Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Post

The successful reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in 1995 is celebrated as a great wildlife conservation achievement. What is the untold story? That wolf recovery [in fact] has been natural, too. Americans, along with the rest of the world, tend to think of wolves as all reintroduced and that reintroduction is the only way they become re-established: that is wrong. About 15 years prior to the Yellowstone and Idaho reintroductions, and just a few years after they had received federal endangered species status [granted in 1974], they walked down from Canada into north-western Montana and Glacier national park without any help or fanfare. And they began to filter out. The approximately 3,000 wild wolves in the western US today are, in part, because of that natural recolonisation. +++ These and many other interesting wolf stories are shared in this article. At the outset, however, it states that pro- and anti-wolf groups now duel over how the species should be managed as populations have rebounded in places over the past few decades. +++ This idea of "management" is interesting because it places humans as managers of the wolves' fate. Indeed, humans like to see themselves as "managers of the earth". Yet when we look at what certain humans have done (notably the ones discussing wolves), they have been neither "managers", nor "guardians", nor "stewards". They have been exploitants, hunters, miners, dredgers, cullers, and fellers, for so many centuries. These humans have a lot to learn. My response to this article is not to wonder how we will "manage" wolves, but rather, how this part of humanity might "manage" itself. To be a bit more responsible, a bit more worthy of this beautiful earth which we are collectively in the process of destroying. Perhaps we could ask what we can learn from the wolves? What can the wolves teach us? If we open to different questions, perhaps we will find some different answers. +++ Channelled message from the wolves: Humans, please wake up to the gifts of your humanity. Step out of your lower selves. Step into your higher selves. We will meet you there. #Wolves #Awakening #Wolfjustice https://lnkd.in/eKMWe8hF

Habitat and Distribution: Where to Find the Highland Tiger The Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris), affectionately known as the "Highland tiger," inhabits some of Scotland's most remote and rugged landscapes. These elusive creatures have long been symbols of the untamed wilderness, thriving in areas where their unique adaptability enables them to hunt, reproduce, and evade predators. However, their habitat and distribution have diminished significantly, leaving the wildcat confined to increasingly fragmented regions in the Scottish Highlands. Preferred Habitat Scottish wildcats are highly adaptable, but they primarily thrive in mixed habitats that combine woodlands, moorlands, and open grasslands. They rely on dense forested areas for shelter, particularly during the day when they rest, and use open areas for hunting. The mosaic of woodlands and open spaces provides a balance of cover and access to prey, including rabbits, rodents, and small birds. Unlike domestic cats, wildcats are solitary animals that avoid human settlements, preferring isolated areas where human activity is minimal. Do visit Join our Getcatcrazy Facebook Group do like and follow and read the rest of this article https://lnkd.in/eMRA2CZ6

Join me? Conservation meets fishing fun! This summer I’m taking a bucket list trip to BC coast to fish sturgeon - dinosaurs of the sea! Her Wilderness Co. and founder Amanda are hosting this, and there are a couple spots left. Questions? DM me. These kinds of trips are doing to fill my 2024-2025 as I walk the talk of living aligned with my values and giving back to nature conservation efforts. #owlseekmethod #owlseek

Predators and Urchins: How the Landscape of Fear may contribute to the restoration of kelp forests During Arendalsuka I got to finally meet Dr. Even Moland from the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway in person, where we spoke about the importance of predator restoration when working to restore kelp forests. According to Even Moland, Ohad Peleg, PhD, and other scientists in the space, there is growing evidence to suggest that, like the re-introduced #wolves in #Yellowstone, marine predators also help keep kelp-grazing urchins in check in two ways: - directly through predation, reducing their numbers in absolute terms - indirectly through the fear of predation Landscape of Fear This fear of predation, or the #landscapeoffear that is created when predators are abound, keeps sea urchins hidden away in tight corners rather than wandering about in the open to graze down kelp forests. Below are some examples of this behavior in the marine space: New Zealand https://lnkd.in/dmQmfcV7' USA Lobster pee deters coral-eating snails https://lnkd.in/dxJK3rR4 Norway In the context of #Norway, this suggests that larger charismatic urchin predators like #wolffish, #lobsters, #crab, #cod, #saithe, and #pollock, should be better protected if we wish to help bring urchin numbers down and give our kelp forests a chance to recover. Micropredators’ role And once the kelp returns, we will then have a habitat for our #micropredators to return and eat urchin larvae BEFORE they become a threat to kelp forests.

#wolves #conservation #hunting #trapping #wildlife #endangered #management #hubris #speciesism #anthropocentrism #cultureofdeath #life #love #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus THERE YOU GO AGAIN: The gray wolves of the northern Rocky Mountains face significant threats. Conservationists are battling against state-sanctioned wolf hunts and policies that could decimate the wolf population in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. HERE'S HOW WE "MANAGE" GOD'S CREATURES: The states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming have come under intense scrutiny for their wolf management policies. Montana allows the use of bait and strangulation snares, and hunters can kill up to 20 wolves each. Idaho has similar laws and even permits private contractors to hunt wolves. Wyoming’s policies are the most lenient, allowing hunters to kill wolves by any means necessary without a license in most parts of the state. AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR OUR INTEREST IN WOLVES: However, conservationists argue that these measures are excessive and undermine the ecological role that wolves play. Wolves help maintain healthy ecosystems by controlling deer and elk populations, which in turn benefits other wildlife and plant species, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. THE ONLY ANSWER: A reverence for life is an ethos that mandates for humans service as stewards of all nature, all life, all God's creation. Our role is not to manage any particular species, but rather to foster a milieu in which all species may exist and thrive, free from human intervention, no matter how well meant. Nature is best suited to care for itself. We may enhance that care; we cannot manage it. That is bestowing the love of Jesus universally. That is a reverence for life.

