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

Holly:
Hello! Happy spring, and welcome to Wildtalk. I'm your host, Holly Vaughn, and my cohost today is Sara Thompson. So Sara's our wildlife management unit supervisor for the DNR Wildlife Division. Tell us a little bit about what that means, Sara. What do you do for the Wildlife Division?

Sara:
Well, I oversee several wildlife biologists who are in charge of specific wildlife species in the programs across the state. For example, I have two deer and elk specialists, a wetland and waterfowl biologist, an upland game bird specialist, and a large carnivore specialist. And of course there are several other people that help manage our state's wildlife all across the state.

Holly:
That's awesome. Well, we're glad to have you here with us today, co-hosting our awesome podcast, which will include your questions from our mailbag. We'll also be speaking with our MI Birds program associate, Erin Rowan, about Michigan's birds and about birding opportunities in our great state. And we'll end this podcast talking about a new contest that will occur this spring, the Explore my Wetland Wonders Contest. But first, let's take a look at what's going on around the state this spring.

Announcer:
Enter the Explore Michigan Wetland Wonders Contest for your shot at Cabela's gift cards ranging in value from $250 to $1,000. Consumer's Energy, MI Birds, and Michigan United Conservation Clubs have partnered with the DNR to hold an annual contest for birders, anglers, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts. The contest runs from May 1st to July 14th. For details on how to enter, visit michigan.gov/wetlandwonders, and click on the Wetland Wonders Challenge.

Holly:
Well, spring is finally here, and with it, we're doing plenty of habitat work, and also some research throughout the state of Michigan. Spring also brings with it turkey hunting season and several special turkey hunting events. So Sara, what's going on up in northern Michigan?

Sara:
Well, Holly, in the upper peninsula, where the snow is probably almost melted by now, staff are serving wildlife populations. Right now, the spring fawn to adult deer survey is underway. When deer break out of winter shelter and become visible in fields and forest openings each spring, wildlife staff attempt to classify and record deer as either fawns or adult deer. Biologists and technicians look at roughly 400 to 500 deer in each of the six survey units. The resulting ratios from these data provide an indicator of the number of fawns that survived the winter relative to the number of adults. This information is helpful for projecting trends in deer populations, developing Atlas harvest recommendations, and guiding habitat planning efforts.

Sara:
In addition, there are two types of sharp-tailed grouse surveys occurring in the eastern UP. The DNR, Hiawatha National Forests, Sini National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan's Sharp-Tailed Grouse Association, and other volunteers are surveying leks. This is where male grouse dance to attract females in the spring. In 2018, surveyors monitored 31 leks, and recorded 96 birds. Chippewa and Schoolcraft Counties routinely are at the top in terms of survey effort and birds observed. In Chippewa and Mackinac County, a section occupancy survey is conducted in agricultural lands.

Sara:
Rather than focus on specific lek locations, this survey uses square mile sections for sampling units. Survey participants record the presence, or absence, of sharp-tailed grouse within, or adjacent to, each of 37 sampling sections. Results are then extrapolated over the entire 167 sections of suitable habitat in the study area. The occupancy rate of potentially suitable habitat in these counties has been relatively high, 84% in 2018. A portion of the Chippewa/Mackinac study area has been open to sharp-tailed grouse hunting since the fall of 2010, and these surveys provide information for formulating hunting regulations in these areas.

Holly:
That's really interesting survey workup there. Sharp-tailed grouse are so cool to see, and it's pretty rare to see them really. But when they're dancing on their leks, they look so funny, like little robotic birds. Well, this winter was kind of a tough one in the UP, so it'll be really fascinating to see what those results of the fawn to adult survey will be. What about at the tip of the mitt in the northern lower region? What's going on up there?

