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Wasps: Heroines for the Lazy Home Gardener

Written by: Victoria Taylor Sluder, Western District Interpretive Services Supervisor D.I.Y. In my grandmother’s time self-sufficiency was more of a requirement than an option. My generation hasn’t needed to know how to make bread when every grocery store always has...

Activities & Amenities

...Michigan, you’ll find a full year of exploration, excitement and education waiting to be discovered. Find in Store Active Filter: Clear All Filters Filter County Select CountyLivingstonMacombOaklandWashtenawWayne Features Ballfields Beach Biking Boat Launch Boat Rental Camping Canoeing / Kayaking Concessions...

Wild Wednesday: Mourning Cloak Butterfly

...when they are very active. During this time, they store up on food to prepare for overwintering under tree bark or in another protected location. Mourning Cloaks can be found in a variety of habitats in Michigan as long as...

Wild Wednesday: American Wintergreen

December 14, 2022 By: Kaitlyn Burkey, Interpreter Candy canes, peppermint hot chocolate, and other minty treats start to appear everywhere in the winter months on menus and in grocery store aisles. Originally, one of the ways that the flavor of...

Syrup Season & Climate Change

...regions were putting gashes in the maple trees to collect sap which would then be cooked down into syrup and sugar. Solid maple sugar was easier to store and trade than liquid syrup and archaeologists have found evidence of maple...

Every Day is Earth Day in the Metroparks

April 10, 2024 Erin Parker, Interpretive Services Supervisor Plastic bottles, granola bar wrappers, juice boxes, plastic bags, aluminum foil, orange peels, pet waste. What do these items have in common? They’re frequently spotted out in the parks in places they...

An Amazing Comeback: Co-Existing with Beavers

July 26, 2023 By Erin Parker, Interpretive Services Supervisor In 2008, when beavers first showed back up in the Detroit River near the Conner Creek Power Plant, after 75 years of absence from the River, people had a lot of...

Climate Action in the Classroom: The Value of Trees

November 8, 2023 By Erin Parker, Interpretive Services Supervisor Do you have a favorite tree? Maybe it grew in your childhood backyard, tall and strong and holding a tire swing that kept you busy during the seemingly-endless summers of youth....

Owls in Winter

...even urban environments. They’ll sit on cars, buildings, telephone poles, streetlights, the ground, and just about any other place you can imagine. Don’t worry – you may find dozens of white grocery store bags hooked on fences before you see...

Picnic Parties – Strive for sustainable events 

...you can do: Avoid plastic – Swap out a plastic tablecloth for a linen one. You can easily find affordable linens at your local thrift store, and they also look more polished than a cheap plastic one! Always avoid plastic...

Wild Wednesday: Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus)

...sighting within your Metroparks, please call the nature center within that park (visit www.metroparks.com for center phone numbers). You can also report a sighting by searching Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake at www.michigan.gov/dnr. To learn more about this amazing reptile, visit https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/reptiles/eama/index.html...

Natural Resources

...or PFOS contamination? To learn more about PFOS and related chemical contamination in Michigan waters, visit: https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse. To learn more about eat safe fish guidelines and chemical contamination in fish, visit: https://www.michigan.gov/eatsafefish INVASIVE SPECIES Quick question: All plants are equally...

Bird of the Week: Bald Eagle

...much to learn about the Bald Eagle. Below are a few sites to visit: Learn more about the history of Bald Eagle decline, protection, and recovery by visiting https://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/History/index.html. Visit https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/bald-eagle to learn more about the species. Check out the...

Harnessing the Potential of Lawns

...with your personal aesthetic preferences or HOA guidelines. Tending to native plants with a slightly elevated mowing height encourages deep root development, enhancing soil vitality and resilience against drought.   For more information: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/smart_lawns_for_pollinators https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/landowners_guide/habitat_mgmt/backyard/Grass_Ground_Cover.htm https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/yards-and-gardens https://wildseedproject.net/2017/01/native-groundcovers-beauty-biodiversity-ground-level/ https://www.prairienursery.com/plants-seeds/native-plants/groundcover-plants.html https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/xeriscaping-ground-cover-plants-7-230/ https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/NAP/Native-Plants/Pages/NativePlants.aspx...

Vernal Pools: Protecting, Monitoring, and Celebrating!

...pools, be sure to check out the Vernal Pool Patrol! Be sure to check out “Ephemeral”, a short film created by the Michigan Nature Association (MNA) about the wonders of vernal pools.   Sources: https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Indicator-Species-ID-Sheet-1.pdf https://vernal-pool-patrol-mnfi.hub.arcgis.com/ https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Vernal-Pool-Fairy-Shrimp#:~:text=Before%20the%20vernal%20pool%20dries,in%20such%20a%20temporary%20habitat. https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2022/05/31/vernal-pools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJDe3bA7j8  ...
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