 Michigan has some of the best wildlife-based recreation opportunities around. This newsletter will give you updates on the great work going on for wildlife conservation across the state.
 Love is in the air… and it stinks. It is the season of romance for the striped skunk. After a still winter, skunks are up and moving around, looking for food and mates during the early spring breeding season.
Skunks are a savvy species that occasionally take up residence close to our homes under buildings, decks and wood piles. They are opportunistic eaters and will feed on insects, worms, plants, amphibians and other small mammals. But given the chance, skunks will eat from garbage bins, outdoor pet foods and bird feeders.
To prevent any smelly encounters with this striped critter, you may consider acting now to make your home seem less appealing to skunks. Remove wood piles and bird feeders that spill seeds on the ground, install barriers under porches to prevent access to the sheltered space and bring pet foods inside. If you’re experiencing conflict with skunks, learn more about the species and how to handle issues at Michigan.gov/Wildlife under the Nuisance wildlife section.
 The harbingers of spring are arriving! Wildlife viewing and photography is a popular activity this time of year as migratory species arrive and animals are on the move looking for food and mates. Before stepping out, read this refresher by Audubon Great Lakes on how to be a responsible birder and wildlife photographer.
Want to try birding but aren't sure where to start? Join a guided birding walk with MI Birds and Detroit Bird Alliance on Saturday, May 4, at 8 a.m. at Pointe Mouille State Game Area in Monroe and Wayne counites.
There will be a lot to see, including dozens of shorebird species such as dunlins and black-bellied plovers and songbirds like gray-cheeked thrushes, warblers and more! Register for the event on the Detroit Bird Alliance page on EventBrite.
 Dennis Tison has been a wildlife biologist at the Waterloo Field Office for eight years. He manages public and private lands in Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale and southern Livingston counties and public land in Lenawee County.
Dennis' favorite part of working for the Wildlife Division is the diversity of work throughout the seasons, from managing habitat on 12 state game areas to providing assistance and opportunities for hunters with health challenges during the reserved deer hunts at Sharonville State Game Area to interacting with stakeholders who are out enjoying the outdoors.
Samantha Greenlee is the wildlife technician at the Waterloo Field Office. She also manages the 20,000 acres of state game areas over Jackson, Hillsdale, Washtenaw and southern Livingston counties and public lands in Lenawee County.
When asked her favorite part of working for wildlife, she responded, "I would have to say the range of tasks that I get to participate in from week to week and season to season. I am grateful that I get to learn new skills daily, which allows me to continuously grow as a wildlife professional and individual! I very much enjoy waterfowl banding, not only as a way to get my hands on some live wildlife, but also being able to collaborate and work efficiently with wildlife professionals from other regions, all while gaining valuable data for migratory habits and hunter harvest."
 The Detroit Bird Alliance (formerly Detroit Audubon) has partnered with Birds Canada to count waterfowl species in the Lower Detroit River Important Bird and Biodiversity Area.
The Great Lakes region hosts the overwintering habitat for a variety of waterfowl not normally observed in the summer. Many of these arctic and boreal-breeding ducks depend on the Detroit River for food when other bodies of water farther north are frozen over. Volunteers see and count species such as canvasbacks, redheads, common mergansers and buffleheads – and occasionally there will be rafts of ducks reaching the thousands!
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Area program is an international initiative to identify, monitor and conserve the world’s most important sites for birds and biodiversity. Detroit Bird Alliance has conducted winter waterbird surveys in the Lower Detroit River Important Bird and Biodiversity Area since 2016.
If you want to get involved with future volunteer opportunities, email Detroit Bird Alliance at staff@detroitaudubon.org.
 Get outside and contribute to science this spring by becoming a Pool Patroller! The Vernal Pool Patrol is a community science program dedicated to mapping and monitoring vernal pools across Michigan. This statewide program is for anyone who enjoys spending time outside in nature and wants to learn more about these fascinating wetlands and participate in science and conservation!
The training series is virtual, and registration is mandatory. The training will consist of three sessions presented on Wednesday evenings in March: March 6, 13 and 20 from 6-8 p.m. EST.
This virtual training (via Zoom) will provide information and resources for those interested in participating in the Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol or just learning more about these important wetlands. Current Pool Patrollers and local program coordinators are also welcome to attend for a refresher.
For questions regarding the Vernal Pool Patrol or to register for the virtual trainings, visit the Vernal Pool Patrol Trainings & Events page.
 Tune into the latest episode of the "Wildtalk" podcast to find out! The February episode chats about the peculiar activities of crows, what otters are up to this time of year and all things habitat from the northern Lower Peninsula.
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