what animals live in the upper peninsula of michigan

The emerald ash borer was first reported in the UP at Brimley State Park,[30] and is considered to be a serious ecological threat to the habitat and economy. Similar to Brown Recluse Spiders, Black Widows are dangerous, because they are venomous. [21] Several residents in the state disagree with both current and previous positions on the part of the DNRE. Even though ticks and mosquitoes may spread diseases like Lyme Disease or West Nile Virus, they do not present an immediate physical danger, so they will not be discussed here. There are over 60 different species of mosquitoes living in Michigan, so they can be found practically anywhere. [86] Other ski areas are Pine Mountain located in Iron Mountain, Norway Mountain in the town of the same name, and the Porcupine Mountains located in Ontonagon. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes are considered more venomous than most other venomous snakes. A skiing purist's resort, Bohemia is a self-proclaimed "experts only" mountain, and it does not groom its heavily gladed slopes. There are approximately 700 gray wolves living in Michigan and almost all of them reside in the Upper Peninsula. The Eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) is one of the snake species that can be found in Michigans St. Marys River region. [31] The Keweenaw Peninsula averages more snowfall than any other location east of the Mississippi River. Their blood is poisonous to humans when consumed raw. Mitchells Satyr This small butterfly is characterized by brown wings with rows of round black and yellow eyespots on the underside. Wilderness State Park is located immediately to the west of Mackinaw City near the upper tip of the Lower Peninsula. ESCANABA, MI - The number of fungal disease cases associated with Billerud Paper Mill in Michigans Upper Peninsula has grown to 104, health officials said. [34], The banana belt along the Wisconsin border has a more continental climate since most of its weather does not arrive from the lakes. Houghton County contributed 460 soldiers, while Marquette County, Michigan, sent 265. [22], There are also many invasive species that are primarily brought in the ballast water of foreign ships, usually from the ocean bordering Northeastern Asia. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE SNOWMOBILE HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Want to find tasty morel mushrooms in the forest? [85] Street signs in Hancock appear in English and Finnish to celebrate this heritage. American Indian tribes formerly allied with the French were dissatisfied with the British occupation, which brought new territorial policies. They logged all this, and all the slash created these huge wildfires and nothing would grow. However, these spiders are venomous. Some folklore associate Black Witch Moths with bad luck (and even death! Red-Shouldered Hawks reuse the same nesting area each year. In 1819, the territory was expanded to include the remainder of the Upper Peninsula, all of what later became Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota (previously included in the Indiana and Illinois Territories). Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Eastern hognose snakes are venomous, but only to frogs and toads. Some Finnish foods such as juusto (squeaky cheese, essentially a cheese curd, like Leipjuusto) and saunamakkara (a ring-bologna sausage) have become so ubiquitous in Upper Peninsula cuisine that they are now commonly found in most grocery stores and supermarkets. The Easter Massasauga Rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Michigan. It is habitat for frogs, salamanders, owls, raccoons, and many When winters arrive, it then travels south toward the Caribbean. The last copper mine closed in 1995, although the majority of mines had closed decades before. [33] Lake-effect snow can cause blinding whiteouts in just minutes, and some storms can last for days. [32] Because of the howling storms across Lake Superior, which cause dramatic amounts of precipitation, it has been said that the lake-effect snow makes the Keweenaw Peninsula the snowiest place east of the Rockies. White-tailed deer are another common animal found throughout Michigans forests and fields. 01 of 04 Woolly Mammoth Flying Puffin/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0 As noted earlier, only one of these snakes is venomous, which is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. Michigans Upper Peninsula is home to many of the Midwests most treasured wildlife species. If youre interested in seeing some of Michigans top wildlife, then you should visit one of the 74 state parks, two national parks, and numerous other forests, refuges, and important sites. A considerable amount of bedrock is visible. One of the most well-known of the arachnids, the Black Widow Spider, is commonly found in the western lower peninsula of Michigan. Lake-effect snow causes many areas to get in excess of 100250 inches (2.56.4m) of snow per yearespecially in the Keweenaw Peninsula and Gogebic County, and to a lesser extent Baraga, Marquette and Alger counties, making the western UP a prominent part of the midwestern snow belt. Mount Arvon, the highest point in Michigan, is found in the region, as well as the Porcupine and Huron mountains. The wolfs main prey there are deer, elk, moose and beaver. From venomous spiders to 2-foot long rattlesnakes, a few species living in Michigan can be downright terrifying. State prisons are located in Baraga, Marquette, Munising, Newberry, and Kincheloe. Nestled in the heart of Michigans Upper Peninsula, the St. Marys River flows between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, offering a diverse range of habitats for Because of the surrounding waters and northern latitude, it receives more snow than most of the eastern U.S. They also range northward to Labrador in the east and Northern Alaska in the west. Typically, the armor plates and jawbones of these fish are the only parts preserved. Hungerfords Crawling Water Beetle This is one of the rarest species in the United States. The most common type of snake found in Michigan is the garter snake, which prefers moist environments near bodies of water or damp areas under logs or rocks. Winters tend to be long, cold, and snowy for most of the peninsula, and because of its northern latitude, the daylight hours are shortaround 8hours between sunrise and sunset in the winter. In alphabetical order, the counties are: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, When Michigan applied for statehood in the 1830s, the proposal corresponded to the original territorial boundaries. Early settlers included multiple waves of people from Nordic countries, and people of Finnish ancestry make up 16% of the peninsula's population; the UP is home to the highest concentration of Finns outside Europe and the only counties of the United States where a plurality of residents claim Finnish ancestry. In the Upper Peninsula, visitors can view