Department of Natural Resources research vessel Lake Char monitors Michigan’s portion of Lake Superior.
Covering a surface area of roughly 31,700 square miles, holding 10% of the Earth’s surface fresh water and housing more than 177 species of fish, Lake Superior is a fascinating site for exploration, research and discovery.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources research vessel Lake Char has launched from Marquette to conduct essential lake trout research in Lake Superior.
The spring surveys will collect data on adult lake trout populations across the nearshore areas of Michigan, including the west side of the Keweenaw Peninsula near Ontonagon, Isle Royale, outer Keweenaw Bay from Bete Grise to the Huron Islands, Big Bay, Marquette, Au Train, Munising and Grand Marais. Anglers and boaters in those areas through May are advised stay at least 500 feet from survey nets marked with black and orange flagged buoys and to avoid traveling between buoys.
These surveys occur during a narrow seasonal window when lake trout can be most accurately assessed, forming the foundation for long-term management of the species across Michigan waters.
“This long-term research is what allows us to track population trends, evaluate management actions and ensure the sustainability of these fisheries for future generations,” said Shawn Sitar, DNR fisheries research biologist and science officer of the RV Lake Char.
—————
‘Mobile, floating laboratories’
From its home port in Marquette, the RV Lake Char monitors Michigan’s portion of Lake Superior — which is 50% of the largest freshwater lake on Earth. This work directly informs fisheries management decisions, supports co-management with tribal governments and underpins the long-term sustainability of one of the region’s most important natural resources. Exploration like this on Superior, or any of the other Great Lakes, would not be possible without research vessels.
“These vessels are essentially mobile, floating laboratories,” Sitar said. “The Great Lakes function like inland oceans, and these platforms allow crews to safely reach remote offshore locations, collect high-quality scientific samples and conduct research that would otherwise be impossible from shore or smaller boats.”
He added that the work conducted from the RV Lake Char has greatly advanced understanding of Lake Superior and management of key fish populations, such as lake whitefish, salmon and lake trout. The program has been central to the recovery of lake trout in Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes’ biggest restoration successes.
Since its commissioning in 2007, the RV Lake Char has enabled scientists to access remote and offshore waters - including Isle Royale, Stannard Rock and Klondike Reef - and has contributed to major discoveries, such as documenting fish at Superior Maximus, the deepest point in the Great Lakes (1,320 feet) and recording the oldest known lake trout in the Great Lakes (62 years old).
More recently, the program has also documented and presented findings on the occurrence of “zombie fish” - emaciated deepwater siscowet lake trout in offshore habitats, which the team will continue to investigate this June as part of its monitoring work in deep areas of Lake Superior.
The Marquette Fisheries Research Station serves as the operational hub for the RV Lake Char. The station is located approximately seven miles inland at the Marquette State Fish Hatchery in Harvey, which requires transporting the crew and sampling gear to Marquette Harbor for vessel deployment. The DNR is exploring development of a dedicated research station and vessel base on Lake Superior at a location with existing deep-water dockage and industrial infrastructure, the former site of a decommissioned Marquette Board of Light and Power plant.
Learn more about the DNR’s research vessels by checking out highlights from last year’s Great Lakes fisheries surveys or by visiting Michigan.gov/FishResearch.
The RV Lake Char’s spring surveys will use nets deployed overnight, marked with black and orange flagged buoys. See Michigan Sea Grant’s Nets of the Great Lakes page for additional net safety information and best practices and the U.S. Coast
Guard Local Notice to Mariners site for the RV Lake Char sampling schedule and locations.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources research vessel Lake Char has launched from Marquette to conduct essential lake trout research in Lake Superior.
The spring surveys will collect data on adult lake trout populations across the nearshore areas of Michigan, including the west side of the Keweenaw Peninsula near Ontonagon, Isle Royale, outer Keweenaw Bay from Bete Grise to the Huron Islands, Big Bay, Marquette, Au Train, Munising and Grand Marais. Anglers and boaters in those areas through May are advised stay at least 500 feet from survey nets marked with black and orange flagged buoys and to avoid traveling between buoys.
These surveys occur during a narrow seasonal window when lake trout can be most accurately assessed, forming the foundation for long-term management of the species across Michigan waters.