Sara:
Well, Holly, in the northern lower regions, staff are gearing up to complete spring and summer habitat projects. On state forest lands and state game area lands, staff are preparing forest openings for planting. Forest openings are important for many wildlife species like deer, elk, turkeys, and other forest edge dependent species. Staff are also assessing grasslands in the region, and planning ways to improve them and make them more productive for wildlife. With partners and volunteers, northern lower regions staff will be planting fruit-producing trees like crab apples and hawthorn for ruffed grouse, turkeys, and other birds. The fruits from these trees are important sources of food for fall and winter to help these birds get through the winter.

Sara:
Spring also brings with it plenty of phone calls about wildlife. We field many calls each year about orphan wildlife, injured wildlife, and nuisance wildlife too. Just as a reminder, only licensed wildlife rehabilitators can care for orphaned or injured wildlife, as they have the proper permits to do so. You can find a list of rehabbers at michigandnr.com/dlr. You can find plenty of information about how to combat and coexist with nuisance wildlife, like getting a raccoon out of your attic, or how to prevent bears from bothering you and your neighbors. All this information is available on our website at michigan.gov/wildlife. So Holly, what's going on in southern Michigan?

Holly:
Well, like we said before, it's turkey hunting season, and there are some great opportunities for turkey hunting on public land throughout the state, and especially in southern Michigan. So there are now four turkey tracts open to hunting in southern Michigan. Turkey tracts are public hunting areas where intensive habitat management for turkeys has been conducted. Habitat work like timber harvest, and invasive species treatment, removal of invasive species, prescribed fire, all these things occur on these areas to create and maintain forest openings.

Holly:
And you can find these turkey tracts for your springtime turkey hunting adventures at Allegan State Game Area, Barry State Game Area, Flat River State Game Area, and now the Holly State Wildlife Area. It's a brand new turkey tract. It's the newest location. Staff at the area have worked really hard to create awesome turkey habitat. And a dictation ceremony occurred in mid-April right before the turkey hunting season began, to officially open the site as a turkey tract.

Holly:
So all of these turkey tract sites across southern Michigan have a kiosk at the entry parking lot, which gives hunters the area information and the names of local businesses that offer discounts to turkey tract hunters. So if you take a selfie by that kiosk, maybe with your hunting party, and then show it at one of the local businesses, you can get great deals, like a couple dollars off of your dinner, or dollars off a hotel room. So be sure to take a selfie by the sign when you visit a turkey tract for your next turkey hunting adventure.

Holly:
Some of our southern Michigan state game areas are also hosting special turkey hunting events this season. The Muskegon State Game Area and the Flat River Wildlife Office both host youth turkey hunt events each year, along with partners like National Wild Turkey Federation. They host these events, and it's great to see these youngsters connect with the sport and get new hunters interested in turkey hunting. And the Cass City Field Office offers a Becoming an Outdoors Woman Turkey Hunt for the ladies, just the ladies. And this fun hunt pairs new hunters with experienced hunters, and teaches women the skills they need to become excellent turkey hunters.

Holly:
Throughout both regions, the southeast and southwest, plenty of habitat work is going on. We've been doing some springtime burns at Allegan State Game Area in the southwest and Petersburg State Game Area in the southeast. We've done some prescribed burns for grassland wildlife, including the Karner blue butterfly. So oak savanna habitat and lakeplain prairie habitat provides really good living areas for this endangered species, this beautiful little dainty blue butterfly. So keeping these habitats healthy with good species diversity and plenty of lupine ... That's the flower that they like to lay their eggs on and that the caterpillars munch on. Keeping this habitat healthy, ensures the survival of this beautiful insect.

Sara:
Well, thank you, Holly. Sounds like there's a lot of great work happening this spring. I hope everyone gets a chance to get out and enjoy it, and enjoy the special activities going on. So now everyone, please stick around. Next up is our interview with Erin Rowan.

