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By Louie Stout
In this era of some lake associations destroying aquatic habitat, it’s refreshing to see one who is doing just the opposite.
Lake officials at Diamond Lake in Cass County, Michigan are in the planning process of providing MORE fish habitat to the 1,078-acre lake near Cassopolis.
The Diamond Lake Association’s Lake Preservation Committee plans to submerge 10 tree cribs in various sections of the lake, add log barriers along some seawall areas and place boulders around some shorelines to reduce erosion. A lake resident offered to provide the hardwoods for the cribs and the committee will handle the manual labor.
“Fishermen who live on our lake believe fish stocks aren’t what they used to be and this is one way to help the fishermen and the lake,” said Sheryl DeLuca, vice president of the association and the committee chairman. “We know that a good fishery is the sign of a healthy ecosystem.”
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MDNR Report
MDNR Biologists examine bear den
While you’re enjoying time outdoors this fall and winter, keep an eye open for black bear dens. Reporting den locations to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is a simple, yet effective way to support bear management programs.
“Finding winter den locations is an important component to managing black bear populations, and we need hunter, trapper and landowner assistance to add new den sites to the program in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula,” said Mark Boersen, wildlife biologist at the DNR Roscommon Customer Service Center. “Currently, we are monitoring six bears from the ground and aircraft using radio tracking equipment.”
Depending on their location in the state, bears typically enter dens in November and December. They tend to select dens in locations that provide shelter from the elements, which can include areas with dense vegetation, rock crevices, fallen trees or excavated holes. Bear dens may look like brush piles covered in snow or excavated holes in the ground, both having an icy opening to vent fresh air.
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MDNR Report
A 4-year-old doe that was reported to be in poor condition – skinny, drooling and showing no fear of people – in Klacking Township, Ogemaw County, recently tested positive for chronic wasting disease. It is the first CWD-positive wild deer from that county, a finding confirmed by the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison, which works with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to identify CWD in Michigan’s wild herd.
The county is located southeast of Houghton Lake.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease also has been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Midland and Montcalm.
“When we find chronic wasting disease in a brand-new location, where previous intensive surveillance has not yet been done, it becomes extremely important for wildlife disease managers to understand where additional cases might be within that county,” said DNR deer and elk specialist Chad Stewart. “In light of this new detection, we are offering additional opportunities for those interested in getting their deer tested for CWD in Ogemaw County.”
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MDNR Report
2023 bear management cooperator patch
The 2023 bear management cooperator patch is a great way to commemorate the recent bear season. Adult hunters, patch collectors and others can buy a patch for $7. Young hunters, 17 years old and younger, who have a valid bear hunting license can get a free patch.
The Michigan Bear Hunters Association, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, coordinates Michigan’s bear cooperator patch program. Proceeds from patch sales will be used for black bear education and outreach.
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MDNR Report
Michigan’s invasive species watch list was updated last summer to include two new species and remove another. Mountain pine beetle, a deadly threat to pine trees, and water-primrose, a fast-spreading aquatic plant, have been added to the watch list due to threats they pose to native ecosystems and industry. European frog-bit, originally listed in 2011, has been moved off the list of species of immediate concern and is now considered established in the state.
Mountain pine beetle
Mountain pine beetle has been characterized as the most aggressive, persistent and destructive bark beetle in the western U.S. and Canada. Hot, dry summers and mild winters in these areas have led to the beetle’s unprecedented population growth and range expansion, moving it ever closer to Michigan.
Mountain pine beetle
“White and red pines are primary species in our forest ecosystems, and jack pine serves as critical habitat for the Kirtand’s warbler,” said Susie Iott, invasive species program specialist with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. “If mountain pine beetle were to become widely established in Michigan, it would cause severe losses across multiple industries, including timber products, plant nurseries and tourism.”