“This long-term research is what allows us to track population trends, evaluate management actions and ensure the sustainability of these fisheries for future generations,” said Shawn Sitar, DNR fisheries research biologist and science officer of the RV Lake Char.
—————
‘Mobile, floating laboratories’
From its home port in Marquette, the RV Lake Char monitors Michigan’s portion of Lake Superior — which is 50% of the largest freshwater lake on Earth. This work directly informs fisheries management decisions, supports co-management with tribal governments and underpins the long-term sustainability of one of the region’s most important natural resources. Exploration like this on Superior, or any of the other Great Lakes, would not be possible without research vessels.
“These vessels are essentially mobile, floating laboratories,” Sitar said. “The Great Lakes function like inland oceans, and these platforms allow crews to safely reach remote offshore locations, collect high-quality scientific samples and conduct research that would otherwise be impossible from shore or smaller boats.”
He added that the work conducted from the RV Lake Char has greatly advanced understanding of Lake Superior and management of key fish populations, such as lake whitefish, salmon and lake trout. The program has been central to the recovery of lake trout in Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes’ biggest restoration successes.
Since its commissioning in 2007, the RV Lake Char has enabled scientists to access remote and offshore waters - including Isle Royale, Stannard Rock and Klondike Reef - and has contributed to major discoveries, such as documenting fish at Superior Maximus, the deepest point in the Great Lakes (1,320 feet) and recording the oldest known lake trout in the Great Lakes (62 years old).
More recently, the program has also documented and presented findings on the occurrence of “zombie fish” - emaciated deepwater siscowet lake trout in offshore habitats, which the team will continue to investigate this June as part of its monitoring work in deep areas of Lake Superior.
The Marquette Fisheries Research Station serves as the operational hub for the RV Lake Char. The station is located approximately seven miles inland at the Marquette State Fish Hatchery in Harvey, which requires transporting the crew and sampling gear to Marquette Harbor for vessel deployment. The DNR is exploring development of a dedicated research station and vessel base on Lake Superior at a location with existing deep-water dockage and industrial infrastructure, the former site of a decommissioned Marquette Board of Light and Power plant.
Learn more about the DNR’s research vessels by checking out highlights from last year’s Great Lakes fisheries surveys or by visiting Michigan.gov/FishResearch.
The RV Lake Char’s spring surveys will use nets deployed overnight, marked with black and orange flagged buoys. See Michigan Sea Grant’s Nets of the Great Lakes page for additional net safety information and best practices and the U.S. Coast
Guard Local Notice to Mariners site for the RV Lake Char sampling schedule and locations.
After 89 Years, Michigan Hunting and Fishing Group Disbands
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Laura Herberg
Bridge Michigan
The group that claims to be Michigan’s largest hunting and fishing group is dissolving.
“It’s not something we wanted to have happen,” Michigan United Conservation Clubs President Stephen Dey said. “It was a tough decision by the board to make. For several people, it was quite an emotional decision.”
The 89-year-old nonprofit had shown signs that the end might be near. In late February, it announced it was pausing its camp and magazine operations. On April 20, MUCC said it needed to raise $100,000 or it would be forced to close.
Dey said that, between actual and pledged donations, MUCC raised around $34,000, about $66,000 short of their stopgap goal. The group stopped accepting membership dues about two weeks ago, he said, and the board voted for dissolution on May 1.
Jenae Birchmeier, MUCC’s membership and events director, said that, despite the nonprofit’s public financial crisis, “everybody was optimistic that we’d make it through the end of the fiscal year” in September.
“We were informed last Tuesday morning that they could not consciously ask us to work past May 8 because they could not fund payroll,” she said. “It is a huge loss for the state of Michigan.”
The nonprofit dissolution process, which includes winding down operations and selling off any remaining assets, should be completed by mid-June, Dey said.
The nonprofit was founded in 1937 to defend hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation. It consisted of individual members and affiliated clubs that paid dues to fund its work.
MUCC lobbied, produced a podcast and organized environmental cleanups. It led the petition campaign behind Michigan’s 1976 “bottle bill,” advocated for the creation of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund in 1984, and, in 2024, filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against state wildlife regulators over a coyote hunting decision it argued wasn’t based on science
“MUCC was always the voice of the Michigander hunter, fisherman, trapper and general outdoorsmen and women. So it’s gonna be a voice that won’t be heard for a while,” Dey said. “Hopefully, someday something will come around to take its place. But it’s a void.”
