Announcer:
You know what that sound means. It's time for the Michigan DNR's Wildtalk Podcast.

Announcer:
Welcome to The Wildtalk Podcast, where representatives from the DNR's wildlife division chew the fat and shoot the scat about all things habitat, feathers, and fur. With insights, interviews, and your questions answered on the air, you'll get a better picture of what's happening in the world of wildlife here in the great State of Michigan.

Rachel:
Welcome to Wildtalk. I'm Rachel and hosting with me today are Holly Vaughn and Hannah Schauer.

Rachel:
Hello, ladies.

Holly:
Hello.

Hannah:
Hello. 

Rachel:
Today, we'll be talking about some of the field work that has been completed around the state this summer and we'll be answering your questions from the mailbag.

Hannah:
Later in this episode, we'll be talking with Kristin Wildman and Ryan Soulard about the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and also opportunities for accessible recreation in Michigan. So you'll want to tune in closely to this episode because we also will be revealing the first winners of our new WildTalk Podcast coffee mugs.

Holly:
Yes. And we'll also give you some tips for deterring Canada geese from your area. But first, let's jump into our Wildlife Spotlight, where will tell you a little bit about the flying squirrel. 

Holly:
Michigan has two species of flying squirrels, the northern flying squirrel and the southern flying squirrel, although without the two next to each other, you might be hard-pressed to tell them apart. The northern flying squirrel is the larger of the two and has slightly different colored belly fur. But other than that, it will be hard to tell them apart.

Rachel:
The name of the flying squirrel is deceiving as they don't actually fly, they glide. Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight. Flying squirrels have a loose fold of skin between their ankle and wrist and each sides of their body and when their legs are extended, they have a wide surface which acts like a kite allowing them to glide.

Hannah:
Yes. And one of the features that I think makes these animals particularly adorable are their huge eyes, which they use to help them see in the dark as they are nocturnal.

Holly:
Most squirrels will take advantage of the seed available at bird feeders, and flying squirrels are no exception. If you're lucky enough have a night vision trail camera on your bird feeders, you may have had a glimpse of these nocturnal visitors. 

Holly:
Natural food sources for flying squirrels include seeds, nuts, acorns, fruits, lichen, fungi, and sap. They may also eat insects or bird eggs. Southern flying squirrels have an affinity for Hickory nuts in particular.

Rachel:
Flying squirrels do not hibernate during the winter months however, during particularly cold or stormy weather they are likely to remain in their nest. Tree hollows are preferable nesting sites, but these squirrels may build a spherical nest in the tree branches as do other tree dwelling squirrel species.

Hannah:
And common predators include species like owls, hawks, weasels, and house cats. Unlike other squirrels in Michigan, flying squirrels do not have an open harvest season so you cannot go hunting for them and you'd only be able to kill them if you had a permit to mitigate property damage, so like if they were in your attic or something like that. As we sometimes hear with flying squirrels as well as other squirrel species too, they can get into a little trouble once in a while.

Holly:
Absolutely, those rascally squirrels. So northern flying squirrels typically have one litter per year and young are normally born in May. Southern flying Squirrels will have their first litter in April and May and then a second litter in August.

Rachel:
Just out of curiosity, do northern flying squirrels typically live in Northern Michigan?

Hannah:
Yes, I think even though their range overlaps the northern flying squirrels are going to be in the northern portions of the state and the southern flying squirrels, due to warming climate, have been expanding their range. So there is quite a bit of overlap, but for the most part, their names kind of dictate what regions they're located in.

Holly:
They're so, so cute. 

Hannah:
They are. I love when I get trail cam pictures of them. Sometimes people will spot them at their bird feeders at night and they're just cute with those humongous eyes.

Rachel:
All right. Next up, we'll be talking about some of the work going on for wildlife this summer.

