Here's how to celebrate International Dark Sky Week in Michigan.

Fire department officials said that the little bandit was caught in a hole in the bottom of the dumpster.

HSHV officials are urging Ann Arbor area pet owners to be careful of dangerous traps after the recent passage of an amendment to wildlife regulations.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has added more nuisance animals to the list of critters property owners can kill without first obtaining a permit.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to add more nuisance animals to the list of critters homeowners can kill without first obtaining a permit.

Meet ‘Poco’ the sloth

The deer with its head stuck in a Halloween trick-or-treating bucket who has been nicknamed Bucky was freed on Friday.

A deer with its head stuck in a Halloween bucket was spotted on a security camera in Bloomfield Hills on Saturday.

Animal observing at a zoo or aquarium are popular activities for many, but some have decided to take it to a new level.

The successful restoration of wild turkey in Michigan created a fun outdoor game for Dash Pilon, 11, and Preston Pilon, 13, brothers living with their parents in a Lower Peninsula suburban area.

The Underwater Pond Dome is one of the biggest attractions at Indian Springs Metropark

With the weather getting colder, various critters are looking for a safe, warm place to call home for the winter. Devan Bianco with Michigan Humane joined Jason Carr on “Live in the D” to share pointers on how to make your house not so inviting to wildlife.

In bodycam footage, Officer Dattolo can be seen freeing, and reassuring, the panicked buck.

Cougars are now listed as an endangered species in Michigan and have been spotted on 76 occasions since 2008.

Rude, inconsiderate, hungry deer are turning landscaping into salad bars.

Enjoy longer hours at the U-M's Museum of Natural History through August.

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.

We all get a little stuck sometimes. On Friday, a group of ducklings did just that and got themselves trapped in a storm drain.

It is easily one of the most recognized and beautiful national parks in all of the United States and this year Yellowstone celebrates being the named the first national park 150 years ago. You know about Old Faithful, you’ve seen the wildlife, and now it is very popular because of the series “Yellowstone.”

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 new nature preserve has opened to the public.

Though it’s only July, the total number of Florida manatee deaths in 2021 has already reached a higher total than it did in all of 2020, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

It’s no big surprise to see a caterpillar roaming around in Michigan in the summer -- but this particular one is not to be messed with, even though it looks cool.

A different type of rescue took place on Saturday morning in Ann Arbor.

"This vision started decades ago through grassroots efforts led by local champions of conservation," said the Greenbelt Program's manager Remy Long.

Spring officially begins this weekend, and with the return of warm weather comes more active local wildlife. Leightner said that springtime kicks off many of their habitat projects, which are designed to benefit wildlife big and small. Leightner explained that by burning certain parts of Michigan grasslands, they’re able to help promote local plant growth and control invasive species. To find out more about how you can help with wildlife conservation, watch the video above. To learn more about Michigan’s important wildlife conservation efforts, click here.

Known as the “Deer Doctor,” Baker is an author, conservationist and consultant to the Humane Society of the United States. The city of Ann Arbor has spent $750,000 on deer management since 2015, when the Ann Arbor City Council approved a four-year deer management plan, according to the HSHV. “Scientists and wildlife biologists confirm that Ann Arbor does not have an overpopulation of deer. Within those responses, 700 reported not taking deer-preventative measures and 73% stated their enjoyment of seeing deer in Ann Arbor, HSHV said. AdThose interested in the free seminar with the “Deer Doctor” can visit hshv.org/gardenwithdeer.

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.

(Rolf Peterson/Michigan Technological University via AP)A look at Michigan’s endangered or threatened species. The Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act) describes two categories of declining species of plants and animals that need the Act’s protections – endangered species and threatened species – and provides these definitions:Endangered - any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range;Threatened - any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Endangered species are at the brink of extinction now. Threatened species are likely to be at the brink in the near future. Related stories:

The advertiser paid a fee to promote this sponsored article and may have influenced or authored the content. The views expressed in this article are those of the advertiser and do not necessarily reflect those of this site or affiliated companies. Wednesday marks World Wildlife Day, and as the temperatures warm up, it’s safe to assume people will have more encounters with wildlife. Anna Chrisman from Michigan Humane explained that Michigan is full of different species of wildlife. Also, if you see a baby animal, do not assume the baby is abandoned.

ANN ARBOR – Tired of the uniformness of virtual meetings? That’s why the Leslie Science and Nature Center has begun offering special appearances from its animal ambassadors to lift the virtual meetup experience. An education staff member will accompany each animal ambassador for 15 to 30 minute sessions that include a Q&A. Below are the available animal ambassadors, with descriptions by LSNC:Barred OwlThe Barred Owl is no stranger to online teaching. Enjoy watching the behavior of these laid-back, powerful creatures as they slide their way into your next virtual hang out.

