Survivors of a deadly walkway collapse at a state-operated ferry dock in Georgia say state officials should help them pay for funerals for the seven people killed as well as medical bills and counseling for those who lived.

Michigan's DNR wants everyone to be alert for any suspicious activity during elk season.

Wildlife experts have hit a dead end in their quest to determine how a gray wolf arrived in southern Michigan for the first time in more than 100 years.

The planned fires aim to improve wildlife habitats and combat invasive species.

Deadline to submit questions or comments is December 31st

Animal welfare advocates are suing to stop Wisconsin's new wolf management plan.

The DNR is exploring what to do with the building.

A woman was rescued Tuesday from an outhouse toilet in northern Michigan after she climbed in to retrieve her Apple Watch and became trapped.

Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources is asking for the public’s input on ways to make it easier to access and get around Belle Isle.

Federal officials will more closely monitor the impacts of shrinking lakes throughout the U.S. West after President Joe Biden signed legislation that creates and funds monitoring efforts into the region's saline lakes.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking people with eastern hemlock trees on their property to take time this winter and check them for signs of hemlock woolly adelgid.

Starting Tuesday morning, more than half-a-million hunters will head out into the woods for dear season. It’s estimated that hunting contributes more than $2 billion to the state’s economy yearly. But a shift is happening as both numbers have trended down for years.

One detective snapped an epic photo with a snapping turtle while helping the reptile cross the road.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to know where bear dens are and they need help from people who spend the most time outdoors.

There is a new birding trail in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that covers more than 400 miles and includes 40 birding stops.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging bird hunters to keep an eye out for signs of bird flu (H5N1).

Isle Royale National Park’s gray wolf population has reached 28, a dramatic comeback after the species nearly disappeared from the Lake Superior island chain, researchers said Wednesday.

For sisters Deb and Tracey Webb, there’s nothing better than teaching a kid how to fish — a lifelong hobby that encourages socialization, teaches patience and problem-solving skills and provides an appreciation of the outdoors.

Invasive beech leaf disease has been found in a small private woodlot in southern St. Clair County, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Officials say a man has fired gunshots at police and then barricaded himself inside a home in Mount Clemens. The man has fired multiple gunshots at officers from his garage, police say. He then fired more shots from his window.

History is repeating itself in Lake Michigan: The alewife fish is washing up on the shores in a widespread “die-off” event that used to happen frequently in the past.

That’s it, that’s all you need to know, there’s no catch -- well, hopefully, you catch a couple of fish.

Officials say that two people were hurt in a hit-and-run crash Monday (May 30) on Belle Isle in Detroit.

If you want to fish in Michigan, but aren’t quite sure where to go, the Department of Natural Resources has your back.

Ever thought about catching and keeping your own nightcrawlers?

Turkey vultures are coming back to Michigan after spending their winter where it’s warmer.

The Blue Lakes Fire in the northern portion of Michigan’s lower peninsula is now 98% contained, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The Blue Lakes Fire in the northern portion of Michigan’s lower peninsula is now 75% contained, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Firefighters and Michigan DNR are working to contain a 2,500-acre wildfire burning up Montmorency and Cheboygan county.

Firefighters and Michigan DNR are working to contain a 2,300-acre wildfire burning up Montmorency and Cheboygan county.

Avian influenza has been confirmed in three baby red foxes in separate southeastern Michigan counties.

Around 30 electric vehicle charging stations are going to be installed at some state parks in Michigan.

Do you fish in Lake Superior? The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking anglers to report marked splake.

Puerto Rico's Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into destruction in an ecological reserve that protects one of the island’s most extensive mangrove forests.

You might have seen them in your backyard last year, the spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth), but will they be back again this year?

The DNR is letting anglers know to get their fishing gear ready as several season openers are approaching.

Do you have an oak tree? You could save its life by putting your chainsaw down and not pruning it right away, according to the Michigan DNR.

A hunting dog has been bitten by a wolf in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will jaw tag 3,000 walleye across multiple Saginaw Bay tributary rivers.

A highly contagious bird flu (avian influenza) has been identified in Michigan’s wild bird population, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

A highly contagious bird flu (avian influenza) has been identified in Michigan’s wild bird population, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

The state Department of Natural Resources says a survey conducted in January estimates that Michigan’s elk population has increased 5% since 2019.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources released its weekly fishing report on Wednesday and it included some updates for people who fish in Southeast Michigan.

