Selection of my work
For my author pages, check out: MLive, Great Lakes Echo, WKAR.
I also have a weekly newsletter, Nature Signals, on Substack, and you can find me on Medium.

‘Insect apocalypse?’ Why there aren’t actually more fireflies in Michigan this summer
MSU researchers tracking firefly populations since 2004 see promising signs this summer, though numbers remain below peak levels from previous decades.
https://www.mlive.com
‘Livers of the river’ found in Grand Rapids area polluted creek offer hope for recovery
A survey of Plaster Creek at a Kentwood park revealed 505 mussels often called ″livers of the river” for their ability to filter out pollutants.
https://www.mlive.com

Biosolids use by Michigan farmers sparks PFAS fears
Michigan’s use of biosolids as fertilizer poses contamination risks from forever chemicals, highlighting safety and research needs.
https://planetdetroit.org

Researchers use drones to find elusive Michigan rattlesnake
The eastern massasauga is Michigan’s only rattlesnake. Conservation biologists are using heat-sensing cameras to find them in the state’s wetlands, while avoiding trampling their sensitive habitats.
https://www.wkar.org

Biologists race to save rare Michigan butterflies from the brink of extinction
The Poweshiek skipperling has disappeared from most of Michigan’s prairies. Now scientists are raising them in zoos for release back into the wild.
https://www.wkar.org

This tiny insect is killing thousands of majestic trees in West Michigan
The hemlock woolly adelgid is killing eastern hemlock trees, threatening to transform West Michigan’s beloved forests and destabilize critical dune ecosystems.
https://www.mlive.com

Could spider webs be the key in Michigan’s fight against forest threats?
Researchers at Grand Valley State University discovered spider webs effectively collect DNA from pests like hemlock woolly adelgid, potentially revolutionizing forest monitoring.
https://www.mlive.com

Offshore wind development has potential, but challenges remain – Spartan Newsroom
OFFSHORE WIND: Controversies continue about proposals to place wind turbines offshore in the Great Lakes A U-M researcher explains a new study on its vast potential that could more than meet Michigan’s needs for electricity.
https://news.jrn.msu.edu

Utility-scale solar farm proposals cause turmoil in Livingston County
Using farmland for solar projects has become a hot topic in Livingston County.
https://www.freep.com

Minnesota debates what counts as carbon-free energy | Great Lakes Echo
Carbon-free or renewable energy sources generally include wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal, Bresette said. Together, nearly one-third of Minnesota’s energy came from these sources in 2023, compared to about one-fifth of U.S. energy. However, not all of them are as reliable as fossil fuels. “Solar works best during the day, wind resources are typically strongest
https://greatlakesecho.org

Can Michigan protect nearly a third of its lands and waters by 2030?
The “Pathways to Michigan the Beautiful” report outlines a plan to protect a third of…
https://www.ourmidland.com

In debate over protecting large or small natural areas, answer may be both | Great Lakes Echo
By Ruth Thornton A new study finds that large, continuous natural areas protect more plants and animals than many small patches, but small patches also provide valuable biodiversity benefits. The UP has more large areas than the Northern Lower Peninsula.
https://greatlakesecho.org

Wolves could expand across the eastern U.S. — but they might need help | Great Lakes Now
Gray wolves could thrive in the eastern United States well beyond their current range in the Great Lakes region, but they might have a hard time reaching other suitable habitats.
https://www.greatlakesnow.org

Researchers scrambling to understand implications of forever chemicals found in fish, waters of Lake Huron – Spartan Newsroom
PFAS: A new study finds new PFAS in the water and fish of Lake Huron near Rockport and Port Austin, raising concerns about human and wildlife health. We talk to one of the authors, experts from the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, an Alpena charter boat captain and an East Lansing legislator.
https://news.jrn.msu.edu

New study finds toxic ‘forever chemicals’ are absorbed through the skin
A recent study has found PFAS can cross the human skin barrier, something experts had believed was not a significant source of exposure before.
https://www.wkar.org

Tomatoes not turning red? How climate change is affecting your garden
From slow-ripening tomatoes to early pumpkins, experts recommend southern-bred plant varieties to adapt to Michigan’s increasingly warm conditions.
https://www.mlive.com

