National Parks Promotion Council salutes one of its partners: Forever Resorts

The National Parks Promotion Council (NPPC), a non-profit membership organization, brings together
public and private resources for the purpose of assisting the National Park service in its mission to “… promote National Parks as one of the world’s premiere travel destinations in order to increase visitor appreciation and use of these treasured landscapes and educational resources.”

I encourage you to visit their website. It's loaded with great information, videos, feature articles, research and special offers on the National Parks and their surrounding communities.

Another feature on its website is a list of the organization's partners, including Forever Resorts. The NPPC featured Forever Resorts in its most recent newsletter.

Here's the story:

Headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, Forever Resorts owns and operates more than 65 vacation and entertainment properties in or near national parks, recreation areas and national forests across the United States. 

Established in 1981 by Rex Maughan, the Forever Resorts' first acquisitions were the Callville Bay Resort & Marina and Cottonwood Cove Resort at Lake Mead NRA in Nevada. The company then added leisure service operations at Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, Isle Royale, Mammoth Cave, Lake Amistad, Badlands, Lake Meredith, Blue Ridge Parkway, Big Bend, Padre Island and Olympic National Parks.

Today, it operates 26 lodging and tour operations at eight properties in national parks, seven houseboat marinas, five small boat marinas and 38 resort properties, many of which are located in Europe and Africa.

"Most people in parks and tourism think of us as a leisure business, but we're much more than that," said Kathy Kratzer, Forever's national director of sales. "The Forever Family, and that's how we refer to ourselves, as we truly are a family, includes 10,000 associates, worldwide and 9.5 million distributors of Forever Living products in 150 countries. 

"We are involved in ranching, agriculture manufacturing and distribution." Ms. Kratzer continued, "Sixty percent of all aloe vera products sold in the world are produced by us. Our Texas manufacturing facility is the state's largest exporter. We work directly and closely with our customers and that's bred a reputation for quality products and exceptional customer service. That same culture exists throughout Forever Resorts." 

"It all comes from Rex Maughan, our founder and president." She continued, "His word is gold. Despite all he's accomplished, he's down to earth. Rex loves animals and takes a personal interest in protecting the places we serve. If ever we say something needs changing, he supports us, doesn't cut corners, and gives us the tools to do it right." 

Forever holds many distinctions and kudos. It manufactures its own houseboats, from small family rental boats to 75-foot luxury houseboats. Forever Resorts was the first houseboat rental company to have all of its fleet compliant to U.S. Coast Guard recommendations for carbon monoxide certification on every operating unit. It recently won an OSHA award for a voluntary protection program that innovated ways to keep guests safe. And, at Lake Mead NRA, Forever designed and built a 70-foot houseboat, called Forever Earth, that was donated to the non-profit Outside Las Vegas and the NPS for use on the lake as a floating research lab and classroom dedicated to protecting Lake Mead's water quality. Forever Resorts was the first and remains the only U.S. multi-location hospitality, marine and lodging company to earn ISO 14000 certification for each of its properties.

At International Pow Wow 2013, Forever Resorts will be one of the national park partners exhibiting on Federal Row.

Wisconsin residents honored for their work to collect information about natural resources

Wisconsin's Ozaukee County’s fish passage program and a key volunteer in documenting how fish are
responding to efforts to restore their migration routes along Lake Michigan tributaries were among the groups and individuals recently recognized for outstanding achievements in citizen-based monitoring of Wisconsin’s natural resources.

Other honorees for the Citizen-based Monitoring Awards include two volunteers with Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center, a key volunteer in surveys to collect data about dragonflies, and Dave Redell, the late Department of Natural Resources bat ecologist, who built the Wisconsin Bat Conservation Program.
Separate Wisconsin Stream Monitoring Awards were given by the University of Wisconsin-Extension and DNR to recognize volunteers, employees and teachers for their commitment to monitoring, collecting data, raising awareness and sharing knowledge about Wisconsin streams.

Recipients of those awards included a leader of the Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Riverkeepers, a Racine high school student, a teacher at Menominee Indian High School in Keshena, a Crawford County stewardship group and the coordinator of stream monitoring for Milwaukee Riverkeeper.

“Wisconsin is fortunate to have so many people who care so deeply about our natural resources,” says Owen Boyle, who coordinates the Citizen-based Monitoring Network for DNR.

“We appreciate the efforts of each and every one of those volunteers. Our conference offered us a chance to honor in particular some of the groups and individuals who have provided outstanding service and leadership.”

