Residents have until August 4 to comment on the draft proposal for how the state will manage wolves. Hunts have been controversial downstate, while most wolves are in the Upper Peninsula.
Rural Michigan
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Beech tree disease ravaging eastern U.S. is now in Michigan
Beech leaf disease was recently detected in St. Clair County, which can kill the trees in roughly six to ten years. There is currently no known treatment for it. State officials warn against transporting wood from the trees.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
One rural Michigan hospital averts closure, as others struggle to hold on
A literal last-day state infusion of $11-million is keeping the doors open at Sturgis Hospital, keeping it from completing its planned shutdown later in July. But red ink continues to pressure independent and other hospitals that small, rural communities depend upon.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan parks, beaches are improving access to visitors with disabilities
From kayak launches to track chairs to hunting blinds, the disabled are gaining more access to Pure Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Injuries, rescues plummet at Sleeping Bear Dunes. The secret: orange-shirt volunteers
It’s been five years since Sleeping Bear launched its Preventative Search and Rescue Program. In that time they’ve seen dramatic results.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Drownings are up across the Great Lakes. Michigan officials urge water safety
Don’t forget to pack a life jacket and update yourself on water safety precautions before the holiday weekend. Drownings are up across the Great Lakes and state officials are urging beachgoers to prioritize safety.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan’s steepest ski run closed in 2000. What’s next for Sugar Loaf?
Facilities at the long-closed ski resort were finally demolished in late 2021, clearing the way for neighbors in Leelanau County to dream about what’s next. But the answer remains a mystery.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Bird flu has killed nearly 1,500 Caspian terns on Lake Michigan islands
The seabird, which feasts on alewifes in the Great Lakes, is thought to be particularly susceptible to spreading disease because they nest closely together.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | A tax cut for Michigan outdoors is something we all should agree on
Michigan’s parks and natural areas are part of the fabric of our state, and we should take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to assure the ability to care for them forever.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
National Guard on Camp Grayling expansion: Troops won’t be in your backyard
At the first public meeting on a proposal to dramatically expand the training facility’s footprint on public land, military officials and state land managers sought to allay the concerns of area residents and outdoors groups.