MICHIGAN WILDLIFE HABITAT FOUNDATIO

IN 2023, THE MICHIGAN WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY MAINTAINED ITS STATUS AS A STATEWIDE CONSERVATION AGENCY BY EXPANDING SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE ONCE AGAIN OFFERED OUR YOUTH DAY CAMP AND GUIDEBOOK "BECOMING OUTDOOR SMART IN SUMMER" (BOSS) OVER 9 WEEKS IN THE SUMMER FOR 20 AREA STUDENTS GRADES 3-6. GUIDEBOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO MID-MICHIGAN STUDENTS FOR INDEPENDENT STUDY AS WELL. EDUCATION WAS A PRIORITY IN 2023, AS WE HOSTED THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY-EXTENSION CONSERVATION STEWARDS PROGRAM. DREW MONKS, DIRECTOR OF WILDLIFE PROGRAMS HOSTED AND TAUGHT 30+ STUDENTS (MOSTLY POST-GRAD) ON WETLAND ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION AT THE BENGEL WILDLIFE CENTER (BWC). VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY AT THE BWC- DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS HAVE ASSISTED IN REMOVING INVASIVE PLANTS AND SHRUBS FROM AROUND THE BWC THROUGH BOTH HOSTED WORKDAYS AND INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS. STATEWIDE, WE CONTINUED OUR INSTITUTE FOR RARE MAMMAL STUDIES (IRMS) BY CONDUCTING FIELDWORK IN NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN USING CANINES TO DETECT SCAT FROM RARE PINE MARTENS (MARTES MARTES). WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING TO COLLABORATE WITH DR. JILL WITT- LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY- ON TRACKING AND COLLECTING DNA SAMPLES FROM THE RARE FISHER (PEKANIA PENNANTI), ALSO IN NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN. WE CONSULTED FOR WACKER CHEMIE CORP IN ADRIAN, MI ON THEIR BAT HOUSES NEAR THE RIVER RAISIN, AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLEARING INVASIVE SPECIES TO IMPROVE BAT HABITAT, INCLUDING THE FEDERALLY LISTED LITTLE BROWN BAT (MYOTIS LUCIFUGUS). WE HAVE EXPANDED IRMS TO COVER RARE REPTILES AND ARE EXPANDING OUR SCOPE TO THE STATE SPECIAL CONCERN BLANDING'S TURTLE (EMYDOIDEA BLANDINGII) AND THE FEDERALLY THREATENED EASTERN MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKE. STATEWIDE, WE HAVE USED OUR WEBSITE, NEWSLETTER THE WILDLIFE VOLUNTEER, AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE TO EDUCATE MICHIGANDERS ON RARE SPECIES, CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WETLAND CONSERVATION.