Michigan experts are encouraging residents to squash the invasive spotted lanternfly as the destructive insect rapidly spreads throughout the Great Lakes region.
In simpler terms: See it, squish it, report it.
The post Michigan officials urge public to “squish” invasive bug first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/10/05/michigan-officials-urge-public-to-squish-invasive-bug/
Points North is a biweekly podcast hosted by Daniel Wanschura and Morgan Springer about the land, water and inhabitants of the Upper Great Lakes.
This episode was shared here with permission from Interlochen Public Radio.
Alison Vilag pays attention for a living.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/07/points-north-birds-of-paradise/
Massasaugas strongly prefer small mammal prey, yet individuals occasionally consume other prey, including amphibians, reptiles and birds.
The post What do Michigan rattlers chow down? first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/07/03/what-do-michigan-rattlers-chow-down/
Points North is a biweekly podcast hosted by Daniel Wanschura and Morgan Springer about the land, water and inhabitants of the Upper Great Lakes.
This episode was shared here with permission from Interlochen Public Radio.
In 2007, helicopters were circling over a few rivers and streams in Minnesota near Lake Superior.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/06/points-north-leave-it-to-beavers/
By Lester Graham, Michigan Radio
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/06/endangered-species-act-turns-50-congress-working-weaken-it/
By Ashley Zhou Bridge Michigan
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/05/bill-aims-to-allow-backyard-wildlife-feeding-but-critics-fear-deer-disease/
By Lester Graham, Michigan Radio
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/04/frogs-salamanders-fairy-shrimp-appearing-vernal-pool/
Habitat restoration can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, years of time and the collaborative effort of engineers, scientists and designers. It may be better to just start from scratch.
The post Creating habitat to help fish reproduce is costlier, but more effective than restoring it first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/04/04/creating-habitat-to-help-fish-reproduce-is-costlier-but-more-effective-than-restoring-it/
Ecology cautions against overgeneralizing the impact of cormorants on fish populations because what the birds feed on differs by available species, the age and size of the fish they eat, and where they feed in their respective territories.
The post Effectiveness of cormorant hunting questioned first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/01/30/effectiveness-of-cormorant-hunting-questioned/
The grassquit is a small bird that lives in grassy and weedy subtropical and tropical areas.
The post Feds mum about yellow-faced grassquit trafficker first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/01/19/feds-mum-about-yellow-faced-grassquit-trafficker/
By Anastasia Pirrami The nonprofit group Perch America has been stocking thousands of walleye into Wolf Lake for 24 of the last 25 years, creating a rich fishery for the small community of Hammond, Indiana. Anglers concerned about commercial fisheries over harvesting fish in the southern part of Lake Michigan, including Wolf Lake, formed the […]
The post Indiana group stocks walleye for 24 years first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/01/17/indiana-group-stocks-walleye-for-24-years/
My survey was admittedly small.
I polled one 10-year-old and 30 adults ranging in age from their early 20s to mid-50s. I had a fairly even representation of genders and races. About half were on a college campus, the other half I approached on a public boardwalk.
I limited my poll to one person per social cluster to prevent parroting of the same responses.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/01/i-speak-for-the-fish-and-the-survey-says/
Since seeking refuge on land leads to higher concentrations of birds on coastlines, the next impacted factor is birds' health.
The post Study finds Great Lakes influence bird migration patterns first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/01/11/study-finds-great-lakes-influence-bird-migration-patterns/
A new book details the biology, management and importance of walleye, an iconic Great Lakes fish.
The post New book explores the beauty of a common Great Lakes fish first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/12/16/new-book-explores-the-beauty-of-a-common-great-lakes-fish/
Great Lakes Now tries to make every episode interesting and educational.
In this episode, Michigan DNR researchers document the northern madtom – a tiny, endangered catfish that’s venomous. Then take a cinematic journey through Earth’s largest freshwater ecosystem – the Great Lakes watershed – with a preview of a new documentary series.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/12/great-lakes-wildlife-the-great-lakes-now-episode-quiz/
By John Flesher, AP Environmental Writer
DETROIT (AP) — In a bustling metro area of 4.3 million people, Yale University wildlife biologist Nyeema Harris ventures into isolated thickets to study Detroit’s most elusive residents — coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks among them.
Harris and colleagues have placed trail cameras in woodsy sections of 25 city parks for the past five years.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/12/ap-extinctions-shrinking-habitat-spur-rewilding-in-cities/
In the course of 11 days, a device dating back to 234 B.C. successfully transported 704 fish across the Cheboygan Dam in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula with no injuries observed.
The post Device from 234 B.C. lifts fish over barriers while blocking invaders, study finds first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/11/23/device-from-234-b-c-lifts-fish-over-barriers-while-blocking-invaders-study-finds/
Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit Public Television.