Announcer:
People of all abilities can enjoy Michigan's wealth of natural and cultural resources. Find accessible recreation at state parks, hunting areas, trails, beaches, kayak launches, fishing piers, historic sites, and more. No matter the time of year, you'll find inclusive opportunities all over the state. Visit michigan.gov/dnraccessibility and learn how everyone can enjoy Michigan's outdoors.

Hannah:
Like many of you, we in the Wildlife Division had been working from home since March and many of our usual fieldwork activities were paused for a time while we all stayed safe at home. In June though, our wildlife assistants, technicians, and biologists return to state game areas to conduct fieldwork. So right now, many are working on cleaning up trash that was dumped on areas while we weren't working and also fixing some of the infrastructure, like trails and parking lots and signage that may have been damaged during that time. And also, field staff are working to begin planting food plots for wildlife.

Rachel:
I'm sure they're so excited to be back in the fields, working on equipment.

Hannah:
Yes, absolutely.

Rachel:
One example of the fieldwork projects going on are up in the northern lower. Staff have been working on elk range habitat. There's some partnerships, we've got some funds available to us to plant grasses and forbs with the intentions of keeping elk within their identifying range. So because elk are heavy browsers and consume a lot of vegetation, we work really hard to make sure they have enough food in their designated ranges so that they don't move outside those ranges and into a neighbor's farm.

Rachel:
We will also be using some of those funds to continue clearing large openings for turkey, deer, and a whole suite of other wildlife species that benefit from forest openings. As I mentioned, staff are particularly excited to return to this work because it usually involves working on large pieces of equipment, like press mowers, and that the sun awfully fun after being cooped up for so many weeks.

Hannah:
Absolutely. So we've also have been working with our law enforcement division because we've been fairly occupied with some bear and human interactions. Now, there have been a high number of bear-human interactions this year because many of the bears have discovered bird feeders and beehives in people's yards. So we are working with those folks to remove those potential food sources and keep the bears at a safe distance for both people and bears. So if you've had a bear visiting your backyard and do have things like bird feeders up, it's a good idea to remove those because those are easy food sources for the bear to take advantage of that have a high-fat calorie content. And so they're extra appealing because they're easy to access. If you remove those, that's a good first step to mitigate bear problems.

Rachel:
I also some updates on the Reedsburg Dam project in Roscommon County. We are currently working on the finishing touches for the dam near Houghton Lake. We have completed the essentials safety improvements and improve the function for managing water labels on that portion of the Muskegon River. That's been an ongoing project for a while, so we're really excited to be putting the final touches on it and wrapping it up soon.

Hannah:
State game areas around Michigan are open and available for people to use for hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, and of course hunting, but some DNR facilities do remain closed. To find that information about parks, trails, harbors, and other facility openings and closings, visit mi.gov/dnr and look for the coronavirus info and update section on the homepage.

Announcer:
Pure Michigan Hunt applications are on sale now. If you want your shot of what is considered Michigan's ultimate hunt, pick up a $5 application or two. There's no limit to the number you can buy. If you're one of the three lucky winners, you'll get a hunting prize package worth thousands as well as licenses for elk, bear, spring and fall turkey, antlerless deer and first pick at a managed waterfowl area for a reserved hunt. Purchase anywhere hunting licenses are sold or online at michigan.gov/pmh.

Rachel:
Welcome back to WildTalk. Today, we have Kristin Wildman, the public land matters biologist and Ryan Soulard, a wildlife biologist. Both Ryan and Kristin are members of the DNR Accessibility team and are here to talk to us about why that is so important. 

Rachel:
Hi Ryan and Kristin.

Holly:
Good morning. Welcome to the show.

Kristin:
Hi.

Ryan:
Hey, good morning.

Rachel:
Let's start talking about your guys' roles with the division. Kristin, we can start with you. What does a public land matters biologists do?