Kris Stepenuck, volunteer stream monitoring program coordinator for DNR and UW-Extension, says the recipients were “inspirational.” It’s a pleasure to be able to learn from these leaders in volunteer stream monitoring,” she says.

The awards were given out during the Citizen-based Monitoring conference in Wisconsin Rapids on April 5-6, which was jointly hosted by the Water Action Volunteers and the Citizen-based Monitoring Network. More than 135 people from nature centers, schools, colleges, friends groups, and state and county agencies attended the convention.

A list of award winners and short descriptions of their work follows.

• Ozaukee County Fish Passage Program was named the Citizen-based Monitoring Program of the Year. Ozaukee County’s Parks and Planning Department has procured nearly $8 million in federal, state, local, and other funding since 2006 to carry out fish habitat restoration work. That department has worked with municipalities, consultants, conservation corps, non-profit organizations, and volunteers to remove 180 impediments to fish migration in the county and restore habitats, and to document the effects of their work and provide information that can be used in future planning decisions by state and local governments.
• Rick Frye received the Outstanding Achievement in Citizen-based Monitoring award for his leadership role within the Ozaukee County Fish Passage Program’s fish surveys. He has volunteered almost 30 hours at five electrofishing survey events and helps guide new volunteers into the labor intensive process.
• Robin Squier received the Outstanding Achievement in Citizen-based Monitoring for her work with the Urban Ecology Center bird banding program, donating more than 150 hours of her own time in 2012 alone. She also led the effort that made Milwaukee the largest city in Wisconsin to receive the Bird City designation.
• Dan Jackson received an Outstanding Achievement in Citizen-based Monitoring for his work as a citizen volunteer participating in dragonfly surveys and helping build the Web presence of the new Wisconsin Dragonfly Society. Since 2009 he has contributed 4,051 Odonata records to the Odonata Survey, including a first state record of a striped saddlebags (Tramea calverti).
• Ethan Bott received an Outstanding Achievement in Youth Monitoring for his volunteerism with the Urban Ecology Center. Now 17, the White Fish Bay High School senior has volunteered more than 300 hours since joining the organization at age 12. He has devoted most of his time to the center’s bird banding project but has also collected information for monarch, snake, and turtle monitoring surveys.
• David Redell posthumously received a Lifetime Achievement in Citizen-based Monitoring for his work to build the Wisconsin Bat Conservation program after becoming DNR’s first bat ecologist in 2004. He worked to enact vanguard regulations to protect Wisconsin bats and developed a plan that will guide the state’s response to white-nose syndrome, a disease devastating hibernating bat populations in North America. Redell also helped created citizen-based monitoring efforts that now involve nearly 500 volunteers. All future lifetime achievement awards will be named the “David N. Redell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Citizen-based Monitoring.”

Wisconsin stream monitoring awards

• John Gremmer of Winneconne was recognized as the outstanding adult monitor for the Wisconsin Stream Monitoring program. Under his leadership, Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Riverkeepers has grown to support 25 teams who monitor across a six-county area including Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, and Marquette counties. Gremmer does media outreach about Riverkeepers’ activities, seeks funding to support the group’s efforts, and participates in stream improvement work days.
• Crawford Stewardship Project, based in Crawford County, was recognized as the outstanding group. They began in 2007 to address concerns about the effects of land use on water quality in rural Crawford County and the lower Kickapoo River Watershed. Their monitoring has identified some stream sites with runoff pollution issues. The group started a statewide network to foster clean water and organized a community educational workshop about potential impacts of sand mining on surface and ground waters.
• Joe Rath was recognized as the outstanding employee of the year. He has been the monitoring coordinator for Milwaukee Riverkeeper since 2010. By 2012 this network had grown to support 63 volunteers monitoring 100 sites. He was instrumental in pilot testing a volunteer phosphorus monitoring effort in streams across the watershed, the largest volunteer phosphorus monitoring initiative ever carried out in Wisconsin.
• Maya Dizack of Racine was recognized as the outstanding student monitor. Dizack is completing her freshman year at The Prairie School in Racine and began testing a site near her home seven years ago. Today, she and her family monitor three different locations and Maya is an integral member of the Prairie Stream Consortium – a local alliance of community members, She has made presentations to local officials and at the statewide Volunteer Stream Monitoring Symposium.
• Dan Hannen-Starr was recognized as the outstanding teacher. A high school science teacher at the Menominee Indian High School in Keshena, he worked with tribal elders and community members to bring his students to the streams to monitor them and to assist with sturgeon rehabilitation efforts. In 2011 he and the Menominee Indian High School received a technology grant that allowed students at the high school to increase their participation in volunteer stream monitoring.

