Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/echo/page/117/)
My family has watched this bird feeder in the small tree outside our Farmington Hills, Mich., home for about ten years. I’ve never seen as many squirrels as this winter gathered under it or on the tree above it. There is an average of about ten squirrels a day. Maybe it’s the warm winter. Maybe they’ve finally learned the tricks of the trade.
Echo catches up with author, Darby Nelson, about his first book, “For Love of Lakes,” which explores the worsening health of lakes around the country.
One of the most famous wild animals in a Great Lakes state gets the environmental spotlight today. Phil, a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pa., has predicted winter’s future for more than 125 years. Since 1886 the town has celebrated Phil’s waking. Groundhog’s Day events there this year include Oreo stacking and a walking tour of sculptures of the little guy. Thousands of people nationwide participate, according to the event’s official website. The events only break when Phil comes out of his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob.
Michigan municipal waste facilities would be required to accept all septic waste produced within 25 miles under a bill awaiting action in the Senate. But not everyone thinks it’s a good thing.
Researchers have found what they believe to be the traits that make the very best environmental citizens. Patient, confident, and persistent people make some of the best environmental citizens, according to Kyle Whyte and Matt Ferkany, researchers at Michigan State University. Friendliness, wit, self-confidence, humility, fairness, patience and dependability are other traits they discovered associated with environmental interest. Ferkany is an assistant professor of teacher education; Whyte is a visiting professor of philosophy. “(When one) has a lot of confidence and not inclusive they think they are always right,” Ferkany noted.
There are thirteen ships on the Great Lakes that use steam engines that belch sulfur into the air. The EPA wants to exempt them from an upcoming fuel standard if they switch to cleaner engines.
Apparently threatening to completely upend entire ecosystems isn’t enough for Asian carp. Nope. Now they’re ruining my personal relationships. It started as most of my days do … coffee and reading up on the basin. But there was a new lady friend with me this morning.
Atlantic salmon once thrived in Lake Ontario but went extinct when their habitat and spawning grounds were ruined. U.S. and Canadian scientists are now trying to bring the species back.
Children’s toys sometimes contain harmful chemicals.
Some Michigan lawmakers are trying to require that manufacturers and distributors let consumers know which toys may be toxic.