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Weather, staffing fuel forest fire fears in Michigan

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By Jon Gaskell

Capital News Service

LANSING — Michigan can expect more wildfires this year, officials warn. The state’s Department of Natural Resources is predicting a greater number of forest fires and more acres burned as a result of an unusually warm winter. To make matters worse, long-term shrinking of firefighting resources has reduced the state’s capacity to quell blazes, according to department Director Rodney Stokes. The department’s fire supervisor Scott Heather said Michigan is already seeing blazes much earlier than usual. “Usually for the Lower Peninsula, the season for fires begins around the third week of March,” Heather said.

Echo

Teach a child to fish and, well, you know the rest

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By Patrick Lyons

Capital News Service

LANSING – Project FISH is focused on teaching a new generation of anglers, hoping to reverse the decline of Michigan fishing license sales. The project teaches water ecology, fishing techniques, rules and ethics of fishing and other skills like cleaning and cooking. A Project FISH – Friends Involved in Sportsfishing Heritage – workshop will be held March 6-7 in East Lansing. Project FISH was started in 1995 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Great Lakes Fishery Trust, said Mark Stephens, the education program coordinator. Since then the program has spread to 37 other states.

Echo

Recalls of unsafe children’s products drop

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By Xinjuan Deng

Capital New Service

LANSING — After an increase in 2010, federal recalls of unsafe children’s products dropped by 24 percent last year. Nursery products were the most-recalled category, accounting for 30 percent, followed by toys at 26 percent. But some advocacy groups say the figures from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are incomplete. Kids in Danger, a nonprofit organization in Chicago, said injuries and other incidents associated with those recalls grew 7 percent. “We don’t know if the Consumer Product Safety Commission looked to recall more products and were unable to persuade manufacturers, or if this represents a decrease in dangerous products in the marketplace,” said Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids In Danger.

Echo

Youth hunting may boost Michigan’s economy

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By Jennifer Chen

Capital News Service

LANSING — More turkey hunting licenses will be issued this year to lure young people outdoors, a step which may help improve the state’s economy said Rodney Stokes, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. A new $7.50 mentored youth hunting license package started on March 1. The spring turkey season which runs from April 25 to May 13. “It is a good way to teach children about the importance of conserving the state’s unmatched natural resources and ensure the hunting tradition continues to thrive,” Stokes said. The new mentoring program will eliminate the minimum hunting age and let parents decide if and when their child is ready to hunt.