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RV training DVDs available at http://rveducation101.com/

Pure Michigan Campaign Results in $1.1 Billion in Visitor Spending in 2012

The Pure Michigan campaign had its biggest impact to date in 2012, attracting 3.8 million out-of-state
visitors to the state, who spent a record high of $1.1 billion at Michigan businesses according to a just-completed report by Longwoods International.

The report, released at this year’s Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism being held in Detroit, found the Pure Michigan campaign generated 580,000 more trips to Michigan in 2012 than in 2011. $79.1 million in new state tax revenues were generated as a result of the $1.1 billion spent by these visitors at Michigan businesses.

The return on investment for the award-winning Pure Michigan campaign also continued to climb in 2012. When compared to the $13.7 million spent on out-of-state advertising for the Pure Michigan campaign in 2012, the $79.1 million in tax revenue received by the state resulted in a return on investment of $5.76. The cumulative return on investment since the Pure Michigan campaign began in 2006 is now $4.10, up from $3.70.

“The Pure Michigan campaign plays a vital role in growing our tourism industry by consistently attracting new visitors to Michigan and delivering a strong return on investment for the state,” said Governor Rick Snyder. “These impressive results showcase the power of Pure Michigan, and demonstrate the vast potential we are seeking to tap into with our efforts to expand this campaign into international markets.”

Of the 3.8 million out-of-state visitors the Pure Michigan campaign attracted last summer, 2.3 million came from the Great Lakes region and 1.5 million came from distant markets around the country. In 2011, the Pure Michigan summer advertising campaign motivated a total of 3.2 million trips from out-of-state – 2 million from the Great Lakes region and 1.2 million from distant markets.

The 2013 Pure Michigan national advertising campaign launched March 18 and is currently airing on more than 25 cable channels. The national campaign television ads, which include national partner ads from Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Mackinac Island, The Henry Ford and Traverse City, will air more than 5,000 times through June. The total budget for the 2013 national campaign is $13 million.

“The positive impact of the Pure Michigan campaign, illustrated by this data, provides a strong foundation for our efforts to raise awareness of Michigan as a national travel destination through our largest advertising campaign to date,” said George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “With a new five-year, statewide tourism industry strategic plan in place and a high level of engagement at the local level, we are in a terrific position to capitalize on this growing number of out-of-state visitors choosing Michigan as their vacation destination.

Michigan's 2012 National and Regional Tourism Advertising Campaign Evaluation and Image Study is available on the reports page of MichiganAdvantage.org.

Longwoods International is a research firm specializing in tourism advertising return on investment.

Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, markets the state’s tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services. For Michigan travel news and updates, go to michigan.org.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) serves as the state's marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent and jobs, with a focus on helping grow Michigan's economy. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: MichiganAdvantage.org.

Guest Post: Apollo RV relocation programs lets you go RVing for as little as a dollar a night

Author's Note: Enjoy this guest post from Apollo RV.

The Recreation Vehicle (RV) Relocation Programs offered by Apollo RV, the world's largest privately owned RV operator, lets enthusiasts with flexible vacation schedules hit the open road without taking a big hit to the wallet.

The rental cost to enjoy a brand new Apollo RV can be as little as one dollar per night.

The factory relocation program features brand new Class C RVs that can be picked up in Decatur, Indiana. Final destinations include Las Vegas, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. As a limited quantity of these relocation RVs are available, Apollo suggests that interested vacationers visit http://www.apollorv.com/factory-special.aspx as soon as possible.

To help with travel expenses from the airport to Decatur, Apollo RV also provides a cab allowance of $100. The nearest airport is Fort Wayne International Airport.

Current pickup dates are May 1-4 and June 2-4, 2013. Auto racing enthusiasts may want to take into consideration the 97th Indianapolis 500, which takes place on Sunday, May 26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, when planning their trips.

Apollo invites guests to choose from four brand new RV models available on the relocation program. These

RVs range in size from 25 feet to 31 feet in length. All of the relocation RVs are “ready-to-go” and come with a full tank of gas, complete kitchen items, including pots and pans, dinnerware, silverware and more, plus two sets of bedding items, including bed coverings, sheets, pillows and towels. A full propane tank is provided, as well.

