Environment

Lake Michigan turtles can’t get the lead out

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By MARIE ORTTENBURGER
Capital News Service
LANSING — You likely won’t find any painted and snapping turtles headbanging to Metallica in Lake Michigan wetlands. But heavy metal runs in their veins. These turtles accumulate heavy metals in their tissues, according to a recent study in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. Some of those metals come from local industries such as smelters, refineries and foundries, as well as landfills, storm sewers and farm runoff. “There’s reason to believe the levels of metals like cadmium, chromium, copper and lead are impacted by anthropogenic sources,” said Matt Cooper, a research scientist at Northland College’s Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation in Ashland, Wisconsin, and co-author of the study.

Business & Economy

Wildlife researchers unsure about drones

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By MARIE ORTTENBURGER
Capital News Service
LANSING — Perhaps drones could track feral swine to help oust the invasive critter from Michigan. But local researchers hesitate to employ the technology for wildlife management. “There’s a lot of potential for uneasiness,” said Stephen Beyer, who manages wildlife research for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He cited public fears of surveillance and intrusion on privacy. “We’re a state agency,” Beyer said.

Environment

Water level predictions illustrates Great Lakes’ complexity

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By MARIE ORTTENBURGER
Capital News Service
LANSING — Recently released Great Lakes water level predictions have Superior, Michigan and Huron on the same page. But lakes Erie and Ontario flow to the beat of a different drum. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predict that the bigger lakes will drop below the level they were a year ago. Erie and Ontario are set to be higher than a year ago. How does that work?

Agriculture

Bats worth a billion in bug control

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By MARIE ORTTENBURGER
Capital News Service
LANSING — Bats get a bad rap, but a new study proves that they’re hard workers, and that the work they do is worth more than $1 billion to farmers. The study shows that bats play a vital role in keeping in check corn earworm moths and larvae that destroy corn, cotton, tomato and other important crops. It’s no news to farmers that bats are important pest regulators. But without knowing just how much bats contribute, it’s hard for farmers to confidently decide to reduce their pesticide use, said Christie Bahlai, a research associate at Michigan State University’s Department of Entomology. “Farmers are stewards of their lands and know better than anyone that many pesticides can be dangerous and cause adverse effects,” said Bahlai, “They don’t always know if the natural enemies will be sufficient to keep pest populations in check.”
“Farmers in general always look for alternatives to control pests other than chemistry,” said Jim Zook, executive director of the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and the Michigan Corn Growers Association.