With warming spring temperatures right around the corner for much of the state, it’s a good time to remind everyone to help protect trails. Using muddy trails can leave ruts, uneven tire tracks and footprints, contribute to erosion and inadvertently widen trails.

It’s best to avoid muddy trails altogether; however, if you do encounter muddy sections, please keep the following tips in mind to avoid widening the trails:

• When bike riding: Dismount and tiptoe down the center – not the sides – of the trail.
• When hiking: Go right through the center of the trail, rather than traveling around the mud.
• When horseback riding: Carefully travel with your horse through the center of the trail.

“Following these tips may mean a little more cleanup for shoes, tires and hooves after an outing, but I think most trail users would agree it’s worth it to ensure our trails stay in the best possible condition during this seasonal transition,” said Kristen Bennett, acting state trails coordinator for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “Plus, when trails do start to widen, it can pose safety risks to users and cause damage to surrounding wildlife habitat.”

Learn more about etiquette on nonmotorized trails at Michigan.gov/DNRTrails.

Questions? Contact Kristen Bennett at BennettK@Michigan.gov.

The Great Lakes lie at the intersection of two migratory flyways, or superhighways, which bring over 350 bird species through the region each spring. While a beautiful spectacle for us, migration is a harrowing journey for birds. One of the biggest dangers they face? Collisions with windows and other glass surfaces.

Migrating songbirds like indigo buntings and Swainson’s thrushes are at highest risk of building collisions. These species also face steep population declines; doing what we can to prevent window collisions will help ensure their survival. (This photo of an indigo bunting is by photographer Dan Pancamo.)

Collisions with human-made structures are a leading cause of bird deaths in the United States, causing up to 1 billion bird deaths each year in North America. Birds cannot detect glass, and collisions are just as likely regardless of bird health or age.

When birds hit windows, it is a life-threatening occurrence. Even birds that are able to fly away are likely to succumb to their injuries later. The good news is that there are opportunities to make your home or office more bird-friendly:

• Identify problematic windows. To see which windows have caused collisions, check them from outside two or three times a week. Look for imprints, smudges or feathers on the glass, injured or dead birds, or clumps of feathers within 6-8 feet of the glass.
• Install bird-friendly solutions. Patterns on the outside surface of glass are the best way to reduce collisions. Studies have shown that exterior window patterns should be about 2-4 inches apart; 2x2-inch spacing is even better for smaller species, like Michigan’s ruby-throated hummingbirds, which are more prone to window-collisions.

For a list of quick, affordable ways to protect birds from your windows, check out American Bird Conservancy’s bird-friendly windows flyer and bird-friendly products database, Animal Help Now’s flyer on preventing bird window strikes and Audubon’s resources on reducing collisions with glass. Learn about Audubon’s Lights Out Program and how to make your hometown safer for migratory birds.

For information on how you can get involved in Safe Passage Great Lakes building monitoring efforts, and what to do if you find a window-collision survivor, visit the Audubon Great Lakes website.

Thrilling ORV rides, outdoor exploring and forest adventures are waiting down one of Michigan’s thousands of miles of state forest roads. Every year, the DNR updates maps of these roads to improve accuracy and protect the environment, and then notifies the public of any changes. New maps go up at Michigan.gov/ForestRoads Friday, April 1, in an interactive web format and as printable PDF maps.

Map changes are based on considerations that include changing road conditions, data cleanup and input received from residents around the state. Maps show where state forest roads are open or closed to off-road vehicle use and which roads are only open to conventional vehicles. It’s important to stay on these roads when using motor vehicles to reduce erosion and damage to wildlife habitat.

The following mileages will be open to ORVs starting April 1:

• In the Upper Peninsula, about 5,498 miles – roughly 98% of the total 5,594 miles.
• In the northern Lower Peninsula, about 6,205 miles – roughly 85% of the total 7,317.2 miles.
• In the southern Lower Peninsula, more than 9 miles – roughly 2.5% of the total 370.9 miles.

Spring brings a new generation of wildlife and plenty of opportunities for people to observe these natural wonders. While you’re enjoying the season, be sure to give wildlife lots of space to raise their babies. Also, don’t be surprised to see young animals on their own.

"As we get into spring and summer you might see fledgling birds hopping around on the ground. This is completely normal," said Hannah Schauer, wildlife communications coordinator with the DNR. "These fluffy youngsters are getting ready to start trying to fly and need more space than nests provide. The adults aren't far and will continue to feed and care for their young."

In addition to birds, you might see other young animals left alone, but the parents are nearby. This is especially true for rabbits and fawns.