Each RV in the program comes with up to 2,500 free miles. The maximum rental period for this valuable special is 14 days. Additional days will be charged standard fees per night. Other fees and charges may apply, please visit www.apollorv.com/factory-special.aspx for details.

“We’re delighted that our need to shift vehicles to specific destinations to meet our rental needs translates into heavily discounted relocation specials for our guests,” said Apollo RV CEO Luke Trouchet.

For more information about Apollo RV’s year round Recreation Vehicle Relocation Program and the RVs that are offered, visit http://www.apollorv.com/reloc.aspx. For the Factory Relocation special, go to http://www.apollorv.com/factory-special.aspx.

Volunteers boost wildlife habitat improvement efforts in big way

Disabled veteran Jason Webb and Kyra Dewyer, from Westland,
drove 100 miles to help out at the Gratiot-Saginaw work day.

Some 30 volunteers met up with Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division employees on a recent
Sunday at Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area for a first-ever work day, building brush piles to provide habitat for rabbit and other wildlife species.

Recent changes in state law allow for volunteers to work alongside DNR staffers on habitat improvement projects on state-managed land. The “rabbitat” project – as it’s come to be known -- was a follow-up effort to similar work done a few years back by DNR employees.

“Wildlife Division employees built some brush piles in this area about three years ago. It worked out so well, we decided to try it with volunteers this time because we really wanted it done but our personnel have too many other priority projects right now,” said Doug Reeves, assistant chief of the DNR Wildlife Division.

Beyond the mounting duties and responsibilities facing Wildlife staff, Reeves said the number of staff in the division has decreased in the last 10 years due to attrition, budget cuts and rising costs; so this new option allowing volunteers is a great help.

Volunteers creating “rabbitat” brush piles
at the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area were
assisted by DNR wildlife assistant Jeff Corser.

In his 2013-14 budget proposal, Gov. Rick Snyder outlined a restructured package of hunting and fishing licenses that would generate additional revenue to better support Michigan’s fish and wildlife habitat programs.

Right now, volunteers partnering with the Wildlife Division are making a significant difference that translates into increased on-the-ground improvements for the state’s woods and water.

“I live nearby, so I’ve come out here to check and there are always rabbits here,” Reeves said. “I’ve seen pheasant tracks going into these piles, robins, catbirds, all kinds of birds. I’ve even seen a chipmunk sitting on one of these piles.

“The brush piles are doing what we intended them to do – attract wildlife.”

The volunteers heeded a call from Michigan United Conservation Clubs to participate in the work day. MUCC’s Drew YoungeDyke, grassroots manager for the organization, said he spread the word through the group’s magazine and email lists, as well as at various sports shows and sporting goods stores.

“We’re going to be doing this all around the state for both fisheries and wildlife,” YoungeDyke said. “It’s about building a statewide stewardship ethic as well as improving the habitat.

“We had about 30 people say they’d come and that’s how many showed up,” said YoungeDyke, who is working with DNR staff to identify appropriate volunteer projects. “Hunters, anglers and outdoorsmen keep their word; they said they’d show up and they did.”

Work-day volunteers created 43 new brush piles at the
Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, improving wildlife habitat
and small game hunting opportunities.

The volunteers were divided into work groups with a handful of chain-sawyers who dropped appropriate
trees to make the brush piles. Reeves spent a previous evening marking the trees to be cut – dead or dying ash trees, aspens that were encroaching on open fields, and other trees that aren’t especially valuable wildlife habitat – in places in or near openings that attract wildlife.

“We’re also getting rid of invasive species at the same time -- autumn olive and scotch pine,” Reeves said.

The work is relatively simple. After the trees are dropped and sawed into pieces, the volunteers build a lattice with the larger logs and then pile additional tree tops and brush atop it. The base gives small game animals a way to get into the pile and away from predators, creating an area where they can den and shelter young.

Jason Webb, 30, a disabled veteran, brought his girlfriend and drove 100 miles from his home in Westland after reading about the work day in Michigan Out-of-Doors magazine.

“We thought we’d come give a hand,” said Webb. “I try to stay outside as much as possible; it’s better than sitting in front of the darn TV.”