By Laura Herberg
Bridge Michigan
The group that claims to be Michigan’s largest hunting and fishing group is dissolving.
“It’s not something we wanted to have happen,” Michigan United Conservation Clubs President Stephen Dey said. “It was a tough decision by the board to make. For several people, it was quite an emotional decision.”
The 89-year-old nonprofit had shown signs that the end might be near. In late February, it announced it was pausing its camp and magazine operations. On April 20, MUCC said it needed to raise $100,000 or it would be forced to close.
Dey said that, between actual and pledged donations, MUCC raised around $34,000, about $66,000 short of their stopgap goal. The group stopped accepting membership dues about two weeks ago, he said, and the board voted for dissolution on May 1.
Jenae Birchmeier, MUCC’s membership and events director, said that, despite the nonprofit’s public financial crisis, “everybody was optimistic that we’d make it through the end of the fiscal year” in September.
“We were informed last Tuesday morning that they could not consciously ask us to work past May 8 because they could not fund payroll,” she said. “It is a huge loss for the state of Michigan.”
The nonprofit dissolution process, which includes winding down operations and selling off any remaining assets, should be completed by mid-June, Dey said.
The nonprofit was founded in 1937 to defend hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation. It consisted of individual members and affiliated clubs that paid dues to fund its work.
MUCC lobbied, produced a podcast and organized environmental cleanups. It led the petition campaign behind Michigan’s 1976 “bottle bill,” advocated for the creation of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund in 1984, and, in 2024, filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against state wildlife regulators over a coyote hunting decision it argued wasn’t based on science
“MUCC was always the voice of the Michigander hunter, fisherman, trapper and general outdoorsmen and women. So it’s gonna be a voice that won’t be heard for a while,” Dey said. “Hopefully, someday something will come around to take its place. But it’s a void.”
Doing Battle with a Big Channel Catfish Near Lake Michigan
Jack Payne shows off a master angler catfish.
Photo credit Jack Payne
Photo credit Jack Payne
By Jack Payne
One minute, the rod tip was gently bouncing up and down with light ticks to the bottom. And the next, the rod tip was in the water, the rod straining hard against the rod holder. After a dogfight, a giant channel catfish ended up in the net.
I'm really not sure why more anglers turn their noses up at catfishing. The month of May and lasting into early June is prime time for giant channel cats. We spend our time and effort on waters that connect to Lake Michigan.
Any of our river systems that connect to the big lake harbor huge cats. When I say 'river system,' I mean the lakes and rivers that connect to Lake Michigan. We spend our time in the river. The Kalamazoo is a favorite, but this system works equally well on the St. Joe, the Black River at South Haven and the Grand River.
Rarely will you find us more than a mile from the big lake. Most often, we start a quarter-mile from the big lake, and we drift downstream into the river channel between the piers right up to Lake Michigan.
Cut bait lands us the largest fish and often the most. Perhaps the stink baits are best on numbers, but they rarely produce as many big fish. And yes, they stink. Use a stick or a dipping spoon and avoid getting the dip/stink baits onto your skin. It takes days to eliminate this unattractive aftershave or deodorant.
When using a dip bait/stink bait, anglers need to use a dip bait hook. Most often, this will be a piece of plastic with holes and a treble hook on the end. Dip this into the dip/stink bait and start fishing. You will need to refresh your dip bait every fifteen minutes or so.
Hot dogs land us a bunch of fish. Buy the cheapest hot dogs. Microwave the hot dogs for 30-40 seconds to firm up the outer skin. Then cut a hot dog into three somewhat equal chunks. Throw 15-18 chunks into a freezer bag. Add plenty of anise oil. Let it sit in the fridge for a few days, then freeze it if you are not ready to fish.
Suckers get the nod with us. We catch enough suckers to get us through the year. We soak our cut bait in anise oil or a blood concoction with an odor.
Liver works very well as will other fish species. The oilier the fish, the better they will be as cut bait. Frozen smelt and alewives will work. Some like using shrimp, and I find it a large step down from cut bait or stink/dip baits.
