National Forest Biologists Awarded High Honor

The Huron-Manistee National Forests' Wildlife Biologists Group was recognized for

Wildlife Biologists and Technicians of the Baldwin-White Cloud, Cadillac-Manistee, Huron Shores, Mio Ranger Districts and the Forest Supervisor's Office of the Huron-Manistee National Forest (HMNF) were honored with the prestigious "Making Tracks with the Forest Service" National Award at the National Wild Turkey Federation's 33rd Annual Convention, held February 19 - 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The HMNF Wildlife Biologists' Group was recognized for "outstanding cooperative Habitat Management Program accomplishments." The National Award acknowledges 20 years of collaboration with Michigan National Wild Turkey Federation chapters, citing strong partnerships with many local landowners and local, State and Federal agencies to accomplish exemplary wildlife habitat improvement projects.

Since 1989, the partnership between Huron-Manistee National Forest, Michigan's National Wild Turkey Federation(NWTF) chapters, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources(MDNR) has applied hundreds of thousands of cost-shared dollars to improving thousands of acres of habitat for wild turkey, ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer, golden-winged and chestnut-sided warblers, and many other wildlife species.

These cooperative projects provide a wide spectrum of habitat improvements, especially through re-establishment and maintenance of openings used for mating displays and brood-rearing, like those periodically created naturally by wildfire, wind-throw and drought.

Prescribed burning, shrub and grass planting, and waterhole development techniques provide habitats for many wildlife species.

College Wildlife and Natural Resources classes regularly visit these habitat improvement areas, as do forest management groups, other Forest partners, and visitors. Project areas are identified with signs recognizing the creative cooperative partnership between the National Forest and NWTF, MDNR, and other partners.

The Huron and Manistee National Forests, dedicated in 1909 and 1938, respectively, comprise nearly a million acres of public land across the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Some 550,000 people live in counties that make up the Forests, and 60 million people live within a day's drive, many of whom treasure the hunting, fishing, camping, and other recreational opportunities these beautiful Forests offer.

Michigan's NWTF chapters have contributed more than $1.5 million to habitat improvements across the State, resulting in improvements to nearly 58,000 acres in Michigan. NWTF volunteers have raised and spent nearly $2.9 million on cooperative habitat enhancements, wild turkey research, law enforcement, and "Wheelin Sportsmen," "Jakes," and "Women in the Outdoors" outreach programs that encourage new participants in outdoor sports.