Roger Fowler of Vestaburg, who was running a chainsaw, showed up after meeting YoungeDyke at a

A handful of volunteers used chainsaws to drop marked trees
for the brush piles. The trees used for brush included dead or
dying ash, aspens encroaching on open fields, and invasive
species such as autumn olive and scotch pine.

Cabela’s store.

“I thought it would be a good learning experience for me,” said the 67-year-old, self-employed timber man. “I thought I could learn something to apply to my 30 acres. I think it’s a great idea.”

Donald Eldridge, a co-director of the Friends of Gratiot-Saginaw, said he was tickled by the turnout.

“This is wonderful,” he said. “This is just beautiful public hunting land, 16,000 acres, and anything we can do to improve on it enriches the area and provides benefits to us and future generations. I’m pleased with the turnout and hope we can do more of these projects in the future.”

John VanHaaren, assistant scoutmaster of Troop 305 in St. Charles, brought half his Boy Scout troop along with a couple of other adults to participate.

“We offered them a chance to give something back to the community,” he said. “A lot of them wanted to come out here. It’s a good service project and it helps [the Scouts] to advance in their rank.”

The work day lasted about six hours, including a lunch break for hot dogs and hamburgers, purchased by MUCC and cooked by a volunteer from the Saginaw Field & Stream Club.

YoungeDyke said MUCC is currently reviewing a list prepared by the DNR of potential habitat projects to

Volunteers drag cut trees into brush piles that become valuable
wildlife habitat by providing shelter from predators and cover
for young animals.

see what the group can tackle next.

“We want to make sure we cover all areas of the state and multiple species of fish and wildlife,” he said. “This first year we’ll go a little bit slow, maybe do five or six projects, and then evaluate how we can do things most efficiently. In future years we’ll probably speed up the pace of the projects.

“We built 43 brush piles – ranging from 8 to 10 feet in circumference to some much bigger piles – to give small game and other species a place to escape from predators and get out of the weather.

“We had a lot of comments afterward from volunteers who said they had fun and are looking forward to doing more. They wanted to know when the next project is scheduled.”

For anyone who wants to make a positive difference for wildlife, there are plenty of ways to volunteer. As MUCC’s volunteer program grows, the DNR fully anticipates more opportunities for volunteers to boost the number of boots on the ground at habitat improvement projects.

For more information, contact Drew YoungeDyke at 517-346-6486 or dyoungedyke@mucc.org. To learn more about the DNR’s wildlife and habitat improvement efforts, visit www.michigan.gov/wildlife.

Pure Michigan Hunt shoots to score big with help from hunting industry, sportsmen's groups

The hunting industry and sportsmen’s groups are once again stepping up to support hunting and wildlife
management in Michigan by contributing to the fifth annual Pure Michigan Hunt.

“We have the greatest sportsman groups and hunting industry right here in Michigan,” stated Wildlife Outreach Technician Katie Keen. “It’s great that we can work together to help the resource, as well as making the dreams of three lucky hunters come true.”

Every year three winners are chosen by random to win hunting licenses and gear. Each winner is awarded an elk, bear, spring and fall turkey, and antlerless deer license and first pick opening morning at any managed waterfowl area.

If the licenses weren’t enough, prize packages donated by sportsmen's groups and the hunting industry have totaled approximately $4,400 in value for each winner. Shotguns, rifles, crossbows, camouflage clothing, pop-up blinds, guided hunts, hunting vests, knives, rear-window hunting graphics and memberships to sportsmen's groups are just some of the prizes seen in the past.

To date, this year’s Pure Michigan Hunt sponsors are:

• Ameristep in Clio
• Ducks Unlimited - Michigan Chapter 
• Michigan Trappers Association
• National Wild Turkey Federation - Michigan Chapter
• Quality Deer Management Association - Michigan Chapter
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - Michigan Chapter
• East Lake Outfitters in Essexville
• Safari Club International - National and Mid- Michigan Chapter
• Steel Skinz Graphics in Howell
• The Trophy Room Taxidermy Studio with RJ Meyer in Jays of Clare 

The most recent winners – Jason Webb of Westland, Jim Bosscher of McBain and Dave Gittins of Kawkawlin – are all currently getting ready for their golden-ticket spring turkey hunt. As Pure Michigan Hunt winners, they can hunt in any open turkey unit in the state any day turkey hunting is allowed in that unit. Each winner also will be able to take advantage of the guided two-day turkey hunt with food and two nights lodging, donated by East Lake Outfitters in Essexville. Look for future information about their 2013 hunting adventures in future press releases.