We keep our rigs simple. A three-way rig is about as complicated as we get. Tie a three-way swivel to your main line. Add a 6-to-8-inch dropper line that connects to your sinker. Add another line, say 2 feet or so, to the remaining open swivel.
We use circle hooks exclusively, and bigger is better. A 2/0 is our smallest hook, and we most often opt for a 4/0. There are two benefits when using a circle hook.
First, you rarely end up with a hook being swallowed. In most cases, you will get a corner-of-the-mouth hook-up. The other benefit of a circle hook is that there is no need to set the hook. The fish will hook themselves!
A rod is placed into a rod holder; one only needs to wait until the rod is bouncing. Lift the rod out of the holder and start fighting the fish. Resist the urge to set the hook; the fish is already hooked.
We turn the boat sideways and drift. We try staying in the deeper holes by bouncing from one side of the river to the other. Many times, a deep hole or deeper water is found on the outside bends of the river.
Drift slowly, relax, and watch the rods slowly ticking the bottom. Be prepared for plenty of action and enjoy the battle. Last, remember to visit Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
One minute, the rod tip was gently bouncing up and down with light ticks to the bottom. And the next, the rod tip was in the water, the rod straining hard against the rod holder. After a dogfight, a giant channel catfish ended up in the net.
I'm really not sure why more anglers turn their noses up at catfishing. The month of May and lasting into early June is prime time for giant channel cats. We spend our time and effort on waters that connect to Lake Michigan.
Any of our river systems that connect to the big lake harbor huge cats. When I say 'river system,' I mean the lakes and rivers that connect to Lake Michigan. We spend our time in the river. The Kalamazoo is a favorite, but this system works equally well on the St. Joe, the Black River at South Haven and the Grand River.
Rarely will you find us more than a mile from the big lake. Most often, we start a quarter-mile from the big lake, and we drift downstream into the river channel between the piers right up to Lake Michigan.
Cut bait lands us the largest fish and often the most. Perhaps the stink baits are best on numbers, but they rarely produce as many big fish. And yes, they stink. Use a stick or a dipping spoon and avoid getting the dip/stink baits onto your skin. It takes days to eliminate this unattractive aftershave or deodorant.
When using a dip bait/stink bait, anglers need to use a dip bait hook. Most often, this will be a piece of plastic with holes and a treble hook on the end. Dip this into the dip/stink bait and start fishing. You will need to refresh your dip bait every fifteen minutes or so.
Hot dogs land us a bunch of fish. Buy the cheapest hot dogs. Microwave the hot dogs for 30-40 seconds to firm up the outer skin. Then cut a hot dog into three somewhat equal chunks. Throw 15-18 chunks into a freezer bag. Add plenty of anise oil. Let it sit in the fridge for a few days, then freeze it if you are not ready to fish.
Suckers get the nod with us. We catch enough suckers to get us through the year. We soak our cut bait in anise oil or a blood concoction with an odor.
Liver works very well as will other fish species. The oilier the fish, the better they will be as cut bait. Frozen smelt and alewives will work. Some like using shrimp, and I find it a large step down from cut bait or stink/dip baits.
We keep our rigs simple. A three-way rig is about as complicated as we get. Tie a three-way swivel to your main line. Add a 6-to-8-inch dropper line that connects to your sinker. Add another line, say 2 feet or so, to the remaining open swivel.
We use circle hooks exclusively, and bigger is better. A 2/0 is our smallest hook, and we most often opt for a 4/0. There are two benefits when using a circle hook.
First, you rarely end up with a hook being swallowed. In most cases, you will get a corner-of-the-mouth hook-up. The other benefit of a circle hook is that there is no need to set the hook. The fish will hook themselves!
A rod is placed into a rod holder; one only needs to wait until the rod is bouncing. Lift the rod out of the holder and start fighting the fish. Resist the urge to set the hook; the fish is already hooked.
We turn the boat sideways and drift. We try staying in the deeper holes by bouncing from one side of the river to the other. Many times, a deep hole or deeper water is found on the outside bends of the river.
Drift slowly, relax, and watch the rods slowly ticking the bottom. Be prepared for plenty of action and enjoy the battle. Last, remember to visit Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
Easy-Care Patriotic Container Gardens
A container garden planted with the Lady Liberty Mix of Soiree Kawaii vincas.