Announcer:
Almost 100 years ago, the Michigan State Park Commission set the course for visitors to enjoy and explore four seasons of fun at parks. May 12, 2019 officially marks the anniversary of state parks, and the DNR is planning a year long centennial celebration. Join in and help celebrate our rich history, and take an energizing look forward as we mark this milestone year with special events, campfire stories, geocaching, a race series, park events, and much more.

Announcer:
To learn all about this 100 year milestone, visit michigan.gov/stateparks100. In addition to finding information on events and programming, there are opportunities to purchase gear and merchandise, watch videos, read historical accounts, listen to podcasts, find volunteer opportunities, and learn about our new Happy Little Trees Program. While you're on the site, explore the memory map made by state park visitors. This online memory map was created for parks fans to add their memories and photos. Share yours at michigan.gov/stateparks100.

Holly:
All right, so today in studio with us is Erin Rowan, MI Birds program coordinator with both DNR Wildlife Division and Great Lakes Audubon. So welcome, Erin. Thanks for joining us today.

Erin:
Thanks so much for having me, Holly. It's great to be here.

Holly:
So tell us a little bit about this unique position that you hold. So you're both a DNR and an Audubon employee. Tell us how that works, and what do you do for the division?

Erin:
Yeah, yeah. So my position is really unique. Audubon Great Lakes and Michigan DNR formed this partnership back in 2016, creating this joint position, which aims to increase all Michiganders' engagement in the understanding, care, and stewardship of our public lands that are important for birds and local communities. In particular, we really want to help bridge the divide between hunters and birders. These two groups actually share a lot of the same conservation values, but don't often cross paths. So I technically work out of the DNR Customer Service Center in Detroit, but I also work really closely with the Audubon Great Lakes Regional Office, which is based out of Chicago.

Holly:
All right. So how'd you come to be interested in wildlife, and birds especially?

Erin:
Growing up my whole life, I was always interested in animals and wildlife. My second word after mommy was actually doggy, not daddy. So sorry, Dad, but that gives you an idea of where I was at. And then growing up, my dad took me camping and backpacking throughout my life, and I eventually went off to college and studied natural resources management and conservation. Getting into birds didn't happen until towards the end of college when I studied abroad. I went out to Costa Rica and had to do my own research project, and I had to pick an animal that I actually stood a chance of capturing and seeing over the course of four weeks for our data collection. And birds were one of the best species, because you can see them, and hear them, and possibly capture them almost anywhere.

Erin:
So after doing that and getting some bird handling experience in Costa Rica, I came back and got a banding internship with the Institute for Bird Populations and Klamath Bird Observatory. And it was that six month experience, learning about all our birds here at home, when they migrate, what feathers they molt, how we can age them based on their molt, that I became a total bird nerd.

Holly:
So how long have you been with the Wildlife Division, and where did you work before that?

Erin:
So yeah, I've been with the Wildlife Division now since August of 2018, and formerly worked with Detroit Audubon as their research coordinator. Before coming to Michigan, I continued to work with the Institute for Bird Populations in California, and eventually got a staff biologist job coordinating their maps and team maps programs out there.

Sara:
So Michigan has so many opportunities for birding, really a great state to get out and learn about birding. What species can people expect to observe this time of year?

Erin:
So yeah, this time of year is actually really great for birding in Michigan. Spring migration is upon us, and Michigan lies at the intersection of the Atlantic and Mississippi migratory flyways, which brings over 340 species to the state. So right now we're seeing a lot of waterfowl and waterbirds on the move, like American coots, buffleheads, northern pintails, and green-winged teals. It's also a great time to see some of our regular breeding birds come back home, like our American robins, common grackles, killdeer, and more. Once May arrives, too, we'll start to see more Neotropical migrants, like our warblers, wood thrushes, and black terns, one of my favorites.

Sara:
Very interesting. So where can people best see Michigan birds? Are there specific designated areas for birding on public lands that people can access?