The gray wolf was removed from the endangered list in Michigan and now officials want to know if the public thinks it should be placed back on that list.

A night in a sleeping bag is costing more at Michigan campgrounds.

The state has its eyes on 800 acres in southwestern Michigan as a possible recreation area.

A virus is being blamed on the deaths of between 300 and 600 mostly adult common carp this summer in a Detroit-area lake.

A coalition of animal rights groups has filed a lawsuit to stop Wisconsin's wolf hunt this fall.

State officials are investigating the deaths of hundreds of adult common carp at an Oakland County lake.

Michigan State Police troopers and officers with the Department of Natural Resources rescued a man from the Lodge Freeway after his vehicle was trapped by floodwaters Friday afternoon.

For those traveling in Michigan this Memorial Day, especially those with plans to go camping, environmental experts are urging people to leave the firewood at home.

SUMPTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Authorities are urging residents of Sumpter Township to avoid “outside burning of any kind” as the region is considered at high risk for wildfires Thursday. According to the Sumpter Township Police Department, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has identified the township area as being at very high risk of wildfires due to dry ground conditions. Residents are being asked to avoid any outdoor burning activities to prevent a wildland fire. Authorities say they have responded to several wildland and/or field fires in the surrounding area over the past week, and five within Sumpter Township over the last two days. Sumpter Township police say that residents whose “negligent activity leads to wildland fire and subsequent property destruction can be held liable, both criminally and civilly.”To learn more about fire safety, visit the DNR’s website right here.

What should I do if I see a coyote? According to the DNR, coyotes are rarely dangerous and are likely just looking for small animals to eat or feed their young. Here is what to do if a coyote comes close to you:Make loud noises (Yell at it, bang pots and pans, use an air horn)Make yourself look large (Put your arms up and out to look bigger)Be assertive with your toneMake eye contact (Let the coyote know that this is your space and it is not welcome)Surprise the coyote (Open an umbrella, or throw objects at it)If you’re seeing the same coyote repeatedly, you should use different methods each time you see the coyote. If you have a small dog, you should pick it up. If coyotes are doing damage on private property, a property owner or designee can take coyotes year-round and a license or written permit is not needed.

Nontribal hunters and trappers registered 216 wolves as of Thursday afternoon, blowing past the state's kill target of 119. The wolf season began Monday and was supposed to run through Sunday, but the DNR shut it down Wednesday afternoon as it became clear hunters would exceed the target. Hunters and trappers also exceeded their kill targets in the three previous wolf seasons but never by more than 10 animals. The state sold 1,547 permits, which equates to 13 hunters or trappers per wolf in the target number, the highest ratio of any wolf season so far. Animal advocates have been urging the state to move quickly on reintroduction, but state officials say they want to move slowly.

Hunters and trappers exceeded their target in all six of the state's management zones. Wisconsin law hands wolf hunters and trappers significant advantages during the season. Unlike with deer hunting, wolf hunters and trappers can operate at night and use dogs to corner wolves. Wayne Pacelle, president of animal rights group Animal Wellness Action, said in a statement Wednesday that killed Wisconsin wolves didn't stand a chance. Lawmakers in neighboring Minnesota have introduced dueling bills that would ban wolf hunting and establish a season.

LENAEWEE COUNTY, Mich. – A 28-year-old man has died after a snowmobile operator crashed into his ice shanty on Devils Lake in Lenawee County, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. DNR officials said upon arrival, they discovered a snowmobile tangled in debris from the ice shanty, and the 28-year-old from Jerome was found lying in the debris. The 33-year-old snowmobile operator from Hudson was treated for minor injuries and voluntarily submitted to a toxicology blood draw. AdAccording to DNR, speed is the No. READ: Metro Detroit road crews out in full force ahead of winter stormREAD: ‘No ice is safe ice’ -- Police issue warning after snowmobile rider killed breaking through ice on Wolverine lake

OSTEGO COUNTY, Mich. – Three Northern Michigan men have been arraigned in a 2019 Pigeon River Country elk poaching case. Officials said the three men are responsible for what Department of Natural Resources conservation officers call a “historic elk poaching case.”They were arraigned in the Otsego County 87A District Court. All three men pleaded not guilty to a total of eight wildlife crimes after admitting to poaching three cow elk in Pigeon River Country in December of 2019. Harry White, 70, of West Branch was arraigned on three charges: taking an over-limit of elk, failing to make a reasonable effort to retrieve elk and taking elk in the wrong hunting unit. “Without our officers’ professional commitment to pursuit of the facts, these suspects would have gotten away with one of the worst elk poaching incidents I have ever seen.