Photo credit Suntory Flowers
Photo credit Suntory Flowers
By Melinda Myers
Add some red, white and blue to your gardens and containers in celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States. When designing your plantings be sure to select plants suitable for the growing conditions and those that will look great not only on the Fourth but throughout the growing season.
White petunias, alyssum and dusty millers are traditional favorites. These along with red geraniums and zinnias and blue salvia, ageratum and petunias are often used to complete a patriotic combination.
Consider trying something new for this special celebration. Suntory Flowers Soiree Kawaii vincas (Catharanthus) retain their beautiful compact shape and impressive floral display all season long and with minimal care. The Lady Liberty Mix features Red Shades, White Peppermint and Blueberry Kiss Soiree® Kawaii varieties (suntorygardenclub.com).
You may also know these and other Catharanthus as annual, rose and Madagascar vinca. The Soiree Kawai varieties like the other vincas are heat and drought tolerant once established. Grow them in full sun or dappled shade with well-drained soil in garden beds and containers filled with a quality potting mix. Plant somewhere you can enjoy their flowers and the visiting butterflies and other pollinators. You’ll appreciate their easy-care nature, pollinator appeal and that deer and rabbits tend to leave them be.
Let your red, white and blue arrangement shine in a simple black, green or terra cotta pot. Or fill containers with all white, red or blue flowers set in a red, white and blue pot. Purchase one or create your own from a plain terra cotta pot or upcycled items like coffee cans, buckets, food tins and crates. Select a paint appropriate for the container’s surface and the outdoors. Add drainage holes if necessary and possible. If you can’t provide needed drainage, grow the plants in a basic nursery pot. Set this container in your patriotic pot and use stones to elevate the inner container to the proper height and above any water that collects in the bottom. Dress it up a bit by covering the surface with decorative moss or mulch.
Give your containers of herbs and tropical plants a festive touch with some additional color. Place red, white and blue bandanas or placemats under these pots and your place settings.
Welcome guests with a few stars painted on the lawn with grass safe marking chalk spray. Just create cardboard stencils and head out to the lawn. Check the label of the paint you select to make sure it is safe to use on grass plants.
As you gather with friends and family, take some time to celebrate the contributions by individuals and organizations that have been instrumental in the creation and preservation of our democracy. It is also a chance to look forward to the future we want to create.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Suntory Flowers for her expertise to write this article.
Add some red, white and blue to your gardens and containers in celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States. When designing your plantings be sure to select plants suitable for the growing conditions and those that will look great not only on the Fourth but throughout the growing season.
White petunias, alyssum and dusty millers are traditional favorites. These along with red geraniums and zinnias and blue salvia, ageratum and petunias are often used to complete a patriotic combination.
Consider trying something new for this special celebration. Suntory Flowers Soiree Kawaii vincas (Catharanthus) retain their beautiful compact shape and impressive floral display all season long and with minimal care. The Lady Liberty Mix features Red Shades, White Peppermint and Blueberry Kiss Soiree® Kawaii varieties (suntorygardenclub.com).
You may also know these and other Catharanthus as annual, rose and Madagascar vinca. The Soiree Kawai varieties like the other vincas are heat and drought tolerant once established. Grow them in full sun or dappled shade with well-drained soil in garden beds and containers filled with a quality potting mix. Plant somewhere you can enjoy their flowers and the visiting butterflies and other pollinators. You’ll appreciate their easy-care nature, pollinator appeal and that deer and rabbits tend to leave them be.
Let your red, white and blue arrangement shine in a simple black, green or terra cotta pot. Or fill containers with all white, red or blue flowers set in a red, white and blue pot. Purchase one or create your own from a plain terra cotta pot or upcycled items like coffee cans, buckets, food tins and crates. Select a paint appropriate for the container’s surface and the outdoors. Add drainage holes if necessary and possible. If you can’t provide needed drainage, grow the plants in a basic nursery pot. Set this container in your patriotic pot and use stones to elevate the inner container to the proper height and above any water that collects in the bottom. Dress it up a bit by covering the surface with decorative moss or mulch.
Give your containers of herbs and tropical plants a festive touch with some additional color. Place red, white and blue bandanas or placemats under these pots and your place settings.