Today, many educators are experimenting with unique forms of instruction to increase student engagement in the classroom and encourage critical thinking.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/11/great-lakes-moment-video-game-teaches-watershed-management/
During the fall migration season, over 4 billion birds in North America pass over our heads while we are sound asleep. Scientists use a number of technologies to understand more about birds' migratory patterns.
The post In today’s forecast: 4 billion birds migrate across North America first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/11/07/in-todays-forecast-4-billion-birds-migrate-across-north-america/
A new campaign is pushing for commercial fisheries to use whitefish for more than just filets. The fish could be used for makeup, wallets and supplements.
The post Whitefish campaign seeks to lift fisheries while fish stocks drop first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/11/03/whitefish-campaign-seeks-to-lift-fisheries-while-fish-stocks-drop/
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee have discovered that plastic pollution makes yellow perch less nutritious.
The post Plastic pollution robs fish of nutrients first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/10/31/plastic-pollution-robs-fish-of-nutrients/
A University of Windsor doctoral student studying conservation has a knack for science communication - and is using it to bring attention and support to at-risk species.
The post Minnow researcher uses You Tube, children’s literature to connect people with at-risk species first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/10/21/minnow-researcher-uses-you-tube-childrens-literature-to-connect-people-with-at-risk-species/
A federal grand jury has accused a man of smuggling three Burmese pythons from Canada into the United States. The man faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine if convicted.
The post Smuggler who snuggled up with pythons faces federal charge first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/10/20/smuggler-who-snuggled-up-with-pythons-faces-federal-charge/
Lake Superior State University is surveying river habitats to learn how to rescue native mussels threatened by hydropower dams. The project is funded by WE Energies which put money into a mitigation fund as part of a settlement agreement.
The post University researchers rescue mussels from dams first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/10/19/university-researchers-rescue-mussels-from-dams/
It’s October, and the stink bugs are moving into my house for the winter. So many things stink in a deliberate attempt to be repulsive. Other things stink to be attractive, but because they’re not trying to attract us, we may not like their aromas.
The post October: The smells of autumn first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/10/07/october-the-smells-of-autumn/
It's a dish fit for a queen, and now a king.
The post Michigan’s connection to Queen Elizabeth II: Lamprey pie first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/09/12/michigans-connection-to-queen-elizabeth-ii-lamprey-pie/
Ever visited a U.S. national marine sanctuary and look forward to another trip? If so, you can have inspiration through a new set of postage stamps.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary System, the U.S. Postal Service is releasing 16 new postage stamps showing scenes from sanctuaries around the world.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/08/stamps-celebrate-noaa-landscapes-marine-life/
For the past 10 years or so, entomologists have been looking for a way to control the population of spotted wing drosophila, a fruit fly that feeds on healthy cherries and blueberries. They say they may have found their answer in releasing the samba wasp, which kills fruit flies by laying its eggs inside them.
The post Tiny wasp could give hope to Northern Michigan cherry growers first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/08/17/tiny-wasp-could-give-hope-to-northern-michigan-cherry-growers/
In July, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the monarch butterfly as endangered for the first time in history. Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan, first installed a pollinator garden in 2018. With the recent news of the monarch’s decline, the zoo is encouraging people to build wildlife habitats of their own.
The post Potter Park Zoo encourages people to help save monarch butterfly population first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/08/09/potter-park-zoo-encourages-people-to-help-save-monarch-butterfly-population/
An Ohio man who admitted fatally shooting a bald eagle will be banned from hunting for five years and has agreed to pay $20,000 as part of his sentence. Half the money will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit funder of conservation projects, as restitution. The other $10,000 is a fine.
The post Ohio man pleads guilty to illegally shooting bald eagle first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/08/01/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-to-illegally-shooting-bald-eagle/
Michigan’s only venomous snake, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, has been suspected or proven responsible for at least 75 bites reported in the state from 2003 through 2020, according to the most comprehensive tally ever of such incidents.
The post Largest tally of snakebites in Michigan first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/27/largest-tally-of-snakebites-in-michigan/
Since the early 2000s fewer young whitefish have been making it to adulthood. Understanding the decline of lake whitefish recruitment is important for fishery managers and regulators as they approach the deadline to update a 2000 consent decree that regulates recreational and commercial fishing in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.
The post Water test: One fish, two fish – where are all the whitefish? first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/23/water-test-one-fish-two-fish-wheres-all-the-whitefish/
The food web in lakes Michigan and Huron has changed in ways that jeopardize age-old fishing traditions and raise questions about how we’ve managed them. Now negotiators are updating a legal settlement that spells out where and how much lake whitefish and lake trout can be harvested.
The post Water test: Rending the Great Lakes food web first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/20/water-test-rending-the-great-lakes-food-web/
In our newest TikTok, Echo reporter Genevieve Fox talks about this year's bird flu outbreak and gives a tutorial on how to clean your birdfeeder.