Welcoming the winter solstice doesn’t get more magical than witnessing the starling murmuration at Whixall Moss tonight. Truly otherworldly! Pure magic. ✨ As dusk fell, tens of thousands of starlings gathered at the edge of the moss. Around 60,000 birds are thought to roost in the willow nearby. Watching them converge was incredible - swirling, dancing, and shapeshifting right above us. 🌀 On cold nights, the starlings flock together to stay cosy. Their synchronised movements aren’t just beautiful - they’re a clever survival strategy. By flying in unison, they confuse predators, making it almost impossible to single out one bird among thousands. Once they feel safe, the flock descends into the trees and bushes, filling the air with their chatter. 🪶 Whixall and the other mosses surrounding it are one of the largest areas of lowland peat bog in the UK—one of the rarest habitats in the world. So many have been decimated, but these mosses play a super important role. They store carbon and prevent floods by soaking up sooo much rainwater. So it’s crucial we restore them just like Whixhall. 💫 Nature’s own magic, right here. A precious moment to watch as the solstice marks the turning of the year. https://lnkd.in/efVm8krG Shropshire Wildlife Trust Natural England

#wolves #extinction #hunting #endangered #playingGod #science #cultureofdeath #humanhubris #biophilia #halfearth #life #love #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus THE SEEMINGLY BENEFICIAL ACTION: Six conservation groups have filed a lawsuit challenging a recent federal government decision not to protect wolves in the northern U.S. Rocky Mountain region under the Endangered Species Act,... THE OSTENSIBLE PROBLEM: “Rocky Mountain states have liberalized the legal killing of wolves and have also removed discretion from their fish and wildlife agencies, letting lawmakers run wild and unleashing ruthless campaigns to kill wolves by just about any and all means..." THE TRUE CONUNDRUM: Wolves have been protected as an endangered species in the region off and on since they were first delisted in 2008. They have been off the federal endangered species list in the northern U.S. Rockies since 2017. The decision not to return wolves to endangered status in the region violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to properly analyze threats to wolves and rely on the best available science involving the animals,... THE HUBRIS OF PLAYING GOD: A reverence for life places upon mankind a sacred duty to serve as stewards of nature, of all life, of all God's creation. Often that duty is best discharged by permitting those creatures to behave and thrive according to their own inclinations and predilections, not ours. Rather than play God by seeking to "manage" life, let us be agents of God's will by protecting, assisting, and enhancing life, by setting aside large swaths of acreage wherein God's creatures may actuate according to their natures, free from human depredation or meddling. This is conferring the love of Jesus universally. That is a reverence for life.

https://lnkd.in/gpwyYiih Open Space Institute and Partners Acquire More Than 900 Acres of Culturally Significant Land in Central Georgia. Project will preserve public access and safeguard invaluable Muscogee (Creek) Nation land. MACON, GA (June 26, 2024)—The Open Space Institute (OSI) has announced the protection of 931 acres of land in Georgia’s Twiggs and Bibb counties. Conservation of the land will support the long-term protection of the nearby Ocmulgee Mounds and bolster efforts to preserve the Ocmulgee River floodplain as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve. The two properties, known together as the “Branson Tracts,” are considered priority acquisitions by the USFWS and the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) for their role in protecting cultural resources important to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, creating new public hunting and fishing opportunities, and preserving wildlife habitat. In 2022, OSI added nearly 1,000 acres to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, doubling its size and providing significant protection for the Ocmulgee Mounds. The mounds are some of the most important examples of ancient Indigenous engineering in North America. The protection of the Branson Tracts serves the residents of the Macon-Warner Robbins area, but also safeguards the site of 17,000 years of Indigenous history.

📌 California Notaries Public and Wildlife: Ever Countersigned a Deer or Bear Tag? Here's What You Need to Know! ***HOOK*** Ever wondered if your skills as a notary public could extend to the wilderness? ***CONTEXT*** You're not alone. After nearly 20 years, even seasoned notaries are discovering new depths to their roles. Turns out, California Fish and Game Code sections 4341 and 4755 give notaries public the unique responsibility of countersigning deer and bear tags. ***DETAILS/STORY*** It's incredibly straightforward. If someone presents you with a deer or bear they’ve tagged, all you need to do is sign the tag, identify yourself as a notary public, and log the act in your journal. No notarial wording, no affixing your seal, and no fee required. This might sound surprising—after all, it's not a typical 9-to-5 notary assignment! ***LESSON/INSIGHT*** So why does this matter? For one, it offers hunters an extra layer of convenience, especially in remote areas where other authorized agents might not be easily accessible. It also underscores the breadth of responsibilities that come with being a notary public in California, extending beyond the usual paperwork to include the unique needs of wildlife management. ***CTA*** Have you ever encountered this fascinating aspect of being a notary? Or do you have any interesting stories from your years of service? Share your experiences below—let's uncover the hidden layers of our profession together! 🦌🐻 #CaliforniaNotary #WildlifeManagement #HuntingSeason #FieldStories #WildlifeTags #NotaryLife #Regulations #NotaryPublic #Outdoors #LegalResponsibilities #NotaryJournal #Hunting #FishAndGameCode #Wildlife #HuntingTags #NotaryCommunity #ProfessionalRoles #Fieldwork #HunterSupport