Industrial pollution taints the fish in a host of Michigan rivers, but anglers often don’t know the risks. River walkers like Jim Bridgforth aim to change that — but not everyone has the luxury of skipping a fresh-caught meal.
Once abundant in Michigan, wild rice has dwindled in numbers since the early 1900s. Now, tribes are partnering with government agencies to bring back the grain that is vital to their heritage.
In 1961, Michigan’s bald eagle population dipped to 52 breeding pairs. Bans on DDT and other harmful chemicals fed a recovery. But the national bird still faces threats from lead bullets and sprawling development.
The state DNR is renaming a boat launch in Oakland County from “Squaw Lake” to “Paint Lake,” as part of a state and national effort to erase the name from more than 600 sites, including 32 in Michigan.
Michigan’s bottle and can deposit law was once a national model. But the return rate plunged from 89 to 73 percent after the state temporarily banned deposit returns to curb COVID, and hasn’t risen much since.
Michigan is stepping into a national debate about the 'right to repair,' with bills that would make it easier for farmers to fix broken equipment instead of being forced to take it to the dealer.
The emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that feeds on ash wood, has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees across North America. The key to saving what’s left may be growing behind paned glass in a quiet Brighton business park.
Michigan leads the nation in potatoes produced for potato chips, but a deadly disease is killing up to half of potato farmers’ yield. MSU researchers are working on an environmentally safe treatment to slow disease spread.
State Rep. Ken Borton wants to allow recreational wildlife and bird feeding to be protected. He said the intent is to allow feeding of squirrels and other small animals. But state wildlife officials say that would encourage deer and elk to congregate, spreading disease.
Nearly a quarter of the material sent to landfills is wasted food. Amid a push to address the problem in Michigan, grocers and nonprofits are using technology to get soon-to-expire food off the shelves.
Among possible changes to Michigan’s deer hunting regulations: More opportunity for youth and disabled hunters, and the return of antler-point restrictions in 19 Michigan counties.
The Edenville and Sanford dams once blocked invasive lampreys from entering upstream rivers. But the 2020 dam failures provided an opening, and lamprey now threaten native fish. Regulators say they have a plan.
