Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

09/14/2026

Bats are vital for the health of our environment and economy because they pollinate plants, spread seeds, and help control insects like mosquitoes--they can eat thousands of insects in a single night!

Wednesday, September 15 from 6pm-8pm, join us offsite for Bats 101!
Come to Veterans Park in Hamtramck to learn about bats, and celebrate the installation of a bat house.

Photo credit: Northern long-eared bat, Dave Thomas/Public Domain, Public Domain, https://www.fws.gov/media/northern-long-eared-bat-10

09/12/2026

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Programs at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge are free and open to all. Here's what's coming up:

** Saturday, September 12 at 9am-12pm Invasive Species Weekend Workday **
Join our Stewardship Crew to remove woody invasive species with loppers, handsaws, and power tools. Meet at the Visitor Center. Register by emailing [email protected].

** Saturday, September 12 at 10:30am-12:30pm Volunteer Foundations **
Join our team of generous volunteers! Register by emailing [email protected].

** Saturday, September 12 at 1pm-3pm Drop-In Craft: Hawk Feather Collage **
Stop in any time between 1pm-3pm to kick off the annual 2026 hawk migration! Decorate your one-of-a-kind hawk feather, which can be added to a large hawk display in the visitor center.

** Sunday, September 13 at 8am-10am Drop-In Fishing **
Join a park ranger to go fishing! Stop by the fishing pier any time between 8am-10am. Bring your own pole/bait and tackle, or borrow some of ours.

** Sunday, September 13 at 10am-12pm Flow Into Nature: Yoga & Hike **
Enjoy a free yoga session and then a guided hike afterwards. Yoga mats available upon request.

** Sunday, September 13 at 1pm-3pm Monarch Migration Madness **
Meet a park ranger at the Visitor Center to learn about monarch butterflies and then go watch the migration unfold at the Detroit River Hawk Watch count site.

Photo by M Drury/USFWS

09/11/2026

09/11/2026

You might be familiar with the game "Where's Waldo?", but we have a new one for you. We would like to call it "Point out Puddles"! Can you find "Puddles" the Blue Goose? Bonus question, how many U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logos can you spot?

09/10/2026

Drop-In Craft: Hawk Feathers Collage
This Saturday, September 12
Any time from 1pm to 3pm

Stop inside the John D Dingell Visitor Center to kick off the annual 2026 hawk migration! Decorate your one-of-a-kind hawk feather, which can be added to a large hawk display in the visitor center.

Photo by D. Kennedy/USFWS

09/10/2026

Freshwater mussels are often overlooked, but they are important contributors to the water and substrate quality of streams and lakes in Michigan!

Native populations are threatened by the encroachment of invasive zebra and quagga mussels, habitat degradation and declines in host fish species.

This week the DR-WLE CWMA will be sending an envoy to participate in a freshwater mussel survey and relocation effort led by the Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office.

The team will be collecting, identifying, tagging and then relocating mussels they find at the Elsie Dam site along the Maple River near Elsie, MI.

This effort will provide high quality data on local mussel diversity and increase the survival of mussels during the planned removal of the dam.

An article from last year about the mussel relocation project: https://www.argus-press.com/news/community/elsie/article_7ffbc8f2-47e6-5ccb-b29a-34ad73ab2dff.html

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Photo: A hand holds a federally-listed snuffbox mussel with a yellow tag.
Credit: U.S. FWS

09/08/2026

The John D. Dingell, Jr. Visitor Center is open Thursdays-Sundays from 10am-4pm. Located at 5437 W. Jefferson Avenue, Trenton, MI 48183, we are just south of Detroit. Stop by for free programs all year long!

Sunday, September 13 at 1pm-3pm, stop in for Monarch Migration Madness!
Meet a Park Ranger at the Visitor Center to learn about monarch butterflies and then go watch the migration unfold at the Detroit River Hawk Watch count site.

Chrysalis found by volunteer, Olivia B.
Photo by M. Drury/USFWS

09/06/2026

Monarch butterflies live in larval stage (caterpillar) for anywhere from 9-14 days. That length of time varies with temperature and other environmental factors.

Over those 9-14 days, the monarch caterpillars shed their skin, or molt, five times. Each growth period between these sheds is called an "instar."

How many monarchs do you see on this Common Milkweed plant?

HINT: There are a few different instars present here! (Zoom in!)

Photo by M. Drury/USFWS

09/05/2026

Federal Duck Stamps are so much more than just hunting licenses--they are also collectible works of art and an easy way for everyone to support wetland conservation!

I yesterday's post, we highlighted all the uniqueness of the collectible stamps, and today, we are highlighting the *Junior* Duck Stamp. This interdisciplinary conservation and design program encourages K-12 students across the U.S. to explore the outdoors, investigate biology, observe wildlife, and create art. Just like the "adult" duck stamps, there is a winning artist chosen each year.

One hundred percent of the revenue from Junior Duck Stamp sales goes to support recognition and environmental education activities for students who participate in the program. Explore more using the link below.

Curious about getting involved in Junior Duck Stamp with students in your life? Email us at [email protected].

Conservation through the Arts

09/04/2026

A Federal Duck Stamp is a federally mandated hunting license and conservation tool. Anyone who is 16 years of age or older is required to have one in order to hunt migratory waterfowl. Purchasing these stamps also funds conservation projects and wetland protections.

As if they aren't cool enough, these stamps are also collectible works of art! Artists across the globe submit paintings of waterfowl to be featured on these highly collectible stamps. Did you know there's also a Junior Duck Stamp art contest, too?

These stamps are a direct investment in wildlife conservation, habitat protection, and American art!

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