Erin:
So wetlands are an excellent habitat actually to visit to see birds during migration. Not only are they home to waterfowl, waterbirds, and marsh birds, but they're also a great stopover site for resting and refueling for migratory songbirds. There's also a series of birding trails throughout the state that are on or travel through many of our public lands. So you can find more information about those trails and routes at michigan.org.

Sara:
Erin, do people need any special equipment to go birding?

Erin:
Yeah, actually. I recommend taking some binoculars with you if you're a beginner birder. You don't need anything too fancy to get you started, but you should also bring along a field guide like Audubon's Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, or Sibley's Guide to Birds. If you don't want to carry a field guide with you, there are a lot of great free apps out there for your mobile device, which are super helpful and contain a lot of the same information as those field guides. They also have recordings of bird songs, actually, and calls, which can be super helpful if you're starting to learn how to bird by ear.

Sara:
Erin, what tips do you have for first time birders, or people who might be interested in birds who want to bring more birds to their backyard?

Erin:
For first time birders, I recommend trying a lot of the free resources available to you, some of these birding apps that we mentioned. Figure out what works best for you. Some of the bird guides are outlined more by color, shape, and size of the bird, as opposed to how they're taxonomically related to one another. And that can be really helpful for beginners or folks that haven't an ornithology course.

Erin:
For folks that are interested in bringing birds into their own backyard, I highly recommend checking out Audubon's Plants for Birds database. That can be found at audubon.org/plants-birds. And you just enter your zip code there, and it produces a long list of native plants that are perfect for your area, and also identifies what birds they will attract, and where you can purchase those plants.

Holly:
I plan to plant a serviceberry this spring behind my house to get some cedar waxwings and Baltimore orioles visiting my yard.

Erin:
Fantastic.

Holly:
So tell us a little bit more about the MI Birds partnership. What is it? How does it benefit wildlife?

Erin:
So MI Birds is an advocation and outreach program founded by DNR and Audubon Great Lakes. And we're kind of returning to our roots, so to speak. So 101 years ago, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed with the support of both sportsmen groups and birding groups alike. So we're hoping that we can bring these groups together in Michigan yet again, for the betterment of bird conservation throughout the state. We pool our resources together, we're sharing our conservation success stories, and engaging Michiganders with our public lands through immersive field trips, stewardship events, and community science projects.

Erin:
So DNR and Audubon Great Lakes aren't working on this alone. Also, I do want to mention that we have a lot of great partners that are contributing to our storytelling and field trip efforts, like Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Michigan Audubon, Detroit Audubon, and a few others. It's got a long list.

Holly:
All right, so if someone's interested in maybe attending one of those field trips, is there a place where they can find that information?

Erin:
Yeah. Yeah. If you're interested in coming out to help us on a stewardship day event, or join us on a field trip, you can find us on MI Birds, or MI Birds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also find us on our website, where we share a monthly blog post on a variety of bird conservation topics at gl.audubon.org/mibirds. You can also sign up to receive periodic emails at this website about upcoming events near you.

Holly:
So you mentioned earlier bridging the gap between birders and hunters that kind of might have a little bit of a, what do we want to say, adversarial relationship, maybe a little bit. So when it comes to conserving Michigan's natural resources, there's more common ground among hunters and wildlife watchers than you might first expect. So what can Michiganders do to support conservation efforts?

Erin:
Yeah, so Michiganders, one of the big quandaries moving forward is directly related to the funding that supports our public lands and wildlife. DNR's annual budget is reliant on hunter dollars, and hunting is on the decline nationally. So it's really up to the rest of us to start to stand up for our public lands, many of which double as important bird areas. So all Michiganders can help support us by purchasing duck stamps. They're not just for hunters. And then additionally, DNR's recently launched the Adopt a Game Area Program, where Michiganders can donate funds directly towards the land management and wildlife conservation at their favorite state game area.

Erin:
Michiganders can also support a local conservation organization, like your local Audubon chapter or local Pheasants Forever chapter. Folks who would rather donate their time to conservation instead of their dollars, they can also participate in stewardship day events or some community science projects on their public lands.