Kristin:
I am one of the public land matters biologist for the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. What I do is I help the wildlife biologists and local managers for our state wildlife areas and state game area deal with public land issues. And so that might be trespass issues, that might be land use permit issues, it might be regarding accessible land, acquisition of lands. And so really any kind of land management issue that is at an administrative type of level are the kinds of issues that I helped the local area managers with. My main area of focus is southeast Michigan. However, I do have some statewide responsibilities as well.

Rachel:
Excellent. That's sounds like a really valuable role. I'm sure you do a lot of problem solving then. Ryan, what about you? What's your role?

Ryan:
Well, as far as my role for the last seven years. Formerly, I'm a wildlife biologist, but I cover the privately-owned cervidae program. What that means is that throughout the state, we have about 325 licensed farms that raise deer, elk, and other cervid species in captivity and my role is to oversee the policy and regulation of all of those facilities in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Agriculture Rural Development, specifically my counterpart is Dr. Jennifer Calogero. Both of us work to ensure that compliance and regulation is meant for all these facilities for not only the health of their herd, but also the wild herd of deer and elk in our state.

Rachel:
Awesome. That sounds like a valuable role as well. Do you enjoy doing that?

Ryan:
Yeah, it definitely presents its challenges at times, just like any role, work with a multitude of other divisions and agencies from the Attorney General's Office to the law enforcement division, a lot of other partners involved, including the USDA. But it certainly has been a very interesting journey and a worthwhile position that I've had the last several years.

Rachel:
Awesome. So you both are part of the DNR Accessibility Team, what is that?

Ryan:
As far as DNR Accessibility Team, I'll let Kristin speak on it as well because she's been on it much longer than I have. But it is a team of various division personnel that I would say, really have a strong focus on ensuring that Michigan's natural resources are available for all people of all abilities to enjoy. Whether it be state park, campgrounds, boating, beaches, state game areas, trails, just all across the board. It's a team that wears a variety of hats in ensuring equitable access for everyone.

Kristin:
Yeah, and just to add to that, we have representatives from all the divisions on that team, so we are kind of looking at what are the perspectives of each division when we're talking about our accessibility strategies. And then also the team is sort of serves as a conduit for the Accessibility Advisory Council. And that is a group of citizens that is appointed by the DNR director and they kind of provide us with input from a citizen's standpoint on matters of accessibility. And so it's a great opportunity to work with those folks and take their concerns and their issues back to the Department of Natural Resources in our individual division.

Rachel:
How did you guys get involved with the accessibility team? Are you new? Have you been there a while? What made you interested in joining?

Kristin:
I'm actually new to it. I consider myself new to it. I just started a little over a year ago being a member of the team and formally the Wildlife Division had some very longstanding members on the Accessibility Team. It really started for me when I was a wildlife biologist in the field, I manage game areas and wildlife areas in Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Washtenaw, Hillsdale County. And several years ago, actually in 2013, a program, a partnership began. It was kind of conceptualize by our former Chief Rasmussen, to have a partnership that would work for increasing accessibility, promoting accessibility, and providing more opportunities for people with disabilities and our wounded veterans. That program originally was focused on the areas that I had managed and is now the nonprofit organization, Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors.

Kristin:
And so I had a great opportunity to work with several people with a variety of different abilities and different backgrounds, and that really got me interested in how we can serve our whole public. Personally, I have a hearing disability myself I have family members that certainly benefited from some of the services that we have for people with disability, and I'm also the daughter of a veteran. So it's really, really special for me being involved in efforts that help people get back outdoors. That's how I got started and that's why I'm involved.

Rachel:
Ryan, how did you get involved with the team?

Ryan:
Well, for about the last year now, I've been on team. My supervisor, Sarah [Cummin 00:15:53], she had been on the team and through talking with her and so forth about a lot of my various interest in the outdoors and getting people involved in the outdoors, particularly ones that may have a disability, it just seemed like a perfect fit when she offered that she was going to be stepping down from the team due to a new role she had with a supervisory role and asked if I would like to fill in behind her. I was very thrilled at the opportunity, something I've always wanted to get involved with more. And frankly, until she talked to me about it, I wasn't aware of the wide scope of things the department had been doing for quite some time to ensure that accessible recreation was a priority for all the facilities of the state.