31 acres in Southwest Michigan purchased to become new nature preserve
A family sold the property at less than half its market value to ensure the land would be protected from development forever.
https://www.mlive.com
Quick thinking by rookie seaman saves drowning 97-year-old during Coast Guard Festival
Joseph Turk, only seven months into service, jumped into action during Coast Guard Festival when 97-year-old Fredrick Unger fell from pier.
https://www.mlive.com

How Grand Rapids plans to use a federally funded barrier against ‘vampire fish’
The barrier will protect 4,000 river miles and save $2 million annually in lampricide costs as part of Grand Rapids’ larger stream restoration project.
https://www.mlive.com

Mid-Michigan trout stream receives funding to protect cold-water fishery
A local conservation group will study water quality issues in mid-Michigan’s largest natural steelhead stream, which faces threats from agricultural runoff and E. coli contamination.
https://www.mlive.com

Transformation of Muskegon Lake has locals kayaking where industrial waste once flowed
After nearly four decades and $80 million of cleanup efforts, Muskegon Lake is finally on track to being delisted as a Great Lakes Area of Concern.
https://www.mlive.com
Trust in Michigan elections: Poll shows partisan divide despite overall confidence
The poll of registered voters focused on their confidence of the 2024 election results and their satisfaction with the condition of democracy.
https://www.mlive.com

Final segment of 24-mile trail completed in Ottawa County
The 2.4-mile segment creates a continuous 24-mile route from Grand Haven to State Highway 231 that officials say transforms safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
https://www.mlive.com
This Michigan brewery is fighting invasive species one IPA at a time
Trail Point Brewery’s Native Waters IPA is the latest in their series raising awareness about invasive species while offering a juicy, hazy IPA craft beer experience.
https://www.mlive.com

Opinion | Why is the biodiversity crisis neglected by the media? – Bridge Michigan
It is clear that global leadership does not value biodiversity. Why is that? One possible reason is that biodiversity loss has received only scant attention from the media and the public is hardly aware of the issue or knows why it matters.
https://bridgemi.com

Michigan and Ohio receive $500,000 to study rare turtles
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funding will support conservations efforts for Blanding’s and spotted turtles.
https://www.wkar.org
What your yard may have to do with the growing tick problem in Kent County parks
A partnership between Kent County parks and Calvin University aims to study ticks that may cause disease to better understand how to control the pests.
https://www.mlive.com
Grand Rapids area saving water and butterflies with one smart landscaping decision
A native gardening project was recently completed in the Uptown Business District to beautify the area for a more pleasant shopping and dining experience.
https://www.mlive.com

East Lansing evaluating solar power potential of city-owned properties
The city is one of 30 communities in state selected to host a MI Healthy Climate Corps member to tackle climate change.
https://www.wkar.org

Study finds forever chemicals in rain, air and water in Great Lakes Basin
PFAS are a group of about 15,000 chemicals that are found in drinking water, food, soil, and in the blood of people and animals all over the world.
https://www.wkar.org

Tick populations are increasing in Michigan
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is confirming Lyme disease in 55 counties this year as tick populations migrate inland.
https://www.wkar.org

Michigan’s lost prairies: Grassland restoration fights wildlife decline | Great Lakes Echo
By Ruth Thornton Gary Groff fondly remembers hunting all day on his grandfather’s land as a boy. “For my dad’s life he could not believe that I could go out there before daylight and come back after dark,” he said. Now retired for many years, he still hunts the central Michigan property with friends. The
https://greatlakesecho.org

Michigan can expect warmer-than-normal temps in early fall, forecaster says – Bridge Michigan
Temperatures are expected to return to near-average in November through December, but with higher-than-average precipitation expected.
https://bridgemi.com

In conservative Livingston County, suburbia and Trump country collide
In conservative Livingston County, voters are feeling both the tug of issues important to rural areas and the edges of suburban life.
https://www.freep.com

Male teacher shortage continues to be a problem in Michigan
A recent report found widespread teacher shortages to be a continuing problem in Michigan, with male teachers in especially short supply. Their absence can adversely impact how well boys do in school, experts say. Tara Kilbride is the interim associate director of the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at Michigan State University and one […]
https://www.thealpenanews.com