Welcome guests with a few stars painted on the lawn with grass safe marking chalk spray. Just create cardboard stencils and head out to the lawn. Check the label of the paint you select to make sure it is safe to use on grass plants.
As you gather with friends and family, take some time to celebrate the contributions by individuals and organizations that have been instrumental in the creation and preservation of our democracy. It is also a chance to look forward to the future we want to create.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Suntory Flowers for her expertise to write this article.
State Provides Guidelines for Mushroom Season
As the spring wild-foraged mushroom season gets underway, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reminding foragers, retailers and consumers that the Michigan Food Code requires all wild-foraged mushrooms to be inspected and found safe by a certified mushroom identification expert before they can be sold.
Edible wild mushrooms are a culinary delicacy that many Michigan families enjoy foraging for and consuming at home or in restaurants. Follow these guidelines if you plan to sell or purchase wild-foraged mushrooms in Michigan:
• If you plan to sell your wild-foraged mushroom harvest, you must be a certified mushroom identification expert or you must have the mushrooms inspected by a certified expert.
• If you operate a store or restaurant and plan to purchase wild-foraged mushrooms for resale, those mushrooms must be purchased from an approved source and individually inspected by a certified mushroom identification expert.
• If you plan to purchase wild-foraged mushrooms online or in-person, always ask the seller for proof of inspection by a certified individual.
Individuals who wish to become certified mushroom identification experts must complete the wild-foraged mushroom training course offered by Midwest American Mycological Information (MAMI), or a comparable course approved by MDARD. MDARD certifies individuals who successfully complete the MAMI training course as mushroom identification experts. These experts should be prepared to show their certification cards as proof of certification upon request.
Many species of edible wild mushrooms grow in Michigan, including morels and chantarelles. However, Michigan’s forests also contain toxic mushroom varieties that can cause serious illness or death when ingested, including some that resemble edible mushroom species.
Common symptoms associated with mushroom poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weakness, lethargy and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). Mushroom poisoning is usually the result of ingesting wild mushrooms after misidentifying a toxic mushroom as an edible species.
If you suspect mushroom poisoning, seek immediate medical assistance and call the Michigan Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222.
To report potentially illegal sales of wild-foraged mushrooms, please use MDARD’s online complaint form.
For tips on where or how to find morels and other edible spring mushroom varieties in Michigan, visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ mushroom hunting page at michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/morels. Mushrooms found on public land are for personal use and cannot be sold.
Edible wild mushrooms are a culinary delicacy that many Michigan families enjoy foraging for and consuming at home or in restaurants. Follow these guidelines if you plan to sell or purchase wild-foraged mushrooms in Michigan:
• If you plan to sell your wild-foraged mushroom harvest, you must be a certified mushroom identification expert or you must have the mushrooms inspected by a certified expert.
• If you operate a store or restaurant and plan to purchase wild-foraged mushrooms for resale, those mushrooms must be purchased from an approved source and individually inspected by a certified mushroom identification expert.
• If you plan to purchase wild-foraged mushrooms online or in-person, always ask the seller for proof of inspection by a certified individual.
Individuals who wish to become certified mushroom identification experts must complete the wild-foraged mushroom training course offered by Midwest American Mycological Information (MAMI), or a comparable course approved by MDARD. MDARD certifies individuals who successfully complete the MAMI training course as mushroom identification experts. These experts should be prepared to show their certification cards as proof of certification upon request.
Many species of edible wild mushrooms grow in Michigan, including morels and chantarelles. However, Michigan’s forests also contain toxic mushroom varieties that can cause serious illness or death when ingested, including some that resemble edible mushroom species.
Common symptoms associated with mushroom poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weakness, lethargy and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). Mushroom poisoning is usually the result of ingesting wild mushrooms after misidentifying a toxic mushroom as an edible species.
If you suspect mushroom poisoning, seek immediate medical assistance and call the Michigan Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222.
To report potentially illegal sales of wild-foraged mushrooms, please use MDARD’s online complaint form.
For tips on where or how to find morels and other edible spring mushroom varieties in Michigan, visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ mushroom hunting page at michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/morels. Mushrooms found on public land are for personal use and cannot be sold.