All dollars generated from the Pure Michigan Hunt fund wildlife and habitat management work in Michigan.

“The Pure Michigan Hunt is an exciting way to showcase everything Michigan has to offer,” said Keen. “This is a wonderful opportunity for hunters to show their support and to also have a shot at the hunt of a lifetime.”

Those who would like to be in the running for the next Pure Michigan Hunt can purchase unlimited $4 applications anywhere hunting licenses are sold or online at http://www.mdnr-elicense.com (look for item #300). Applicants can enter as many times as they would like until Dec. 31. Winners will be drawn in January 2014. Visit www.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt for more information.

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Michigan DNR says fish kills common in spring

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone that after the ice melts on Michigan's
lakes, it is not uncommon to discover dead fish or other aquatic creatures. Typical Michigan winters with heavy snow and ice cover create conditions that cause fish and other creatures such as soft-shell turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish to die.

"Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill," said DNR Fisheries Division Production Manager Gary Whelan. "It is particularly common in shallow lakes and streams. These kills are often localized and typically do not impact fish populations or fishing quality."

Winterkill occurs during especially long, harsh winters. Shallow lakes with excess aquatic vegetation and mucky bottoms are particularly prone to this problem. Fish and other aquatic life typically die in late winter, but may not be noticed until a month after the ice leaves the lake because the dead fish and other aquatic life are temporarily preserved by the cold water.

"Winterkill begins with distressed fish gasping for air at holes in the ice and often ends with large numbers of dead fish that bloat as the water warms in early spring," Whelan explained. "Dead fish and other aquatic life may appear fuzzy because of secondary infection by fungus, but the fungus was not the cause of death. The fish actually suffocated from a lack of dissolved oxygen under the ice."

Dissolved oxygen is required by fish and all other forms of aquatic life. Once the daylight is greatly reduced by ice and snow cover, aquatic plants stop producing oxygen and many die. The bacteria that decompose organic materials on the bottom of the lake use the remaining oxygen in the water.

For more information on fish kills in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/fishing. If you suspect a fish kill is caused by non-natural causes, please call your nearest DNR office or Michigan's Pollution Emergency Alert System at 1-800-292-4706.

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Michigan Iron Industry Museum packs music, history and family fun into summer events schedule

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum, located in Negaunee, will host a full schedule of family fun and
educational activities for visitors of all ages this summer. Whether tastes run from music to classic cars to artillery demonstrations to historic bike tours on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, visitors to the museum can expect a "Pure Michigan" experience.

In addition, a July/August weekday program series will cover presentations on the Copper Strike of 1913-14, local antique bottles, U.P. folk music, Iron Mountain's Cornish pumping engine, and iron ore pelletizing pioneer Tsu Ming Han. All weekday programs begin at 2 p.m. in the museum auditorium.

Located in forested ravines nine miles west of Marquette, the Michigan Iron Industry Museum tells the story of Michigan's three iron ranges and the hard-working immigrants who helped build modern America. Overlooking the Carp River and the site of the region's first iron forge, exhibits and outdoor trails interpret the large-scale capital and human investment that made Michigan an industrial leader. The 22-minute, high-definition film "Iron Spirits – Life on the Michigan Iron Range," shown seven times daily, presents the colorful story of immigrant and community life in the Upper Peninsula.

Visitors will also find a wide selection of unique books, games, jewelry, apparel and other Michigan-related specialty items at the Museum Store.

Museum events are funded in part by visitor donations and the Michigan Iron Industry Museum Advisory
Board. Scheduled activities for 2013 include:

