expert Sharon Sorenson  at 1 p.m. today. Sorenson will explain how to better host birds in the backyard and around the world in the Great Lakes Now Connect program produced with The Nature Conservancy. The program is  hosted by veteran journalist Christy McDonald, and moderated by Patrick Doran, The Nature Conservancy’s director of science for Michigan and the Great Lakes. Panelists include John Hartig, the manager of the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge and a board member of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Refuge and Melinda Pruett-Jones, former director of Chicago Wilderness and the first-ever director of the American Ornithologists’ Union. The program and related features can be seen here:
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Or you can see it on TV on International Migratory Bird Day, May 10th at 3 p.m. or on May 15th at 10 p.m.

Wildlife

Turkey love: Even birds need a wingman

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It’s spring and love is in the air for turkeys. The ritual is not an event for two, but three. As Current State’s Melissa Benmark discovered, even turkeys need a wingman to land the lady of their dreams.

Wildlife

Mr. Great Lakes: Birds in Tawas, white-nosed bats and Earth Day

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Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. White-Nose Syndrome in Michigan, Birds in Tawas, and Earth Day in Bay City | Mr Great Lakes by Great Lakes Echo

This week, Kart discusses the white-nose syndrome recently found in Michigan bats, the Tawas Point Birding Festival and Bay City’s plans for Earth Day. Text at Mr. Great Lakes

Wildlife

Photo Friday: Bois Blanc Island bullfrog

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This close-up photo is of a bullfrog in a marsh on the southwest end of Bois Blanc Island (known as Bo-Lo to locals), located in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It was taken by  Terry Heatlie, a habitat restoration specialist working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. We’re always open to viewer submissions for our Photo Friday series, so feel free to message us on Facebook or Twitter, or send an email to greatlakesecho@gmail.com.  

Wildlife

Michigan bats found with white-nose fungus

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A fungus that has already killed more than 10 million bats nationwide has been found for the first time in Michigan. White-nose syndrome was confirmed April 10 in little brown bats in Alpena, Dickinson and Mackinac counties. It is expected to spread quickly through the state, said Bill Scullon, wildlife biologist and statewide bat coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources. The bats were found during a routine winter inspection done by researchers contracted by the department. Michigan farmers, foresters and homeowners count on bats as the primary predators of nighttime insects.