Keep Fire Danger in Mind, Especially in Northern Lower Peninsula
Dry conditions and wind have elevated fire danger across much of Michigan, with the risk particularly high in the northern Lower Peninsula due to downed trees and branches from the March 2025 ice storm.
"Even with the heavy rains this spring, recent drier weather in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Michigan means that last year’s grasses and leaves are becoming dry and will readily burn,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
"In the ice storm area from last spring, the downed wood has been on the ground for a year, is starting to dry out, and can contribute to much hotter and more dangerous conditions if a fire gets started," Rogers said.
Nine out of 10 wildfires in Michigan are caused by human activity, including burning yard waste debris, leaving campfires unattended, using power equipment and off-road vehicles in dry conditions, or dragging trailer chains which can create sparks.
“There is fire danger associated with a lot of our favorite outdoor activities,” Rogers said. “We want people to enjoy the outdoors, but we're asking everyone to be especially aware this season because the downed wood adds greater risk and volatility.”
Even if the landscape looks green, vegetation on the ground still can be dry from winter. That includes clumps of grass, leaves and brush.
Check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before you start a fire to make sure weather conditions allow for safe burning. In southern Lower Peninsula communities, consult local fire authorities. If a backyard fire gets away from you, call 911 immediately.
Do not try to put it out yourself before calling authorities.
Here are more tips to keep your outdoor activities firesafe:
• Keep a hose or other water source nearby when burning.
• Prevent sparks. Keep trailer chains from dragging when you’re on the road and don’t park hot equipment on dry grass.
• Contain your campfire or bonfire in a pit or ring and make sure you put it out thoroughly before leaving. Douse the fire with water, stir the ashes and douse again.
• Never leave any fire — including hot coals — unattended.
• Never shoot fireworks into the woods, dry grass or shrubs.
• Remember it is illegal to burn plastic, hazardous materials, foam or other household trash. This can release dangerous chemicals into the air.
• Use a burn barrel with a screen on top to burn paper, leaves and other natural materials.
More fire safety information is available at Michigan.gov/FireManagement.
Since the beginning of fire season in March, DNR wildland firefighters have fought more than 56 fires covering nearly 200 acres. The DNR has a goal of keeping as many wildfires fires as possible under 10 acres.
"Even with the heavy rains this spring, recent drier weather in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Michigan means that last year’s grasses and leaves are becoming dry and will readily burn,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
"In the ice storm area from last spring, the downed wood has been on the ground for a year, is starting to dry out, and can contribute to much hotter and more dangerous conditions if a fire gets started," Rogers said.
Nine out of 10 wildfires in Michigan are caused by human activity, including burning yard waste debris, leaving campfires unattended, using power equipment and off-road vehicles in dry conditions, or dragging trailer chains which can create sparks.
“There is fire danger associated with a lot of our favorite outdoor activities,” Rogers said. “We want people to enjoy the outdoors, but we're asking everyone to be especially aware this season because the downed wood adds greater risk and volatility.”
Even if the landscape looks green, vegetation on the ground still can be dry from winter. That includes clumps of grass, leaves and brush.
Check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before you start a fire to make sure weather conditions allow for safe burning. In southern Lower Peninsula communities, consult local fire authorities. If a backyard fire gets away from you, call 911 immediately.
Do not try to put it out yourself before calling authorities.
Here are more tips to keep your outdoor activities firesafe:
• Keep a hose or other water source nearby when burning.
• Prevent sparks. Keep trailer chains from dragging when you’re on the road and don’t park hot equipment on dry grass.
• Contain your campfire or bonfire in a pit or ring and make sure you put it out thoroughly before leaving. Douse the fire with water, stir the ashes and douse again.
• Never leave any fire — including hot coals — unattended.
• Never shoot fireworks into the woods, dry grass or shrubs.
• Remember it is illegal to burn plastic, hazardous materials, foam or other household trash. This can release dangerous chemicals into the air.
• Use a burn barrel with a screen on top to burn paper, leaves and other natural materials.
More fire safety information is available at Michigan.gov/FireManagement.
Since the beginning of fire season in March, DNR wildland firefighters have fought more than 56 fires covering nearly 200 acres. The DNR has a goal of keeping as many wildfires fires as possible under 10 acres.