LANSING, Mich. – Beech leaf disease has been added to Michigan’s invasive species watch list and state officials are asking residents to be on the lookout for trees infested with the damaging disease. Beech leaf disease is associated with a microscopic worm that enters and spends the winter in leaf buds. It causes damage to leaf tissue on American beech and European and Asian beech species resulting in darkened, thick tissue bands between leaf veins, creating a striped effect on the leaves, leaf distortion and bud mortality. Michigan is home to about 32 million American beech trees. “Many questions about beech leaf disease remain unanswered,” said Simeon Wright, a DNR forest health specialist.

GARDEN, Mich. – A 64-year-old man drowned in a Lake Michigan bay when his off-road vehicle hit open water, authorities said. Edward Lester of Garden was at Big Bay De Noc, off Delta County, for ice fishing Thursday. Ice in the area was 4 to 5 inches thick but "recent high winds caused the crack to open,” said Lt. Eugene “Skip” Hagy of the Department of Natural Resources. Pressure cracks are very hazardous and can occur very fast, particularly on large bodies of water,” Hagy said. Authorities were contacted when Lester’s wife said he had not returned from a routine fishing trip.

MANISTEE, Mich. – A pavilion at a state park in northern Michigan has been relocated from an eroding shoreline. The shelter at Orchard Beach State Park now is 230 feet from Lake Michigan in Manistee, the Department of Natural Resources said. The shelter stood for more than 70 years on a bluff, which has become unstable due to waves and rising water levels. Orchard Beach State Park is 60 miles southwest of Traverse City. Along with the park, the pavilion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

LANSING, Mich. – Nearly $2 million in recreation grants will go to local park and trail improvements and developments. The DNR’s recreation passport program has awarded about $12.7 million in grants since being introduced in 2010. The program is tied to license plate registration renewals and more than a third of Michigan registered vehicles now have the recreation passport on their license plate tabs. Ten percent of every recreation passport sale goes to the grant program. “Those visitors represent a direct investment in state parks and local parks, because about $1 from every Recreation Passport purchased funds those local park and recreation grants.”

DETROIT – Sunday is an unofficial holiday in Michigan -- it’s the opening day of firearm deer hunting season. The DNR reported technical issues Saturday that prevented many hunters from buying a base license and deer kill tags. The temporary tag should include the same information normally found on a kill tag:Identification of the hunter. Customers who have purchased a license on the DNR website are asked to use this temporary kill tag until their legal tag arrives in the mail. Officials say evidence suggests that Clark’s Marsh is highly contaminated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

OSCODA TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Natural Resources are reminding hunters not to eat venison from deer taken within five miles of Clark’s Marsh in Oscoda Township. Officials say evidence suggests that Clark’s Marsh is highly contaminated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). MDHHS recommends a Do Not Eat advisory for all fish and wildlife taken for consumption from the marsh. The area is under multiple do not eat advisories. If you have health questions about eating deer or other wildlife, or about the health risks associated with PFAS, contact MDHHS at 800-648-6942.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan wildlife officials won’t be able to check as many deer for chronic wasting disease during the upcoming hunting season. Deer heads from Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm counties will be accepted for state testing only from Nov. 15-18. The archery season starts Thursday. The traditional firearm deer season starts Nov. 15. Related: Michigan hunters should expect changes to deer check stations this fall due to COVID-19

HOLLY, Mich. – It took years of planning and collaboration, but the first 113 acres of the Holly Oaks ORV Park has opened. The park is in Groveland and Holly townships, near Groveland Oaks County Park and Campground on Dixie Highway. It’s considered part of the Holly Recreation Area. READ: More community news coverageIt is operated by Oakland County Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Click here to learn more or purchase tickets.