Ryan:
Really the only thing I was aware of at the time was a lot of the great work that Kristin had done that she's already mentioned. I kind of just observe from afar and was always highly impressed with that work she had done and partnership she had built down there in the southeast Michigan, and just wanted to try and have an impact myself wherever I could.

Ryan:
Growing up, I was in kind of a single parent household with my mom. She's the one that got me into fishing particularly when I was young and she's always dealt with disability that's caused her to not get around too well. That just continue to get worse over time and so forth and I've seen struggles and limitations of just when we've tried to go do stuff later on in life. And it's something I've always kept in the back of my mind as well as work with a couple of veterans that are closed friends of mine, as well as other people I know that have a variety of various challenges that they have to deal with, and it's just something that I thought I could have an impact with to try to make accessible recreation opportunities as good as they can be and have an impact through the department. Joining the team, it's been a big learning curve for me, but something that's been extremely worthwhile to see just for this last year of the various things that are offered throughout the department. So I look forward to seeing where it goes from here for sure.

Rachel:
It sounds like you both are doing really important and profound work for Michigan's public and making sure people can do what they want to do, so thanks for what you're doing. 

Rachel:
Why is it so important to maintain access to Michigan's natural resources for people of all abilities?

Ryan:
I think as far is the importance of providing a priority for both new and existing facilities and experiences throughout the state to make it such a priority is just so that all users of all abilities can feel the same things that everyone else would in their adventures outside, whether it be the waves splashing on a beach on Michigan or going on a turkey hunt on one of our state game areas, going camping, lodging. Any number of things, that's the things that really matter for the experience of getting out there. I think it's just a great priority the department has to bridge any gaps that still exists and provide new bridges to recreational access for people so that they can have those experiences just like everyone else.

Kristin:
And just to add to that, they're natural resources that are for our whole public. Our public lands are for our whole public and I think that it's just important that we make sure that we're as inclusive as possible. I mean, they're for everybody out there. And so we need to make sure that if a member of our public wants to use their resources, we can help them make sure that they are able to.

Hannah:
That's fantastic. You guys have definitely been doing a lot of important work and it sounds like it's very rewarding work as well. So I know that we've touched on the larger umbrella of accessibility and I was wondering if ... Obviously, there's a ton of different things it sounds like the DNR is doing to make areas and activities more accessible. Could you guys give us maybe a couple examples of some specific things that the DNR has been working on to make our outdoor recreation activities more accessible for folks?

Kristin:
For example, there are special hunts for hunters with disabilities. We're looking at addressing some deer hunting regulations that will accommodate people with hearing disabilities that we don't currently have right now. And then we also have other opportunities for accommodating people that might have a disability that affects their ability to physically access certain areas. 

Kristin:
For example, if you need hunting from a standing vehicle permit, you can certainly apply for one of those. There's ORV certifications that you can also get that can help you access some areas with ORV.

Kristin:
There's always a way for us to help you. In some cases, we might not be able to help you do exactly what you want to do if there's a major natural resource concern, but normally the local land manager can work with you on tailoring a permit that will let you do what you need to do to get out to a site. They're usually very specific. They're not going to be, here's the key to all the gates of the game area, go have fun with your truck or something, but there are certainly accommodations that we can make and that's something that I'd done quite a bit in the past and our current biologists can work with people on site specific things.

Kristin:
So a lot of different opportunities. And so one thing that we do need to just make sure is that people are comfortable to contact us and don't just assume you can't do it. Contact us, talk to us, tell us what you want to do, and we will do our best to make sure we can get you out there and get you participating in the recreation you want to participate in.

