• Turn off the air conditioning when it is not absolutely necessary, and not leave doors and windows open when the air conditioner is operating;

• Make sure lights are turned off during the daytime and not left on after a camper retires for the evening;

• Ensure water is used sparingly, by taking shorter showers and not leaving faucets running while brushing teeth or shaving;

• Properly dispose of gray water and sewage, and not dump it on the ground;

• Not burn trash in the fire circle; and

• Recycle at the park.

June 21, 2010

DNRE Determines Trail Camera Photo in Menominee County is Likely Cougar

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment today announced it has reviewed a Menominee County trail camera picture of an animal thought to be a cougar.  Although the image is blurred, the photo is consistent with a cougar.

On June 11, DNRE Wildlife Technician Bill Rollo received a call reporting a trail camera picture that appeared to show a cougar. The photo was taken on May 26 near Wallace in the Upper Peninsula.

Rollo immediately went to the area to conduct a field investigation and verify the photograph location. The information Rollo collected was shared with the DNRE's trained cougar team, and the consensus was reached that the photo and supporting documentation indicated the animal was a cougar. The image is blurry, especially around the head, but other characteristics of the animal are consistent with a cougar.

"This is the first confirmed cougar picture in Menominee County. We appreciate the cooperation of the caller who shared the photograph and contacted the DNRE," said DNRE wildlife biologist Kristie Sitar, who is a member of the DNRE’s cougar team. "Other landowners who believe they have evidence of a cougar on their property, such as tracks or a kill site, are encouraged to contact their local DNRE field office as soon as possible, which allows staff to investigate before the evidence is compromised. Without good evidence, such as verifiable photographs or tracks, confirmation becomes increasingly difficult."

Cougars, also known as mountain lions, originally were native to Michigan but were thought to have been extirpated around the turn of the last century. The last known wild cougar taken in Michigan was killed near Newberry in 1906. The Menominee County photograph represents the latest in a series of track and photo verifications of cougars in the Upper Peninsula. Since March 2008, five sets of tracks and two trail camera pictures have been verified in Delta, Chippewa, Marquette, and now Menominee counties. The origin of the animal or animals is unknown. There have been no confirmations of breeding activity of cougars in Michigan in recent years.

Established cougar populations are found as close to Michigan as North and South Dakota, and transient cougars dispersing from these areas have been known to travel hundreds of miles in search of new territory. Characteristic evidence of cougars include tracks, which are about three inches long by three and a half inches wide and typically show no claw marks, or suspicious kill sites, such as deer carcasses that are largely intact and have been buried with sticks and debris.

Reports of cougar tracks and other evidence should be made to a local DNRE office or by calling the department's 24-hour Report All Poaching line at 800-292-7800. If a citizen comes into contact with a cougar, the following behavior is recommended:

• Stop, stand tall, pick up small children and do not run. A cougar's instinct is to chase.

• Do not approach the animal.

• Try to appear larger than the cougar. Never take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.

• If the animal displays aggressive behavior, shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.

• If a cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Do not play dead. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back.

 Cougars are classified as an endangered species in Michigan. It is unlawful to kill, harass or otherwise harm a cougar except in the immediate defense of human life. For more information about the recent cougar photo, call Kristie Sitar at 906-293-5131 or Adam Bump at 517-373-9336. To learn more about cougars and how to identify their tracks, go online to www.michigan.gov/dnrcougars.

June 3, 2010

Weather Damage Causes Closure of Portion of Fred Meijer White Pine Trail in Kent County

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced today that a three-mile section of the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail in Kent County is closed due to mud slides and washouts from the recent storms.  The closed area extends from Belmont Avenue east of Belmont to House Street, which is southwest of the City of Rockford in Plainfield Township.

The 92-mile trail extends from Grand Rapids to Cadillac and at this time there is no alternate route on the linear state park trail.  All visitors, including mountain bikers, pedestrians and roller bladers are asked to plan their routes accordingly to avoid this section of the trail.

This segment of the trail will remain closed until repairs are complete. Updates and additional information can be obtained by contacting the Mitchell State Park and White Pine Trail Supervisor Larry Solce at 231-775-7911.

May 11, 2010

DNRE Initiates Lake Trout Hooking-Mortality Study;
Offers Rewards for Tag Returns

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment reminds all Great Lakes anglers to report any tags they find on the fish they catch.

DNRE fisheries biologists from the Marquette and Alpena Fisheries Research Stations are beginning a new hooking-mortality study on lake trout in Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Biologists have reached an agreement with a number of veteran Lake Superior anglers from Marquette, and Lake Huron anglers from Alpena to Harrisville, to tag all lake trout they release.

The five-year study will attempt to determine hooking-mortality rates of lake trout to help evaluate whether certain size limits are having the desired management outcome.

The lake trout will be tagged with green spaghetti tags near the dorsal fins. Anglers who turn in tags from fish they catch will receive a $10 reward from the DNRE. Anglers who release the fish should remove the tag to claim the reward and find out where and when the fish was tagged.

We are trying to find out if our management strategies have us going in the right direction, said DNRE fisheries biologist Shawn Sitar from Marquette. Obviously, we need the anglers to help collect data.

Although the fish in the study are being released in specific areas, lake trout can roam and could turn up anywhere in the Great Lakes.

Information on the tag includes a phone number to call to report the tag. Anglers can also report tags at any DNRE service center.

For more information on tagged fish, visit the DNRE website at www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing.

May 2, 2010

Celebrate 10 Years of Geocaching

Celebrate 10 Years of Geocaching!  On May 2nd 2000, geocaching was made possible when selective availability was removed from the GPS Satellite signals. The first geocache was placed on the very next day. Now, over one million active geocaches later, geocachers worldwide are celebrating ten years of geocaching!

Celebrate 10 Years! of amazing geocaching experiences at one of the many "10 Years!" events around the world. They are easy to find. "10 Years!" icons will be assigned to each "10 Years!" event listing and will also be shown on the Lost & Found map.

If you've listed your "10 years!" event according to the guidelines on the Lost & Found page, it will be featured with a "10 Years!" icon. If you do not see the icon on your event cache listing updated by Friday April 30th, please email the Reviewer who published your cache for assistance. You can find your Reviewer's name at the very bottom of your geocache page.

Learn more about the history of geocaching here.

April 2010

Michigan's New Recreation Passport Will Benefit State Parks, State Forests, Campgrounds, Non-Motorized Trails and Local Parks.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm on Wednesday signed into law the "Recreation Passport" legislation, which creates a new funding source for Michigan's state parks, state recreation areas, state forest campgrounds, non-motorized trails and pathways and local parks.

The new law takes effect Oct. 1, 2010, meaning citizens who want to visit state parks this year will still need a 2010 Motor Vehicle Permit.

"This new method will create a sustainable funding source that will support our state parks and forests, as well as local recreational facilities," said Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) Director Rebecca Humphries. "It also makes accessing recreational opportunities easier and more affordable for Michigan citizens."