This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Victoria Witke, Great Lakes Echo

Every spring for the last 15 years, Gene Gilliland and some friends have gone smallmouth bass fishing in Lake St. Clair in Southeast Michigan for a week.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Dylan Engels, Great Lakes Echo

A new fishing season started this month, and that means Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources has plans for stocking sport fish in the state’s waters.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Victoria Witke, Great Lakes Echo

When Roger LaBine was younger, he often drove his grandfather to the Ottawa National Forest to hunt porcupines.

“In the fall after the leaves had fallen, he’d take the .22 when we’d go out and hunt porcupine,” LaBine said.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Shealyn Paulis, Great Lakes Echo

Within Minnesota’s wetlands, forests and prairies, thousands of different species of wildflowers bloom annually – some only once and in the evening. In their second book, two Minnesotan women put their passions to paper and set out to uncover all the state flora has to offer.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Clara Lincolnhol, Great Lakes Echo

This year’s winter has been a breath of fresh air for ice fishing enthusiasts and businesses around Lake Erie.

“There were over 300 huts out on the ice on Presque Isle Bay one weekend in January,” said Jerry Skyrpzak, president of the S.O.N.S.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Kayte Marshall, Great Lakes Echo

In a world dominated by smartphones and screen time, the Department of Natural Resources aims to reconnect kids with Michigan’s great outdoors.

The DNR is funding Nature Awaits, a program dedicated to hosting outdoor learning sessions for fourth grade classes at state parks.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Clara Lincolnhol, Great Lakes Echo

Toledo, Ohio, has a rich Rust Belt history that influences its present-day culture. Local environmental groups and agencies are turning to public art to teach residents that the area’s natural history is just as important.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Isabella Figueroa, Great Lakes Echo

New grants to Great Lakes states to measure harmful chemicals in marginalized communities are facing uncertainty under increased White House scrutiny on federal spending.

In September 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a first round of $5 million across six state biomonitoring programs that measure chemicals in people.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Clara Lincolnhol, Great Lakes Echo

Chris Compton, owner of a company called Goose Busters, has spent nearly 30 years addressing human-goose conflicts. Over the years, the goose population has continued to grow, especially in more populated areas, he said.

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This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Clara Lincolnhol, Great Lakes Echo

Ohio took a beating from a record-breaking 73 tornadoes in 2024. Twisters and other severe weather events are becoming more common in the Midwest due to climate change, and seniors are more at risk.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.