Hannah:
Perfect. That's great. And just for our listeners, of course, we will include links and additional information in our show notes. But I do want to mention, there's a great landing page that we have on our website, michigan.gov/dnraccessibility, and there you can find all different kinds of accessible recreation opportunities and additional information on some of the things Kristin has mentioned. So be sure to check that one out.

Ryan:
Yeah, I want to touch on that too, Hannah. That's a great point with the website there. It's really a great landing page that offers a lot of things with that michigan.gov/dnraccessibility. You could find a portal to learn about beaches, cabins, and lodges, camping, fishing, hunting, kayak launches, shooting ranges, track chairs, trails, and scenic sites as well as a lot of those accessibility permits that Kristin had touched.

Ryan:
Quite honestly, it's one of those things that it's pretty impressive to view on there and it's hard to pick just one or two things throughout the state to highlight. Because frankly, there's some incredible projects going on, a lot of really good accessible things. Being that I live in the Lansing area, one that is close to my home would be the Rose Lake Shooting Range. Just for example, it's got six van accessible parking spaces, accessible pathways, accessible shooting stations, trap ranges, archery lift, accessible restrooms, as well as accessible meeting rooms. And that's one of just the several in the state that we have with accessible features. We have Sharonville Pontiac Lake, Ortonville, Island Lake, Dansville, and Bald Mountain. As well as I believe there are some that are in the works that are being developed in some sort of a process now.

Ryan:
Another one that I didn't know existed until I joined the Accessibility Team that I want to touch on are parks throughout the state that have actual motorized track chairs that are incredible. There are off-road electronic chairs that can go through the trails, snow, sand, and believe it or not, even drive into the water up to about eight inches. These are on a first-come first-serve basis for the public at absolutely no cost. Belle Isle has one, Island Lake Rec area, Maybury State Park, Muskegon State Park, Tahquamenon Falls, Waterloo and Bay City. And like I say, until you see them, they're really like almost like a tanked wheelchair as far as the type of pads that have on them to get through just anything really. And it's really quite an impressive thing that the department has offered, along with cooperation from some outside entities such as, I know the one at Maybury State Park was donated by a group called Kali's Cure and there's the wish to get a lot more of them across the state. Because looking at it, Tahquamenon Falls, Waterloo, those also have been through Kali's Cure. But again, those can all be found at the ... The short version will mi.gov/dnraccessibility.

Rachel:
Yeah. That list of activities and locations just seems to go on and on. It's really impressive. It seems like that was a pretty comprehensive statewide list too. So no matter where you are from or where you want to hunt, there's probably an area that has some accessibility to it or if not, you can contact the local managers and we can try to accommodate a situation for you and that's pretty remarkable. 

Rachel:
It's kind of insane to think that this is already July and that the hunting season will be upon us very quickly. It seems like this year is flying by. So if anybody's listening and you're thinking you want to get out into an area this fall for the hunting seasons, please don't hesitate. Reach out to us. It sounds like these folks can kind of make something happen for you.

Hannah:
Another thing we wanted to touch on was this year is the 30-year anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and we were kind of wondering where people could learn a little bit more about the anniversary, and if there are ways that they can get involved in the celebration or any other key important details that folks should know about the 30-year anniversary.

Ryan:
Yeah, Hannah, as far as that goes, it's definitely an exciting time this summer. It's the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. That was signed into law back in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. In recognition of the 30-year anniversary, the DNR is working on highlighting and updating a listing of accessible recreation opportunities that are offered throughout the state, speaking with other accessibility team members. They are actively working on getting an updated list of some of the celebrations that are going to be occurring through this year-long celebration for the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Ryan:
Just for those that are unaware, it's an act that provides civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities, very similar to those that are provided like on other basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. This year, with it being the 30th anniversary, and a lot of events that have been canceled or put on hold due to social distancing and so forth, the best thing I could tell people right now is to sign up for our email alerts at mi.gov/dnr or keep an eye on that mi.gov/dnraccessibility. Because you will find a special events listing that is down in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. And as events are rescheduled or able to be held, they will most certainly be updated on there for the 30th anniversary celebration that will be taking place.