CHESTONIA TOWNSHIP, Mich. Two snowmobilers have won a key decision in a lawsuit over injuries in an incident with officers from the Department of Natural Resources. Audrey West said she was thrown into a river in Antrim County while her father, Randy West, was pinned under the snowmobile. They said two Michigan DNR officers were on snowmobiles on the same road but in the wrong direction. But negligent operation of a motor vehicle typically is an exception to governmental immunity. The snowmobiles fit that exception because they could be expected to be operated on or along a road, the appeals court said in a 2-1 decision, affirming the opinion of the Court of Claims.

Im proud of the DNR and the way theyve conducted themselves, Holcomb said, Theyve done everything right, by the book. Much of the assault that followed was captured on cellphone video by people Booker had met up with that day. The governor has complete control over DNR," Liell told The Associated Press. State environmental groups, including the Hoosier Environmental Council, Friends of Lake Monroe and Sierra Clubs Hoosier Chapter, are also calling on the Indiana DNR to review its policies and publicly condemn racism. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

DETROIT Michigan could soon have a new addition to its invasive species list: spotted lanternfly. To date, spotted lanternfly has not been detected in Michigan, but it has been detected spreading across the nation, including in Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia. Related: Michigan adds invasive marbled crayfish to prohibited species listAdult spotted lanternflies are identifiable by their bright body and wing colors. Spotted lanternfly could negatively impact our grape industry, said Robert Miller, invasive species prevention and response specialist for MDARD. Related: 11 invasive species to watch out for in Michigan

The Detroit Zoo is set to reopen Monday, June 8 after being closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The zoo will start accepting reservation requests from members this Friday, June 5 on its website. Camping in Michigan state parks and recreation areas will resume June 22, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR had been saying state park campgrounds would be closed through at least June 21. Here is a list of all 109 executive orders Michigan Gov.

Camping in Michigan state parks and recreation areas will resume June 22, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Michigan state park camping scheduleCamping in Michigan state parks and recreation areas will resume June 22. Shelters in state parks and recreation areas will open June 22. Related: Michigan stay-at-home order timeline: 70 days, 4 extensions, ever-changing restrictionsThe Michigan stay-at-home order was lifted earlier this week. Parks staff will need to implement social distancing regulations, find ways to limit contact, build sneeze guards, etc.

With the state cleared to begin reopening, many businesses and institutions are still trying to determine what reopening looks like -- especially schools. This list will be updated as new information is shared:The Detroit Zoo is set to reopen Monday, June 8 after being closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Camping in Michigan state parks and recreation areas will resume June 22, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Although ticks can spread multiple illnesses, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in Michigan. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 58,035 as of Wednesday, including 5,570 deaths, state officials report.

MARIE, Mich. (AP) – An Upper Peninsula man is accused of illegally killing wolves, eagles and other animals after a monthslong investigation. Kurt Duncan of Pickford is facing 125 wildlife misdemeanor charges in Chippewa County, the Department of Natural Resources said. Duncan, 56, is accused of killing 18 wolves over an 18-month period and killing three bald eagles. He faces up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for each wolf killed, along with other possible penalties, the state said. Charges against other people are expected, the DNR said.

Well, you can test your knowledge or host a virtual trivia night with the state’s new online game. Many people are staying connection with family members and friends through video chats, so the Michigan Department of Natural Resources put together “MichiGame,” a videoconferencing trivia game to test your knowledge about the state. The game includes questions about Michigan’s wildlife, history, trees and more. You can download the rules, questions and answer key before rallying your fellow Michiganders to host the virtual trivia night. Then, you’ll compete to be crowned “the ultimate Michigander.”Click here to access the rules, questions and answer key.

DETROIT – Enjoy three days of fishing this weekend even if you don’t have a fishing license. Michigan hosts two Free Fishing Weekends each year. This winter’s includes Saturday, Sunday and Monday because the Department of Natural Resources is moving to a new system, so fishing licenses can’t be purchased during that time. Additionally, Recreation Passports are not needed to enter state parks during the weekend and Monday. Normally, a yearly fishing license is required to catch fish in Michigan waters.

