Mi Nature

06/19/2026

Manoomin translates to “the good berry” in Ojibwe. It is a culturally significant plant to the Anishinaabek people and is directly linked to their migration from the northeastern coast to the Great Lakes region several hundred years ago.

Once plentiful throughout Michigan, wild rice is under threat from climate change, habitat loss, uninformed harvesting practices, degraded water quality and other factors. Wild rice is also Michigan's state native grain and was the first native grain designation in the United States.

Want to download this free coloring page? Visit 👇

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/Education/WILD/state-wild-grain-coloring-page.pdf?rev=ad5df1c4d71a4089b84724398002e985&hash=5F1145F88A83752C0C21B15B68F96804

06/18/2026

What happens when a teacher from a one-room schoolhouse, the DNR and Northwestern Lower Mi STEM Network team up to teach elementary students about economics?

A lot of fun and some lifelong memories. 👇

Showcasing the DNR: Reel world learning opportunity Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 06/18/2026 12:53 PM EDT Share or view as webpage | Update preferences Showcasing the DNR How students from a one-room schoolhouse turned fishing lures into reel-world learning By AILEEN...

06/17/2026

When hunting prey like mice through snow or tall grass, foxes pounce in a northeast direction more than any other direction.

What's even more odd: their jumps to the northeast are also much more successful compared to jumps in other directions.

Scientists think this might be because foxes are using the planet’s magnetic field like a built-in targeting system to judge distances before they leap.

There's still more research to be done, but red foxes are currently the only known animals that use the Earth’s magnetic field to judge the distance of hidden prey, which is pretty cool.

06/15/2026

Things you should totally know about paw paws:

👉 Some folks know the tree's fruit as a pawpaw, Kentucky banana or prairie banana
👉 Their fruit tastes like a mix of mango, banana and citrus
👉 North America's largest native fruit
👉 Their leaves smell faintly of gasoline

Learn more about Michigan's trees at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/michigan-species/plants-trees

06/14/2026

🌲✨ What an inspiring weekend at Becoming an Outdoors Woman!

Participants from across several Great Lakes states came together to learn new outdoor skills, build confidence, make connections, and discover new passions. From first-time experiences to lifelong memories, the weekend was a reminder that the outdoors is for everyone.

Thank you to all the participants, instructors, and volunteers who made this event so special. Here’s to more adventures, new skills, and a deeper connection to Michigan’s great outdoors! 💚

06/13/2026

Your moment of zen from windy Higgins Lake, courtesy of this weekend’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop.

06/11/2026

If you're looking for ways to make your yard more pollinator-friendly, consider planting an eastern redbud!

Redbud trees are an important source of nectar for bees and butterflies in early spring, when there are few other plants blooming. Several species of moth and butterfly larvae use the redbud as a host plant. Bobwhite quail and chickadees will also eat redbud seeds.

Learn more about pollinator friendly trees at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/landowner-resources/pollinator-friendly-trees

06/09/2026

Did you know you can estimate the temperature by listening to crickets?

Crickets chirp faster when it’s warm and slower when it’s cool. Scientists refer to this as Dolbear’s Law, and it involves counting a cricket’s chirps over a set amount of time and doing a little math. The result? You can get a surprisingly close estimate of the outdoor temperature.

Learn more about this at https://www.noaa.gov/education/explainers/can-crickets-tell-temperature-answer-is-in-their-chirp

06/07/2026

Hey, ladies! Do you want to learn how to use a chainsaw safely? Maybe prowl for some owls or salamanders? How about master the basics of foraging?

Learn more about the Michigan Forest Assocation's WOAW Weekend and register at https://www.michiganforests.org/woaw/ before the June 10 deadline!

06/05/2026

Superior Maximus is the deepest point of Lake Superior. Have you ever wondered what it looks like?

Join us for a livestream of a dive to the deepest part of it tomorrow, June 6, at 1 p.m. 👇

UPDATE: See the deepest point of Lake Superior as it's never been seen before Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 06/04/2026 04:01 PM EDT Share or view as webpage | Update preferences This updated DNR email is to clarify that the "Hidden Below: Superior Maximus" livestream...