Recent Stories

Restocking wolves on Isle Royale raises questions about which species get rescued

Restocking wolves on Isle Royale raises questions about which species get rescued Releasing a female wolf on Isle Royale, Oct. 2, 2018. NPS/Jim Peaco Mark Neuzil, University of St. Thomas and Eric Freedman, Michigan State University Isle Royale is one of the most remote U.S. national parks. It stretches across one large island, its namesake, and …

Reconciling our relationships with the Great Lakes

Abstract The 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is an Agreement between the United States and Canada to restore and protect the Great Lakes that recognized the involvement and participation of Indigenous Peoples is essential to achieve the objectives of the Agreement. Stemming from this Agreement, the Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA) on Great Lakes Water Quality …

Creating habitat to help fish reproduce is costlier, but more effective than restoring it

Creating habitat to help fish reproduce is costlier, but more effective than restoring it By Vladislava Sukhanovskaya Bundle tree trunks, dump them into the water, add rocks and here you go – a habitat for fish to hide from predators and have fun. It sounds simple, but habitat restoration can cost hundreds of thousands of …

Study finds Great Lakes influence bird migration patterns

Study finds Great Lakes influence bird migration patterns By Borjana Alia When it comes to bird migration, many things can influence their path, including the Great Lakes, according to a recent study by Canadian researchers. It is well known that birds are constantly shifting their migration patterns to adjust to many factors from coastlines to …

Michigan tribes fight long odds to restore wild rice, their history

Michigan tribes fight long odds to restore wild rice, their history Michigan’s wild rice has dwindled due to dams, wetlands loss, industry and climate change Tribes and government partners are reseeding wetlands across the state Wild rice is important to tribes, but experts say even with the best efforts, rice beds will never return to …

Diesel spill on Lake Michigan triggers multi-agency response

U.S. Coast Guard personnel, along with state and local agencies responded to a diesel spill in Lake Michigan, about 1.5 nautical miles offshore of Manistee, Michigan. At approximately 2:50 p.m. Aug 2, the 612 foot bulk carrier motor vessel Manitowoc reported a hull breach on its starboard diesel tank. The maximum spill potential is 45,174 …

How forests lost 8,000 years of stored carbon in a few generations – animated maps reveal climate lessons for tree-planting

How forests lost 8,000 years of stored carbon in a few generations – animated maps reveal climate lessons for tree-planting projects today Trees like these near Traverse City, Michigan, remove carbon dioxide from the air and lock it away. Owen Weber/www.owenweberlive.com via Getty Images Jason McLachlan, University of Notre Dame “Plant a tree” seems to be …

A proposed mine threatens Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, the most popular wilderness in The US

A proposed mine threatens Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, the most popular wilderness in the US The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness draws thousands of visitors yearly. Andy Witchger/Flickr, CC BY Char Miller, Pomona College President Trump has worked aggressively to dismantle the environmental legacy of his predecessor Barack Obama since taking office in 2017. The latest example …

Tiny flea reveals the devastating costs of invasive species

Tiny flea reveals the devastating costs of invasive species Spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus). Jake R. Walsh, Author provided Jake Walsh, University of Wisconsin-Madison Humans have played a key role in moving species to new locations, resulting in an exponential spread of species over the last century. Many of these nonnative species never become invasive – …