Holly:
So once again, where can people go to learn more about these great birding opportunities and efforts to conserve natural resources?

Erin:
So you all can follow us at MI Birds, or MI birds, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or check out our website on Audubon Great Lakes' site, gl.audubon.org/mibirds.

Sara:
Wow. Thank you so much for inspiring us to get out and do some springtime birding. We've enjoyed having you on the show. Thank you very much for being here.

Erin:
Thanks so much for having me, Holly and Sara. It was great speaking with you, and you know I love talking about birds.

Holly:
All right. So great interview with Erin Rowan. Stay tuned as we unzip our mailbag and answer your wildlife questions.

Announcer:
Pure Michigan Hunt applications are on sale now. If you want your shot in 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 in a managed waterfowl area for a reserved hunt. Purchase anywhere hunting licenses are sold, or online at michigan.gov/pmh.

Holly:
Welcome back to Wildtalk. I'm Holly, and hosting with me is Sara. We're going to continue this episode by answering some of your questions from our mailbag.

Speaker 5:
One, two, three ...

Holly:
We received an email from [Joellen 00:19:37] who says, "We have two skunks that have set up housekeeping under our shed. Does the DNR do skunk extraction? They have not sprayed or anything, but they keep coming on my porch, and I have a cat, and I really don't want them around. Can you help?"

Sara:
Well, Joellen, thank you for writing to us with your question. The DNR does not remove skunks, but we do have a list of licensed nuisance wildlife control companies on our website. The list is organized by county, and you should be able to find someone in your area who would be able to assist you with this problem. When it comes to dealing with skunks, it's generally best to have a professional come in and help with the removal. They will charge you a bit, but it's well worth it to do so. So head over to michigan.gov/wildlife for a list of those nuisance wildlife control companies.

Holly:
Yeah, I think I'd want to hire one of those companies. That seems like a fairly harrowing undertaking to remove a skunk. So I got an email from Nick who asks, "I know there's now a ban on baiting deer in Michigan, but I was wondering if putting out a salt rock is also banned. Thanks for the help." That's a good question, Nick.

Holly:
So under the new baiting ban, which covers the whole of the lower peninsula, bait is defined as a substance composed of grains, minerals, salt, fruit, vegetables, hay, or other food materials which might lure, entice, or retract deer as an aid in hunting. So because of this wording in the statute, salt blocks and mineral licks would be considered bait, and are not permitted in the lower peninsula. So for more information about the baiting ban and chronic wasting disease, visit mi.gov/cwd.

Sara:
Speaking of deer, a common question we get in the springtime involves young deer or fawns. Katie asks, "We found a fawn all alone without a mother, sitting in the grass near the edge of the woods in our yard. It needs help. Can you come and get it?"

Sara:
Well, Katie, it certainly is human nature to want to help, but the best thing you can do is leave the fawn where it is. Does often leave their fawns alone for several hours each day while they go off and feed. It's really important that you leave these fawns alone. Their mother's taking care of them the way she knows how. The little fawns have a hard time keeping up with their mom, so she will tuck the fawn in a safe place, where it will sleep the day away. Fawns have very little scent, so predators won't find it in this cozy spot. If you touch it, you could leave scent behind, which would help attract a predator to the fawn, so it's best to just leave it there.

Sara:
The only time you should interfere with a fawn is if you know for sure that the mother has died. Like for example, if you see the mother get hit by a car, or something like that. In that instance, you should contact a wildlife rehabilitator to help raise the fawn. You can find a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators at michigan.gov/wildlife.

Holly:
Even though they're super cute, it's important to remember that wild animals don't make good pets, even baby animals. So never take those little animals out of the wild to raise as pets. Wildlife is best left in the wild, for sure.