Hannah:
Well, thank you so much Ryan and Kristin for joining us today. It was really great talking with you. Don't go anywhere. Next up, we will answer your questions from the mailbag.

Announcer:
Is it time to renew the license plate on your car or truck? When that moment arrives, show your support for Michigan elk and conservation by getting the wildlife habitat plate at the Secretary of State. 2018 was the 100th year since the reintroduction of elk to the State of Michigan. And while the elk have been here for over a century, this plate is only available for a limited time, so don't miss out. Visit mi.gov/elk and click on the license plate for more information.

Holly:
Welcome back. Now, it's time for us to answer your questions from our mailbag.

Holly:
The Heathrow Inn, asking about deer regulations and hunting dates for the 2020 deer hunting seasons. So the deer regulations have not yet been voted on by the Natural Resources Commission. They had their June 11th meeting and decided to postpone the vote on the proposed deer regulation changes. So they'll be deciding on those at the July 16th meeting.

Holly:
The postponement will allow more time for public input and consideration of the proposed changes. You can learn more about those changes that have been proposed at michigan.gov/deer and visit michigan.gov/NRC for the commission meeting schedule and agendas.

Hannah:
Speaking of deer hunting, I also received a deer related question in the mailbag. Mike asked when they can apply for an antlerless tag. The antlerless application period will be open a little later this month. You can apply beginning on July 15th, and the application period will be open through August 15th. Once quotas are decided and the deer hunting regulations are finalized, that information will be posted at michigan.gov/deer and you can apply online at michigan.gov/dnrlicenses. Drawing results will be posted in early September.

Rachel:
And speaking of drawing results, I got a question from Joseph, who is asking where he can find his bear drawing results. Bear drawing results are available on July 6th. You can check your results at michigan.gov/bear. You also can find drawing statistics, check your preference points, or see if there are any leftover licenses. Elk drawing results will also be available on July 6th. You can find those results at michigan.gov/elk. Hunters who were drawn for an elk license will receive a packet of detailed information in the mail about the mandatory elk hunt orientation and other important details.

Hannah:
Those lucky, lucky elk license winners.

Rachel:
No kidding. Luckily, there's a few more licenses that will be issued this year. So 260 successful applicants this year. It's very exciting.

Hannah:
Now is your opportunity to win a WildTalk podcast mug. As a thank you to our listeners, we will be giving away one a mug or two every episode.

Rachel:
Yes. We have our first winners. The June mug winners are David [Funk 00:32:42] and Andy Wagner.

Holly:
Congratulations.

Hannah:
Woo-hoo!

Rachel:
David and Andy, if you're listening, check your email as we'll be getting in touch with you soon. They both answered our June questions of, what is the small appendage resembling a mini elephant trunk and a wild turkey's beak called? The answer is a snood, S-N-O-O-D. It's such a bizarre word.

Hannah:
Yes.

Holly:
Congratulations David and Andy. So to be entered into the drawing this month, test your Wildlife knowledge and answer our wildlife quiz question. This month's question is, what bird goes by the nicknames of thunder-pumper or water-belcher. So bizarre.

Rachel:
All right. If you happen to know what that animal is, please email your name and answer to us at dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov to be entered for a chance to win the mug. Be sure to include the subject line as, “Mug Me” and submit your answers by July 15th. We'll announce winner on next month's podcast so be sure to listen in to see if you won and for the next quiz question. 

Hannah:
Good luck everybody. Now, back to your regularly scheduled podcast. 