• May 19 – Museum Open House, with "White Water" in concert at 1 and 2:30 p.m., featuring traditional music from Michigan's past. Light refreshments.
• June 16 – "Iron, Steel and the Automobile: 24th Annual Antique Auto Exhibit," featuring more than 50 vintage automobiles and light trucks from the 1910s to 1969; live jazz and Swing performances by the "Bluffs Orchestra."
• July 9 – Lecture Series: "Community in Conflict: A History of the 1913-14 Michigan Copper Strike and the Italian Hall Tragedy," presented by author and labor historian Gary Kaunonen.
• July 11 – Iron Ore Heritage Bike Tour. Registration required. 
• July 16 – Lecture Series: "Antique Bottles of Marquette County," presented by Bill Van Kosky.
• July 18 – Iron Ore Heritage Bike Tour. Registration required.
  July 23 – Lecture Series: "Alan Lomax and Collecting U.P. Folk Music," presented by Daniel Truckey, director of Beaumier Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University (NMU).
• July 25 - Iron Ore Heritage Bike Tour. Registration required.
  July 30 – Lecture Series: "Iron Mountain's Cornish Pumping Engine and the Mines it Dewatered," presented by Iron Mountain historian William Cummings. 
• Aug. 3 and 4 - "Iron Ore and the Civil War," a living history encampment featuring military and civilian camp life during the Civil War; campfire cooking demonstrations; music; and children's activities. 
• Aug. 6 – Lecture Series: "Bats and the Mines: An Update on White Nose Syndrome," presented by Bill Scullon, biologist with the Department of Natural Resources.
• Aug. 13 – Lecture Series: "Archaeology on the Cusp of a Changing World: An Early Fur Trade Era Archaeological Site in Marquette County," presented by Dr. John Anderton, NMU.
• Aug. 20 – Lecture Series: "Tsu Ming Han: Pelletizing Pioneer," presented by Dr. Russell Magnaghi, NMU. The Michigan Iron Industry Museum is one of 11 nationally accredited museums administered by the Michigan Historical Center, an agency within the Department of Natural Resources. It is located at 73 Forge Rd. in Negaunee Township, overlooking the site of the Carp River Forge, a pioneer industrial site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information about museum programs call (906) 475-7857 or visit online at www.michigan.gov/ironindustrymuseum. 

In May, the museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting June 1, the museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free; donations are encouraged.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Michigan DNR advises leaving wildlife in the wild

Most fawns, though by themselves, have not been abandoned.
According to the DNR, people are more likely to see baby
animals alone in the springtime, and it's best to leave them
right where they are.

It happens every spring. Someone finds an “abandoned” fawn and takes it upon themselves to “rescue” it.

The Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division staff has a word of advice: Don’t.

“When young fawns are born, they’re not very mobile and don’t appear to have much scent to them so their best defense is to just stay still, on their own, apart from their mother,” explained Brent Rudolph, the deer and elk program leader for the DNR. “Predators can’t track them down by following mom around, so she stays away and the fawns stay alone – that’s their best defense during their first few days of life.”

For the most part, does know exactly where their fawns are.

“Sometimes what mom sees as a safe place to stash a fawn is a flower bed at the edge of the house or maybe underneath a deck,” Rudolph said. “So people think ‘That’s a weird place for a fawn – it must be an orphan.’ Generally they’re not orphaned. Through those first few weeks, mom will feed them, clean them, check up on them, then take off again so she’s not drawing attention to them. So we encourage people to let them be.”

There are times – say, you find a dead doe by the side of the road with a nearby fawn – when fawns have been orphaned. Remember it is illegal to take them into your home. Call a licensed rehabilitator if you feel the need. For a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators, visit www.michigandnr.com/dlr/.

DNR wildlife biologists want people
to know that it's best to leave baby birds, such
as this pheasant chick, alone in the wild.

The same advice applies to other animals as well. Though many young animals are adorable as babies –
raccoons, for instance -- they grow up to be less adorable as adults.

According to DNR wildlife biologist Erin Victory, wild animals do not make good pets and once habituated to humans, they generally do not do well when returned to the wild. They also pose the possibility of bringing disease or parasites that could affect you or your pets into your home. Raccoons, for example, are not only potentially rabid, but they can carry canine distemper, not to mention round worms, fleas and mange.

“Please resist the urge to try to help seemingly abandoned fawns or other animal babies this spring,” Victory said. “We appreciate the good intentions of those who want to help, but animals are better off left alone than if they are removed from the wild.”

Tari Howard, a licensed rehabilitator in Benton Harbor, said she always tells people who have picked up young animals to check and make sure mom’s not around, especially in the case of fawns. "People say, ‘Well, I’ve already touched it,’ but that generally doesn’t seem to matter. I think it’s a myth.”

Howard said she gets a fair number of baby rabbits and squirrels that come to her “eyes closed and hairless.” It’s a 50-50 proposition as to whether they live, she said.

As for birds, the advice is the same. Remember when you were a kid and someone told you that if you touched a baby bird, its mother would either abandon it or kill it?

Baby birds, like these geese, will usually continue to be fed
by their parents, even if it appears they've been left alone. The DNR
advises that if you find baby animals in the wild, it's best to leave them there.

