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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

...starvation. Reduce waste with reusable packaging Another way to reduce litter is to prevent it in the first place. Consider cloth or silicon bags to store those picnic sandwiches and pre-portioned goldfish crackers. Many interpretive centers and park buildings have...

An Amazing Comeback: Co-Existing with Beavers

...to reach their stored food is imperative to surviving and thriving! Beavers fell trees to create lodges and dams as well as to get access to the tasty outer bark and buds that makes up much of their diet Winter...

Climate Action in the Classroom: The Value of Trees

...for humans, evocative memories of places and experiences. Trees also conduct a variety of ecosystem services which are all the many benefits provided by the environment. Trees absorb stormwater, filter air pollution, create shade, buffer wind, and store carbon dioxide....

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  ...

Water Footprints

...suggestions: Learn more about your watershed from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE): mi.gov/hydrology. Attend a Huron-Clinton Metroparks Board of Commissioners meeting https://www.metroparks.com/meeting-schedule/ Volunteer with We the People of Detroit, a community coalition dedicated to mobilizing...

Bird of the Week: Bald Eagle

...continued conservation efforts and federal protection. Visit https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/bald-eagle to learn more about the species. Check out the Cleveland Metroparks’ livestream nest cam at https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/about/conservation/natural-resources/bald-eagle-nest-livestream. Bald Eagles nest in a few of your Metroparks, so be on the lookout the next...

Fighting for the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland

...about some of our partners, please visit some of the following: The Michigan Natural Features Inventory – https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/communities/description/10671/great-lakes-marsh The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – https://www.noaa.gov/ The Great Lakes Commission – https://www.glc.org/ St. Clair-Detroit River System Initiative (SCDRS) – https://scdrs.org/...
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