Michigan has some of the best wildlife-based recreation opportunities around. This quarterly newsletter will give you updates on the great work going on for wildlife conservation across the state and some tips on how to get involved.

• Barry State Game Area: A wonder for winter walking
• Meet the staff: Barry, Calhoun and Eaton counties
• Successful stewardship event removes invasive glossy buckthorn from Gourdneck State Game Area
• Season six of the 'Wildtalk' podcast is here!
• Events/volunteer
• Grants and jobs
• Support wildlife

Barry State Game Area: A wonder for winter walking

The Barry State Game Area consists of nearly 17,000 acres of diverse forests, wetlands and grasslands, with pockets of towering old white oaks and rolling hills and valleys carved by glaciers. Located in Barry County, this area open for hiking, hunting, trapping and wildlife watching is the perfect spot to shake off the late winter blahs. Walk along the North Country Trail or stretch your legs while hiking to the French Benchmark – the tallest elevation point in the county. While this hike is enjoyable during any season, the summit offers the best views during the winter while the trees are leafless.

While in the area you may notice construction occurring on Chief Noonday Road (M-179). Development for a new shooting range broke ground last December. Expected to open late summer of 2023, the new range will feature shooting lanes at 10, 25-50 and 100-200 yards, and a clay pigeon shooting area.

Find locations of all Department of Natural Resources shooting ranges ►

Meet the staff: Barry, Calhoun and Eaton counties

Wildlife biologist Randy Heinze is based out of the Barry Field Office and covers Barry, Calhoun and Eaton counties. He has been with the DNR Wildlife Division for 22 years, and his favorite part has been managing wildlife habitat and state game areas. Joe Drexler is the wildlife technician for Barry, Eaton and Calhoun counties.

Joe joined the Wildlife Division a year and half ago and is stationed at the Barry Field Office. His favorite part of working in conservation is managing habitat for wildlife. If you are interested in learning more about wildlife management or state game areas near you, contact your local wildlife biologist or email DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov.

Successful stewardship event removes invasive glossy buckthorn from Gourdneck State Game Area

On Jan. 7, the DNR partnered with Michigan United Conservation Clubs' On the Ground program and the City of Portage Parks and Recreation Department to host a stewardship day to remove invasive glossy buckthorn from a prairie fen.

Despite the chilly temperatures, 24 volunteers met at the Gourdneck State Game Area and worked diligently to remove the invasive shrub and improve the health of the prairie fen and the wetland plants and wildlife species that live within it. Glossy buckthorn is a woody shrub that can grow to the size of a small tree. It threatens vegetation that is native to Michigan by casting shade and soaking up nutrients that native plants need. It also is a host to a virus and fungus that can lead to diseases in other plants. Learn more about MUCC's On the Ground volunteer opportunities ► Learn more about the City of Portage Parks and Recreation Department ►

Season six of the 'Wildtalk' podcast is here!

Tune in for another great year of all things habitat, feathers and fur with the DNR’s "Wildtalk" podcast. In January's episode, podcast hosts Rachel Leightner and Hannah Schauer talk with Terry McFadden about habitat in southeast Michigan. Later on in the episode, you’ll learn about cheeky snow buntings and hunting and trapping opportunities to try this winter. Listen to the latest updates on wildlife and habitat in Michigan on the first of every month, when new episodes are released. Find the newest episode and catch up on past episodes at Michigan.gov/DNRWildtalk, or on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Listen to the monthly "Wildtalk" podcast for more updates on the work for wildlife happening throughout the state: Michigan.gov/DNRWildtalk.