ANN ARBOR – We asked our readers to share their best fall photos this year as the leaves approached peak color in the area. From river scenes to canopies of colorful leaves, furry friends and long drives, we have really enjoyed pouring through all of your entries that remind us why this is our favorite season. The winning photos will be featured Friday on Local 4′s Live in the D that airs at 10 a.m. "The Huron River, Delhi Metropark." (Karen E.)"A fall day at Ann Arbor's North Campus."

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. The Trump administration plans to lift endangered species protections for gray wolves across most of the nation by the end of the year, the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday. The administration also is pushing ahead with a rollback of protections for migratory birds despite a recent setback in federal court, she said. Skipwith said the Fish and Wildlife Service was still evaluating the judges decision and planned to issue a final rule by the end of the year. The agency remains committed to making sure were not criminalizing these unintentional actions while stepping up efforts to protect migratory birds, she said.

HARARE Zimbabwe's parks authorities in Zimbabwe are investigating the death of 11 elephants in a forest in the west of the country, a parks spokesman said Sunday. In recent years poachers in Zimbabwe have poisoned dozens of elephants and then have taken their ivory tusks to sell them to illegal traders. We are also ruling out poachers because the tusks were intact.The mysterious deaths of the elephants in Zimbabwe appears similar to the deaths last month of more than 275 elephants in neighboring Botswana. Scientists are still investigating the deaths of the elephants in Botswana's Okavango Delta area and poaching, poisoning and anthrax have been ruled out. Last year about 200 elephants in Zimbabwe died of starvation as a result of the country's drought.

DETROIT A study of more than 30 years of data on bald eagles in Michigan shows the leading causes of death for the iconic national bird are being hit by cars and lead poisoning. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. James Sikarskie, a retired professor from Michigan State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, was a co-author of the study. Lead poisoning causes damage to the liver and kidneys, and the treatment to draw the toxin out, chelation, is also traumatic on them.Michigan officials said they encourage non-lead ammunition. DNR spokesman Ed Golder said its a hunter preference partly because non-lead ammunition is more expensive.

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

Watch otters swim, run and play live. Watch live above. *The camera will be down from 7-9 a.m. each day during the otters’ feeding time. The Detroit Zoo is open every day with limited capacity. Reservations are required, please visit their website to plan your visit: detroitzoo.orgThree North American river otters call the 2,500-square-foot Edward Mardigian Sr. River Otter Habitat home.

Are you ready to go on an adventure right outside your door? Palmero talked about the benefits of possums in nature. She said that possums move slow and are not that smart, but are beneficial to have in your yard. Possums are helpful to people and pet owners because they eat ticks; up to about 4,000 ticks in a week’s time. Watch the video to learn more about what’s in your backyard.

ANN ARBOR The city of Ann Arbors Natural Area Preservation is calling on local volunteers to help pull invasive spring plant species as part of a virtual event. Volunteers are encouraged to remove spring invasive species from their yards and gardens as well as city-owned nature areas. Each season, aggressive non-native plants spread and outcompete native species, reducing the diversity of native wildlife, including butterflies and small mammals. Residents are asked to pull plants on their own or with members from their household. After youve pulled the plants, report your efforts to the Stewardship Network Spring Invasive Species Challenge.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Detroit Zoo may be closed, but you don’t have to miss seeing the animals completely. Local 4 has a camera in the otter exhibit so you can keep an eye on them from home. Watch a video of the camera being installed below and see some of the otters in the video above. Also, the camera is livestreaming 22 hours a day, so you can spend some time seeing what Kalee, Sparky, Whisker and Lucius are up to.

We received this question about traffic stops through our 4YI form, where you can ask us anything about Michigan and/or Metro Detroit and we will do our best to get back with an answer(s). Question:“Did wolverines ever live in Michigan?”Answer:Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Communications and Education Coordinator Hannah Schauer said if wolverines were ever native to Michigan, they were pushed out over 200 years ago. It’s unknown how the wolverine arrived in Michigan, but Schauer said DNA evidence suggests it was related to animals native to Alaska. Fish and Wildlife Services have the wolverine listed as a threatened species -- meaning they’re vulnerable to endangerment in the future. 4YI -- Ask us a question about Metro Detroit or MichiganWhat do you have questions about in Metro Detroit or Michigan that you’d like us to investigate?