Hannah:
All right and I have one final question for us. Shirley sent in a turtle photo for identification as she thought it might be a rare species. And Shirley was fortunate to have found a Blanding's turtle, which is a species of special concern here in Michigan. And we really appreciate reports of Blanding turtles, box turtles, and wood turtles that are species of special concern. We also appreciate reports of the spotted turtle, which is listed as a state-threatened species. If you spotted one of these turtles, please take a moment to let us know by visiting michigan.gov/eyesinthefield and select the reptiles and amphibians category. You can also upload any photos of the turtle through this reporting form. Reporting helps us track these rare turtle populations in Michigan and helps inform conservation decisions throughout the state. You can also any reptile and amphibian sightings you might have through the Michigan Herp Atlas at miherpatlas.org. We'll include links in our show notes, as always.

Holly:
As we set this segment to a close, remember, if you have questions about wildlife or hunting, you can call 517-284-WILD or email dnr-wildlife@ michigan.gov. Your question could be featured on our next mailbag.

Hannah:
Canada geese, not Canadian geese. A lot of people call them Canadian geese, but they're actually called Canada geese. Canada geese can be found throughout the whole state, but are most common in the southern third of the state. Canada geese are super adaptable so it's no surprise that you can find them in neighborhoods or city park ponds, at the shopping mall, nesting in parking lots and those kinds of places. They're just about everywhere. While it's exciting to see such large beautiful birds, they can also be aggressive when protecting their nests or their young.

Rachel:
Geese are attracted to areas with open water and are especially fond of well-manicured lawns along the water's edge. Short fertilized lawn were a deeming opportunities as well as plenty of visibility to watch for potential danger.

Holly:
If you have geese in your area and aren't fond of having them around, try making your yard less attractive to them by allowing the grass to grow longer, especially along the water's edge. Avoid fertilizing and watering it as this makes the grass lush and more appealing to a hungry goose.

Hannah:
A lot of us have really awesome goose habitat with are lush Lawns and neighborhood ponds and things like that. But you can use some hazing techniques or scare tactics to frighten geese away if you're not wanting to have them around. You can try using noisemakers, like shell crackers, bird bangers, and screamers that makes noise to scare them away. You can also bang pots and pans or something like that. You can also try motion detection accessories, bird scare balloons, Mylar scare tape. You can even cut up strips of a Mylar, like a silver Mylar balloon to use as well, and you can also use plastic flaggings. So when those things blow around in the breeze, they flash and make noise and tend to scare the birds away.

Rachel:
Basically, anything that makes noise or is flashy deter these birds. Got it.

Rachel:
If you're unable to put up reflective materials or have sound devices, this time of year, Canada geese are molting and aren't able to fly, so you can help keep them out of your lawn by putting up the temporary fence or a barrier between your yard and the water. This should prevent them from coming up onto your lawn. And it's very important remember to not intentionally feed the geese as it just attracts them to your area and could cause them to get accustomed to people and will be harder to scare them off in the future. It's also important to note that the food you feed them, particularly bread products could cause them harm in their digestive systems. 

Holly:
And if you know of a nesting area, try to give the geese plenty of space and avoid that particular spot. But if you have to walk past a group of geese or a nesting area, carry an umbrella with you that you can gently open and close at the geese to scare them away from you as you are walking past.

Hannah:
Geese can be a little a little aggressive at times.

Holly:
Yes, and they're large birds so I definitely know if I see them I try and steer clear and give them their space.

Hannah:
Yes, good idea. 

Holly:
If you are in an area where hunting is allowed, there are special goose hunting seasons established in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So there's an early hunt in September and then late hunts in January and February. And then of course, they can be hunted during the regular hunting season in October, November, and December.

Holly:
Hunting can be an effective tool to control goose populations and it might be something for you to consider. You can find detailed information on waterfowl hunting at michigan.gov/waterfowl.

Holly:
Thank you for helping us keep Michigan's wildlife wild and we will see you next month. 

Announcer:
This has been the WildTalk podcast, your monthly podcast airing the first of each month and offering insights into the world of wildlife across the state of Michigan. You can reach the Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 or dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.