LANSING, Mich. – This year’s sturgeon season was cut short when it ended about six hours after it started on Saturday. The season began 8 a.m. Saturday and ended at 1:40 p.m the same day. The fishing season was scheduled to run Feb. 1 until Feb. 5, or until the harvest quota had been reached. The Department of Natural Resources set a harvest quota of six to prevent over fishing, but seven fish were caught. The three females ranged from 47 to 75 inches long, and 19 to 100 pounds in weight.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will launch a new license sales system Feb. 18. It will move to a “more technologically advanced system” for fishing and hunting licenses, snowmobile permits, hunting applications and off-road vehicles. The transition to the new system will begin Feb. 15 until noon Feb. 18. “We spent more than two years planning and developing a modern license sales system that offers up-to-date, convenient and cost-effective services for our customers and retail partners.”Customers are advised to purchase licenses and permits before Feb. 15. Features of the new license sales system include:A barcode scanner wand at retailer locations, which will allow license agents to speed up the sales process by quickly scanning customer driver’s licenses – including nonresidents – rather than typing in customer information.

DETROIT – Crews are still working to clear and clean up snowmobile and ski trails in northern Michigan and urging those who use the trails to be extra caution. “The number of downed trees and limbs is astonishing,” said Rob Katona, central Upper Peninsula trails specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Parks and Recreation Division. In some places smaller trees have been bent over and arched across trails to the ground and then buried in snow. “Trail crews have been working to clear the trails, but many trails remain cluttered and not passable.”The DNR’s contracted snowmobile clubs have been working to clear downed trees and grooming trails. If you plan on using a recreational trail you should refer to local snowmobile and ski clubs for information on the latest trail conditions.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials say 147 parcels of public land are being offered for sale. The properties range in size from less than an acre to 160 acres. Some feature lake views, river access and scenic trails. The state Department of Natural Resources says an auction will begin Tuesday and bids will be accepted through Jan. 8. Most of the parcels are in the central and northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula.

MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. – Heavy snowfall in upper Michigan has led to closures on some snowmobile trails. According to the Department of Natural Resources, the snow in the Upper Peninsula and parts of the Lower Peninsula has downed trees and blocked trails. “These storms dumped heavy snow and freezing rain that turned to ice, which snapped tree limbs and utility lines and even uprooted trees,” said Jeff Kakuk, DNR a western U.P. The DNR said its contracted snowmobile clubs are working to clear downed trees and grooming trails. “It will take time because some people are trying to dig themselves out and remove the downed trees and branches on the trails,” said Paul Gaberdiel, an eastern U.P.

LANSING, Mich. Legislation advancing in Michigan would lift the state's ban on baiting and feeding deer in the Lower Peninsula and parts of the Upper Peninsula. The state House approved the bill 56-49 Tuesday. The ban was initially instituted by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in 2018. The bill sponsor, Republican Rep. Michelle Hoitenga of Manton, says the ban is "silly" and is hurting hunters. The state Department of Natural Resources says baiting and feeding concentrates animals beyond their normal movement patterns, increasing the spread of chronic wasting diseases and bovine tuberculosis.

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. - Consumption guidelines aren't needed for deer harvested from the Proud Lake Recreation Area in Oakland County, the Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday. Samples of muscles, livers, kidneys and hearts were taken from 20 white-tailed deer harvested within 5 miles of Norton Creek in the Proud Lake Recreation Area in April. The samples were tested for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. In liver and kidney samples, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the only type of PFAS found. The testing was prompted after PFOS was found in surface water and fish tissue samples taken from the Huron River watershed in August 2018.

Officers with Michigan's Department of Natural Resources were called early Monday morning by the Ann Arbor Police Department and shot the North Campus turkey -- a bird who's gained notoriety for blocking traffic, and chasing people. The North Campus turkey has become quite the local phenomenon after photos and video emerged on social media showing that it was harassing joggers and people walking to their cars at the North Campus Research Complex. Reappear on north campus Fake my own death with a needlessly complicated scheme ala season 3 of Sherlock. Finally get out of paying those parking tickets I owe to @umichdpss #umich #turkey North Campus Turkey (@NCampusTurkey) May 16, 2019The north campus turkey is looking for a ride! This isn't the first time the Ann Arbor Police were called to the scene to monitor the turkey.

LANSING, Mich. - More than 30 of Michigan's state parks are hosting fall harvest festivals this year. They feature activities such as hayrides, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, costume contests, haunted trails, nature programs and horse-drawn carriage rides. Leelanau and Tawas Point state parks are even offering a "haunted lighthouse" tours. The state Department of Natural Resources has a full listing online. Activities in state park campgrounds typically are open only to registered campers.