Holly:
So our final question's from Anne Marie and she writes, "Today, I was traveling in my car when I witnessed another car blatantly hit a Canada goose. He didn't put on his brakes or anything, and swerved to actually hit the birds, then drove off. I went to the local police and filed a report about 15 minutes ago, but they recommended that I also contact you for reporting. Please advise."

Holly:
So in instances like this, when you see someone blatantly harming wildlife, law enforcement definitely should be involved. So we have a Report All Poaching hotline, and that's where you can make a report to one of our dispatchers. And it doesn't necessarily have to be someone harming wildlife. If you have trespass concerns, or you're worried about someone who might potentially be poaching, or catching too many fish, or something like that, you can make reports at the RAP line. They'll then pass your call along to a conservation officer to follow up on that complaint, and you will be contacted by an officer.

Holly:
You can call or text the RAP, that's the Report All Poaching hotline, at 1-800-292-7800. You can also fill out an online reporting form, which you can find at mi.gov/dnr. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and then click on "Report poaching."

Holly:
So as we as zip this mailbag segment to a close, remember if you have questions about wildlife or about hunting, you can call 517-284-WILD, or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov, or you can stop by one of our offices. And your question could be featured in our next mailbag segment.

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:
Well, the weather's turning warm and wonderful around Michigan, and it's a great time to head outside and enjoy some wildlife-based recreation.

Sara:
Gosh, the weather is great. So nice after a long winter. Whether you are a turkey hunting, or bird watching, or fishing, Michigan has awesome public lands to explore. Go check out a state game area or state park, or a state recreation area.

Holly:
Yeah. And our state parks are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, so it's a perfect year to visit Michigan state parks and state recreation areas too. So Sara, where can people find more information about Michigan state parks and recreation areas?

Sara:
To find a state park or recreation area near you, visit michigan.gov/stateparks.

Holly:
May is American wetlands month, and we want to get you and your family and friends out to explore one of Michigan's wetland wonders. And we have a new contest to encourage you to get out there and explore these areas. It's called the Explore my Wetland Wonders Contest. It's sponsored by Consumers Energy with contest partners, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, and MI Birds. So we have 14 different wetland wonders sites around the state. And these go from the upper peninsula, we've got beautiful Portage Marsh State Wildlife Area up in the upper peninsula, and all the way down the state to Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, down near the Ohio border in southern Michigan. So these 14 sites are some of our premiere wetland sites around the state, and they are extensively managed for wetlands and waterfowl habitat especially.

Holly:
So we want you to go ahead and visit one of these 14 sites, take a selfie or a group photo by the official Explore my Wetland Wonders sign. These signs are big blue signs that say Explore Michigan's Wetland Wonders. They're going to be tucked kind of into the area a little bit, so you might need to look around for it. They're going to be not too difficult to find. They might be near a parking lot, or a viewing tower, or they might even be tucked out on the area a little bit. So you're going to need to do some exploring. It's like a mini Easter egg hunt, right? Kind of fun.

Holly:
So get out there, find those signs, take your selfie by the sign, and then email us that picture of yourself or of your group. Email it with your name, email address, phone number, to dnr-wetlandwonders@michigan.gov. That's all you have to do to be entered. And our prize winners, we're going to pick four of them, our four prize winners will take home a gift card for outdoor gear. So our grand prize winner is going to take home $1,000, second place will win $750, third place, $500, and then our fourth place winner will bring home $250. not too shabby, right?

Holly:
So you can use those gift cards to get a new pair of binoculars, a Kayak and a paddle, fishing gear, fishing poles, all kinds of good stuff. So we hope you'll participate. We want to see everyone participating, boaters, anglers, photographers, hikers, everyone. Just get out and enjoy the scenery this year. The contest runs from May 1st until July 14th, so there's plenty of time to get out there. If you need more information about the contest, visit mi.gov/wetlandwonders. We'll see you out there this spring.

Sara:
Well, that wraps up this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast. We'll see you back here June 1st for another episode.

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.