The post Clean your birdfeeder right now: TikTok edition first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/17/clean-your-birdfeeder-right-now-tiktok-edition/
For the first time, scientists have documented an adult wolf killing red fox kits in their den. The event occurred in Isle Royale National Park, where researchers found evidence that an adult male wolf known as 016M attacked the kits, killing and possibly feeding on at least two of them – and possibly also killing a third littermate.
The post Rare wolf attack on baby foxes found on Isle Royale first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/13/rare-wolf-attack-on-baby-foxes-found-on-isle-royale/
Starting this year, hunters in Michigan will have to report their deer harvest online. Wildlife officials presented the plan to the state Natural Resources Commission and said online reporting will provide more accurate information about what kinds of deer are being taken and provide it more quickly.
The post Deer kill count moves online first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/07/deer-kill-count-moves-online/
Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit Public Television.
The practice of rewilding is frequently carried out in wilderness areas, but cities like Detroit are beginning to reintroduce native species of plants and animals to enhance biodiversity and reap all the benefits of making nature part of everyday urban life.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/06/great-lakes-moment-rewilding-metropolitan-detroit/
All through the spring, baby fish hatch and laze in the sun-warmed shallows, bird chicks take their first wobbly flights, bunnies get their first taste of the greens in my garden and seedlings sprout and reach for the sky. And then they die.
The post June: The Cruelest Month? first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/03/june-the-cruelest-month/
European frogbit, an invasive species, has been documented in Wisconsin, where it could threaten native plants, fish and invertebrates. The small, green, heart-shaped lily pad, forms dense mats along the surface of the water, blocking out sunlight that submergent plants need to survive.
The post Rising water makes Lake Michigan wetlands vulnerable to invaders first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/31/rising-water-makes-lake-michigan-wetlands-vulnerable-to-invaders/
Federal officials early this year detected highly contagious influenza in wild birds in over 30 U.S. states, the biggest avian flu outbreak since 2015.
The post The bird flu: Clean your birdfeeder right now first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/27/the-bird-flu-clean-your-birdfeeder-right-now/
For the first time, Asian jumping worms were found in Ontario in March. The discovery of the invasive worms follows sightings in all Great Lakes states except for Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. Removal of invasive species once they are established is extremely difficult, making prevention essential.
The post Ontario jumping worm invasion threatens to leap borders first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/13/ontario-jumping-worm-invasion-threatens-to-leap-borders/
Academic research increasingly documents how interaction with green space has a positive impact on mental health. But not everybody has access to quality green space.
The post Commentary: A green outlook on mental health is a privilege not all can access first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/11/commentary-a-green-outlook-on-mental-health-is-a-privilege-not-all-can-access/
In our newest TikTok, Echo reporter Rayna Skiver interviews Natalie Cypher, naturalist and educator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Adventure Center.
The post Backyard habitats: TikTok edition first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/10/backyard-habitats-tiktok-edition/
Backyard habitats benefit both wildlife and the people making them. For wildlife, they provide food and a safe place to nest. People benefit because of the positive feelings associated with added greenery and the presence of wildlife.
The post Backyard habitats first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/09/backyard-habitats/
May is a good time to look for sunfish nests. The sunfish family includes some of Michigan’s most popular sport fish: largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegills, pumpkinseeds, crappies, rock bass and others. They are also among the world’s worst invasive fish species.
The post May: Good fish, fun fish, bad fish, sunfish first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/06/may-good-fish-fun-fish-bad-fish-sunfish/
Bullfrogs are hard to spot, even though they're loud and large. Using environmental DNA can be helpful in locating and understanding elusive creatures like bullfrogs.
The post Commentary: Bullfrogs are my favorite band first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/05/commentary-bullfrogs-are-my-favorite-band/
On the cool morning of April 25, doctoral student Eric Ste Marie from the University of Windsor’s department of integrative biology went out for a walk with his partner along the Detroit River prior to an anticipated long day in his lab. Much to his surprise, he saw an animal pop its head out of the water.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/04/river-otters-detroit-river/
By Matthew Brown, Associated Press
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to craft a new habitat plan for the snow-loving Canada lynx that could include more land in Colorado and other western states where the rare animals would be protected, according to a legal agreement made public Tuesday.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/04/ap-canada-lynx-protections-deal/
![The Catch: Interlochen Public Radio podcast finds ‘[Un]Natural Selection’ in nature](https://www.greatlakesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Unnatural-Selection-Logo-240x135.jpg){kind=logo}
Broadcasting in our monthly PBS television program, The Catch is a Great Lakes Now series that brings you more news about the lakes you love. Go beyond the headlines with reporters from around the region who cover the lakes and drinking water issues. Find all the work HERE.
Turns out what used to be natural selection is becoming a bit unnatural.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/04/the-catch-unnatural-selection/
Animal migrations are among nature’s most stirring spectacles. So why do so few of us know about spectacular migrations that happen every spring, right in our own back yards? Because these are migrations of fish, out of sight beneath the surfaces of our rivers and streams.
The post April: Hidden Migrations first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/01/april-hidden-migrations/
