Northern Michigan Conservation Network

As many of you know by now, last week brought with it not only the 4th of July holiday, but the not-so-surprising news that the organization which identifies itself as Keep Michigan Wolves Protected (KMWP) has begun efforts to place its second wildlife management-related referendum on Michigan’s 2014 ballot. Although it was clearly wishful thinking, many […]

Those that follow our site are likely to read the following discussion on the topic of “issue fatigue” and remark, “Hello pot, meet kettle.”   For those of us who spend time trying to mobilize citizen interest in matters pertaining to natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation, the high volume of policy issues over the past […]

Without question, the Michigan wildlife story of the spring has been “Lilly the Deer.” One Genesee County family’s crusade to keep their pet deer of five years has gained both state and national attention.  In 2009 when circumstances led them to the choice, this anonymous family elected to take possession of the lone surviving fawn […]

By Kay Charter – Ask a room filled with people who love birds what the following Michigan species have in common: chickadees, titmice, all wrens, most warblers, all flycatchers (including phoebes), all thrushes (including robins and bluebirds), catbirds, thrashers, all members of the blackbird family (including bobolinks, meadowlarks and orioles), tanagers, grosbeaks, buntings, many sparrows, […]

I know that few people understand why paying more for recreational activities would be a cause for celebration, but then again, few understand the merit in walking through knee-deep snow before daylight or standing in a river waving a stick during a driving rain.   It was for these same reasons that many of us struggled […]

As we wrote on multiple occasions last summer, the U.S. Farm Bill has far-reaching implications on a variety of local and regional conservation and fisheries/wildlife habitat programs.  In spite of the political rhetoric which focuses more on food stamps and agricultural subsidies, this legislation represents far more than that.  For most of us in northern […]

The State Senate is on the threshold of voting on HB 4668, the Hunting/Fishing license restructuring package which will provide long term funding for natural resource management that is much needed.  Although it was just a week ago that we thought that this was a “done deal,” it’s now our understanding that at least one […]

Although plenty of debates remain on issues pertaining to Michigan wetlands and biodiversity policy (SB-163 and SB-78), now would seem to be a good time to step back and take stock of the accumulating positive news that we’ve seen in recent weeks.  Since many of these issues pertain to conservation and fisheries and wildlife management […]

Several U.S. House Bills which have implications on both federal wildlife refuges and U.S. military facilities here in northern Michigan have been sent on to the full U.S. House by the Committee on Natural Resources.  Specifically, these five fisheries and wildlife-related pieces of legislation include HR 819, HR 910, HR 1080, HR 1300 and HR […]

If we’ve learned nothing else from Michigan’s recent wolf management debate it is that when conflicts arise between humans and wildlife, it is in the best interest of both parties to at least create a sense that a plan is in place for peaceful coexistence. This issue of social acceptance is especially critical for species […]