A young whale stranded early Sunday morning on the shore of Ocean City, Maryland, has died, the state Department of Natural Resources said. OCEAN CITY, Maryland (CNN) - A young whale stranded early Sunday morning on the shore of Ocean City, Maryland, has died, the state Department of Natural Resources said. The sperm whale was about 15 feet long and had been alive when it came onto the beach Sunday morning, DNR Capt. Onlookers tried to push the whale away from the beach, the aquarium statement said. The Ocean City Beach Patrol told CNN that conditions of the beach Sunday morning included 2- to 4-feet waves and nothing out of the ordinary.

LANSING, Mich. - Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse and other animals will be in hunters' sights as Michigan's small game season gets underway Sunday. The Department of Natural Resources says a Michigan base license is required for small game hunters. The base license allows hunting of rabbit, hare, squirrel, pheasant, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, woodchuck, woodcock, quail, crow and waterfowl during the open season for each species. A separate woodcock season begins Sept. 21. Those hunters need a free woodcock stamp, while a free endorsement is required for pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse hunters.

MANISTEE, Mich. - A 400-ton pavilion built in the 1940s could fall 100 feet from a bluff into Lake Michigan if nothing is done to fight erosion from rising waters at a state park in Michigan. Orchard Beach State Park supervisor Doug Barry said the limestone pavilion sits about 50 feet back from the edge of a bluff that's eroding at an average annual rate of 6 inches. Barry added that while the structure isn't in imminent peril, the Department of Natural Resources is working to ensure it doesn't fall off the edge. MLive.com reports that the work to save it could begin in fall 2020. Barry noted that engineering firm GEI Consultants has been commissioned to survey the erosion and find ways to salvage the historic building and restore a beach.

GLADWIN, Mich. - Tips from suspicious anglers helped Michigan officers bust a scofflaw who illegally took more than 1,400 panfish from Lake Lancer in Gladwin County. The state Department of Natural Resources says it recently received numerous complaints about a man who frequented the lake, often fishing several times a day. After initially insisting he was within the daily catch limit of 25, he acknowledged otherwise. The man allowed a search of freezers at his house, where officers found 70 bags of filleted panfish. They were confiscated as evidence and will be donated to a local food bank or church.

Two DNR conservation officers with 70 bags of confiscated panfish in Gladwin County on Aug. 14, 2019. (WDIV)GLADWIN, Mich. - Officers with the Department of Natural Resources found more than 1,400 illegal panfish in a Michigan fisherman's garage freezers, officials said. When officers returned to the boat launch later that morning, the man's boat and vehicle were gone. The officers learned he was in possession of 24 panfish, but he confessed to having the additional 13 panfish he'd caught earlier in the day, officials said. In total, the man had more than 1,400 illegal fish, DNR officials said.

Use Michigan trails on an ORV without a permit on Aug. 17 and 18. (Photo: Michigan DNR)DETROIT - Enjoy Michigan trails on an off-road vehicle without a license or permit Aug. 17 and Aug.18. Riders can use the state's 3,700 miles of off-road trails and five scramble areas during the free ORV weekend. Riders who want to use trails in state parks and recreation areas will still need a Recreation Passport to access the sites. The Department of Natural Resources hosts two free ORV weekends a year.

Google MapsA Georgia woman died after driving a water scooter at high speed into the shoreline of a lake in northeast Georgia on Saturday, the state's Department of Natural Resources said, bringing this year's death toll at popular Lake Lanier to 12. Kaylynn Ticas, 20, from Lawrenceville, was taken to a nearby medical center, where she died from her injuries, GDNR spokesman Mark McKinnon said. Earlier this month, a 9-year-old boy and his father died after being pulled from the lake, CNN affiliate WGCL-TV reported. The father went into the water after noticing that his son hadn't resurfaced. The Department of Natural Resources is investigating the three deaths.

LANSING, Mich. - Testing in three southwestern Michigan waterways has turned up no trace of Asian carp that have damaged the environment and economy in other parts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monitor primary Great Lakes tributaries for genetic markers left by bighead and silver carp, which out-compete native fish for food. The DNR says 336 water samples have been taken this year from the Kalamazoo River and Ottawa County's Spring Lake and Lake Macatawa. They were analyzed for Asian carp DNA. Seth Herbst of the state agency says if positive hits were recorded, officials would step up monitoring efforts and use netting and electrofishing in hopes of catching any Asian carp that might be in the area.