"Not true,” said Karen Cleveland, the DNR’s all bird biologist.

“If it’s completely defenseless and can’t move on its own, the short version is: Stick it back into the nest, if you can. If it’s got little feathers on it and it looks like a bird rather than a ball of fluff, odds are it already tried to fledge from its nest before it was ready to fly. Generally, mom and dad will continue to feed it.”

Young birds that appear grounded may be found a good distance from the nest, Cleveland said, because they walk and search for from predators.

“It’s probably not ready to fly but it thinks it is, and then it ends up on the ground, because its feathers can’t get it airborne,” Cleveland said. “Little birds have been coming out of the nest too early since little birds have been around.

Cleveland said the DNR regularly fields calls from homeowners who have found ducks – mostly mallards – nesting in their shrubs or gardens.

“The thing to do is enjoy it. Back off. Leave them alone. Keep the dogs and cats and kids away from it,” she said. “They’ll be a very quiet neighbor and if the nest fails on its own – something that happens regularly – just wish her luck on her next attempt. If a nest is unsuccessful she’ll try to find someplace else to nest. And if she’s successful there, she may come back."

Though small, this young mallard is capable of making it on
its own - and mom is probably right nearby.

Cleveland reminded folks that it is illegal to take birds, just as it is mammals, into their homes without permits
to do so.

“There are licensed rehabilitators who can work with them if necessary,” she said. “But it’s better for the bird to be raised by their parents, to learn all they need to know to live in the wild rather than to be raised by a human.”

For more information about specific species or wildlife viewing opportunities, visit www.michigan.gov/wildlife.

Michigan conservation officers offer safety tips for spring outdoor recreation

Spring in Michigan means a lot of diverse outdoor recreationalists taking to the woods in search of edible
mushrooms, migrating birds, wild turkeys, fishing spots or just some solitude. Michigan’s conservation officers are offering some common sense safety tips for anyone taking to the woods for some fun and adventure.

“In the spring, cabin fever has caught up to a lot of Michiganders and they want to get outdoors,” said Dean Molnar, assistant chief of the Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division. “By preparing for your time in the woods with safety in mind, everyone can have a great time before they head into the woods.”

Springtime in Michigan is prime time for bird watching, mushroom hunting and other outdoor pursuits like hiking, ORV riding and mountain biking. Public lands, such as state forests, state game areas, state parks and recreation areas, are common places for these activities to take place. Spring also brings the start of the new fishing season and the first of Michigan’s two turkey hunting periods.

Molnar offered the following tips for a safe outing in Michigan’s outdoors:

• Always tell someone, such as a family member or friend, where you are going and what time you plan to be back before you leave. That way, if you are running later than your expected return time, it is easier to notify authorities you may be lost, the approximate area you may be and that you need assistance. Additionally, leave your car where it can easily be found to give searchers a starting point to come look for you.
• Take your cell phone with you. Today’s cell phones have technology that can allow law enforcement to track your phone’s signal if you are lost. Also, many smartphones come with GPS technology. Be familiar with how to use these applications on your smartphone before you venture into the outdoors.
• If you have a smartphone, download flashlight and compass applications – there are a few free ones available at both Google Play (for Android phones) and the App Store on iPhones.
•  If you don’t have a cell phone or smartphone, be sure to take a compass and small flashlight with you.
• Be familiar with any land use rules if you are going out on public land. If the land is open to hunting, be aware of Michigan’s spring turkey season – wear hunter orange and stay on designated trails and pathways.
• Remember that in the spring, Michigan’s weather can be unpredictable. Dress in layers for warmth and comfort. Also remember if you are trout fishing in a cold-water stream that water temperatures will be considerably colder than air temperatures this time of year, making it imperative to dress in layers.
• Take snacks and water. It’s easy to shove a granola bar or snack crackers in your gear so you have some food with you in case you get lost. Take a bottle of water with you, too.
• Take a whistle. Having a small whistle with you is a good idea because it can create a noise to help search and rescue squads to find you.

“Even the most experienced outdoor recreation enthusiast can get lost in the woods,” said Molnar. “We encourage those seeking fun in Michigan’s outdoors to consider these safety tips and be familiar with outdoors survival as well. The better prepared you are, the more safe and enjoyable your time in the woods will be.”

For more information about Michigan’s outdoor recreation opportunities, visit the DNR’s website at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

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