MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Upper Peninsula Habitat Workgroup met on Tuesday, to discuss their strategies of protecting the U.P. deer population during its long winters. The goal of this group has been to identify Deer Wintering Complexes, where deer are found during these conditions.
A main focus is to support the 80% of private and federal land across the U.P., while also benefiting these deer habitats on that land. This includes receiving federal grants to plant trees and grass, to further conserve these natural habitats.
“We’ve been successful at getting a number of those grants,” said Jim Hammill, a retired wildlife biologist for the DNR. “The one we’re working for right now is a grant for $146,000. All of that money is going to be applied to tree planting and certain harvesting on private lands this summer.”
The Upper Peninsula Habitat Work Group is built of DNR wildlife and forestry employees, federal forest managers, members of the Natural Resources Commissions, and wildlife and forestry interests.
For more details about the mapping of these Deer Wintering Complexes, visit michigan.gov.
