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The Michigan DNR invites Michigan residents to contribute to conservation efforts by reporting their fish and wildlife observations with the new Eyes in the Field application.
Available at www.michigan.gov/eyesinthefield, the application replaces 15 separate observation forms the DNR had been using to gather important information about the states fish and wildlife populations.
Observation is a key part of managing Michigan's diverse natural resources, and we rely on the public as additional eyes in the field to help in our monitoring efforts, said Tom Weston, the DNRs chief technology officer. This new application is a one-stop shop where citizen scientists can report what they observe while spending time outdoors.
Eyes in the Field includes forms for reporting observations of diseased wildlife, tagged fish, mammals such as cougars and feral swine, fish such as sturgeon, birds such as wild turkeys, and reptiles and amphibians such as eastern massasauga rattlesnakes. Additional observation forms will be added in the future.
The application is mobile-friendly, so it will work well on any device smartphone, tablet or desktop computer and is compliant with federal Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines.
To report their data, users select an observation location point on a map and submit other details, including habitat type and appearance of the animal, depending on the type of observation. Observers also can submit photos, videos and audio files through the application.
It's important to note that Eyes in the Field does not replace the DNRs Report All Poaching (RAP) hotline (800-292-7800). The RAP hotline now accepting text messages, which may include photos, in addition to telephone calls is a toll-free, 24-hour, seven-days-a-week number that enables the public to report violations of fish and game laws, as well as other natural resource-related laws. The DNR also offers a web-based RAP form, www.secure1.state.mi.us/rap/, which is available via a link from Eyes in the Field.
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By BOB GWIZDZ, MDNR
Michigan’s Rare Massasauga Rattlers are Prominent in Cass County
If any creatures ever needed better public relations, it would be snakes.
They have been vilified since the earliest of Bible tales, and their overall reputation hasn't improved markedly since.
But there are plenty of people who have more respect for snakes especially those species not well-regarded.
In fact, Michigan has become an important laboratory for the study and preservation of one of them, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, the only venomous viper that inhabits the state.
Massasauga rattlesnakes were listed as a federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 2016 and are thereby protected animals.
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Invasive Red Swamp Crayfish Found in Southern MichiganThe Michigan DNR recently confirmed the presence of invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Sunset Lake in Vicksburg, south of Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo County), and in a retention pond off Haggerty Road in Novi (Oakland County).
Reports of the crayfish at Sunset Lake came to the DNR from two separate landowners Thursday, July 13. DNR staff verified the reports during a survey of the area July 14, finding several crayfish in the grass in a local park and in shallow areas on the lakes west side.
A citizen reported possible red swamp crayfish in the Novi retention pond Monday, July 17, after a child captured one in a dip net. DNR staff responded that afternoon and removed 111 specimens from the pond.
These two reports represent the first live detections of red swamp crayfish in Michigan. In 2015, discovery of a pile of dead red swamp crayfish at Kollen Park in Holland (Allegan County) led to an intensive trapping effort by the DNR in Lake Macatawa and portions of the Grand River. No live crayfish were found at that time.
What are red swamp crayfish?
Red swamp crayfish, also known as Louisiana crayfish, are deep red in color with bright red, raised spots covering the body and claws. They have a black, wedge-shaped stripe on the top of the abdomen. Between 2 and 5 inches in length, these crayfish resemble miniature lobsters. They are native to the Mississippi River drainage and the Gulf Coast and are the popular crawfish or crawdads used in southern cooking.
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The Michigan DNR reminds hunters that the application period for antlerless deer licenses runs from July 15-Aug. 15.
Hunters may apply for one license in any open Deer Management Unit (DMU) statewide; a nonrefundable $5 fee is charged at the time of application. Hunters may choose to apply for either one private-land or one public-land license online at or at any authorized license agent.
Young hunters, ages 9-16, can purchase one junior antlerless deer license over the counter July 15-Aug.15. No application is required. A 9-year-old must be 10 by Sept. 26 to purchase this license.
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Arctic GraylingThe Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative, a statewide partnership effort focused on restoring self-sustaining populations of this native fish, unveiled its official action plan at a recent Natural Resources Commission meeting. The plan details the initiatives goals and various activities it plans to accomplish over the next several years.
This initiative, founded by the Michigan DNR and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, was announced in June 2016 and consists of 32 organizations.
The action plan is the result of multiple meetings of the partners where ideas, questions and information gaps were identified and then condensed into four main focus areas: research, management, fish production and outreach and education.