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New Lake Michigan research vessel Steelhead commissioned

A new 66-foot, steel-hulled vessel to monitor Lake Michigan fisheries is replacing an older vessel and will mean more efficient and safer operations for Michigan Department of Natural Resources crew members. During a ceremony Wednesday in Charlevoix — the new vessel's home port — DNR officials and other fisheries leaders gathered to commission the vessel, which was christened Research Vessel Steelhead, after its predecessor Survey Vessel Steelhead, by DNR Deputy Director Shannon Lott. DNR Fisheries Division Chief Randy Claramunt granted the vessel's commission. “The importance ...

The other side of the line

“Sacrifice was the code of the road,” – Bob Dylan When I heard the car door shut behind me, I knew I was on the other side of the line – that is, the line between here and out there. I think this has always been one of my favorite sounds. When I was a kid, if I wasn’t outside, I ...

Launched

ESCANABA — A new recreation opportunity is available to residents and visitors of Delta County. As of Sept. 26 — last Saturday — kayaks are available to rent right near the boat launch at Pioneer Trail Park. Initial reaction to the addition has been positive, said Delta County Park ...

Wolves killed for human safety

WISCONSIN — Nine wolves were recently "trapped and humanely euthanized" by USDA Wildlife Services in northern Wisconsin as a last resort following repeated threats to human safety, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) reported. In rural northern Price County, "verified threats to human health and safety" caused by wolves were first reported in July 2025 and continued through August 2026. "Working with USDA Wildlife Services professionals, the DNR recommended numerous non-lethal measures including auditory harassment, hazing, increased lighting, removal of ...

Shifting sand is natural to Michigan’s dunes; how to cope is controversial

LANSING – Michigan’s sand dunes face serious threats as climate change and environmental factors continue to evolve, as do the communities surrounding them, experts say. Lake Michigan communities have seen problems in recent years as a result of sand dunes shifting, said Emily Smith, the ...

LSSU researchers refine genetic method for determining sex of sturgeon

SAULT STE. MARIE — Determining the sex of a sturgeon can be surprisingly difficult. A team of LSSU researchers has refined a genetic testing method that makes the process more reliable, offering a useful tool for fisheries research, conservation, and aquaculture. The research, led by LSSU Professor Britton Ranson Olson, was conducted in collaboration with LSSU Professor and Assistant Director of Research at the Center for Freshwater Research and Education (CFRE), Kevin Kapuscinski, and LSSU Master’s candidate Alana J. Miller-Schofield. Their findings were published Sept. 3 in ...