Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, MI — July 13, 2021
Summertime is the best time to see baby animals in Michigan, as young birds and mammals venture from their nest and den sites and begin to learn from their parents how to hunt and forage for food.
Hawks Are a Common Site This Time of Year
Young Cooper’s hawks and red-tailed hawks might visit your neighborhood this month as they explore their surroundings. Common in urban and suburban settings, these two species sometimes will stop at trees, fences, and deck railings to rest after their first few flights.
“While it may be alarming to see these hawks in your yard, they mean you and your pets no harm,” said Holly Vaughn, public outreach and engagement manager in the DNR Wildlife Division.
Cooper’s hawks primarily eat other birds and sometimes squirrels and small mammals. Red-tailed hawks generally eat squirrels, rabbits, and small mammals. Pets larger than 4 pounds or so are too large for these hawks to prey upon, so you likely don’t need to worry too much about them.
“If you have chickens in your yard, make sure they are protected from all sides by fencing or chicken wire,” said Vaughn. “All hawks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so they cannot be captured or harmed.”
The young hawks will leave their parents to find hunting territories of their own by late summer. If you do see a hawk in your yard, enjoy the sighting and watch the antics of these young birds as they learn their way in a whole new world.
July is Wildlife Conservation Month
It is hard to imagine a Michigan without white-tailed deer, elk, bald eagles, or wild turkey. But if not for the efforts of conservationists, volunteers, and partner agencies, these species might be absent from Michigan’s beautiful landscape. In the spirit of these conservation successes, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed July as Wildlife Conservation Month to recognize the work Michiganders have done for conservation – and draw attention to the work that still needs to be done.
“In Michigan, we are proud of our wildlife, waterways, and public lands and want to ensure that they are protected for future generations to enjoy,” said Whitmer. “This Wildlife Conservation Month, we celebrate our long legacy of conservation and recommit ourselves to bringing vital species back from the brink and protecting our state’s natural diversity.”
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Efforts Towards Wildlife Conservation
Abundant wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities would not be possible without the state’s roughly 4.6 million acres of public lands. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources manages these lands to enhance habitat, monitor wildlife populations, prevent the spread of disease and ensure wildlife flourishes.
Sometimes the path to a flourishing species takes a while. Moose, a majestic animal central to Michigan’s cultural identity, were nearly extirpated – or, locally extinct – in Michigan by the late 1800s. Due to conservation efforts from the 1980s-1990s, moose can now be found in two places in the Upper Peninsula. More recently, the Kirtland’s warbler was removed from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s endangered species list in 2019 thanks to decades of conservation partnership.
Michigan’s wildlife conservation community has a long history and has grown to address the state’s evolving challenges. Hunting and fishing licenses provide tens of millions of dollars each year to support the conservation of species like deer, bear, elk, turkey, duck, and moose. Hunters and anglers contribute $11.2 billion each year to Michigan’s economy and create 171,000 jobs, making this aspect of outdoor recreation among the state’s top 10 job-creating industries; support from hunters and anglers has been vital to conservation work since the inception of the Department of Conservation, the precursor to the DNR.
More people are becoming aware of the importance of wildlife management and getting involved in new activities to support that goal. Whether you are one of Michigan’s 3.2 million wildlife watchers enjoying feeding backyard birds, watching spring migration at your favorite birding spot, or heading out to hear elk bugling in the fall, you have experienced the results of these efforts.
“We take pride in being a part of the conservation community, but recognize there is still much more to do,” said DNR Director Dan Eichinger. “We’re working with partners to bring the Arctic grayling back to Michigan and making science-based management and conservation decisions to ensure Michigan’s wildlife remains balanced and thriving for generations to come. Thanks to a strong partnership between government and non-governmental organizations, there is an abundance of wildlife to hunt in Michigan, from white-tailed deer to ruffed grouse to elk and bear.”