moose and deer in the Ottawa National Forest or try to spot a glimpse of a timber wolf while exploring Tahquamenon Falls State Park. It reaches about 4.5 feet long and weighs up to 660 pounds. Rattlesnakes are the most dangerous type of venomous snake in Michigan. Amid the 40,000 acres of winding hiking trails and scenic falls, visitors can find moose, bears, rodents, and deer here as well. tienne Brl of France was probably the first European to visit the peninsula, crossing the St. Marys River around 1620 in search of a route to the Far East. The majority of grey wolves in Michigan live in the Upper Peninsula. The yak is joining the family-owned zoos growing population of exotic animals, including sloths, frogs, reindeer, kookburra and more. Many restaurants serve potato sausage and cudighi, a spicy Italian meat. The northwesternmost portion of the border follows a line from Lac Vieux Desert to the headwaters of the Montreal River. What is the most dangerous mammal in Michigan? Although the state government was not yet recognized by the United States Congress, the territorial government effectively ceased to exist. The UP also contains many shellfish, such as clams, aquatic snails, and crayfish. [91] Upper Peninsula natives speak a dialect influenced by Scandinavian and French-Canadian speech. Black Widows are fairly easy to recognize. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has three state universities (Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Michigan is represented by several different state animals. Symptoms from a Brown Recluse Spider bite include fever, convulsions, itching, nausea, muscle pain, and in rare cases death. Although it is a tree squirrel, it spends most of its time on the ground. While not as aggressive as their reputation suggests, these two species are quite large and could easily kill a person if provoked. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you do find yourself face-to-face with a black bear it is important to remain calm, but identify yourself as a human by talking slowly. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. WebTo comment on the list or request additional copies, or for information on the Endangered Species Program, contact the Endangered Species Coordinator, Wildlife Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Lake Superior has the greatest effect on the area, especially the northern and western parts. [94] Smoked fish is also popular. Residents are nicknamed Yoopers (derived from "UP-ers") and have a strong regional identity, enhanced by the perception that the rest of the state neglects them. The American robin is the official state bird, the brook trout is the state fish, the painted turtle is the state reptile, and the official state game animal is the white-tailed deer. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE WINTER FUN HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Find facility info, overnight info, an event calendar and much more. [89][90] Residents are known as Yoopers (from "UP-ers"), and many consider themselves Yoopers before they consider themselves Michiganders. In the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, Republican candidate Donald Trump won all counties except Marquette County. Houghton is where professional ice hockey was first started in 1904.[87][88]. The area of the Upper Peninsula north of Green Bay through Menominee and Escanaba (and extending west to Iron River) does not have the extreme weather and precipitation found to the north. EEE will attack the brain and spinal cord, which is always dangerous. The wolverine is a powerful and fierce predator native to Michigan, making it an ideal choice for the states nickname. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan also known as Upper Michigan or colloquially the U.P. American Indian casinos contribute to the tourist attractions and are popular in the UP. However, they can also be found near rocky outcroppings and open fields where there is plenty of covers for them to hide in or around. The Upper Peninsula is separated from the Lower by the Straits of Mackinac, five miles (8km) across at the narrowest, and is connected to it by the Mackinac Bridge at St. Ignace, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. Its largest cities are Marquette, Sault Ste. There are also many plant species that have been transported to the Great Lakes, including purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria[27] and Phragmites australis, both of which are considered to be a threat to native hydrophyte wetland plants.[28][29]. Karner Blue Butterfly Identified by its purple-bluish wings and strange yellow spots, Karner blue is native to the Great Lakes states and the larger Midwest. [2], The Upper Peninsula contains a large variety of wildlife. The Upper Peninsula has a humid continental climate (Dfb in the Kppen climate classification system). Snakes can be found in a variety of habitats in Michigan, including woodlands, wetlands, meadows, and even urban areas. Symptoms from the bite can include burning, swelling, muscle pain, and paralysis of the diaphragm. In Michigan's 2010 gubernatorial election Republican Rick Snyder carried every UP county but one, Gogebic, on his way to victory over his Democratic opponent, Virg Bernero. 2011-1: Executive Reorganization Department of Natural Resources and Environment Creating the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Quality", "On the Cougar Trail: Team Investigates Sightings, Tracks Throughout UP, State", 10.1674/0003-0031(2006)155[363:DACOCI]2.0.CO;2, "Does a Population of Cougars Exist in Michigan? Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes. There are approximately 17,000 black bears living in Michigan, and they mostly live in the upper peninsula. The six westernmost counties experienced the largest decrease, from a 1920 population of 153,674 to a 2020 population of 79,392. Because of the highly seasonal climate and the short growing season, agriculture is limited in the Upper Peninsula, though potatoes, strawberries and a few other small fruits are grown. The Keweenaw Peninsula is home to bald eagles, ospreys, and other raptors that soar over forested areas such as Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Here is a look at a few species that you want to avoid next time you are in Michigan and how to identify them. The Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act provide protections for these animals, but centuries of unregulated hunting and destruction of natural habitats have caused a decrease in animal populations. https://dev.michigan.local/som/json?sc_device=json. Visit the grants home page by clicking on the button above, or view a specific area of interest below: Learn about Michigan's diverse range of fish, plants, trees, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. Hunting and Fishing; The states unique geographical arrangement is shared by no other state or political subdivision anywhere in the world. The western [12] Copper Island is its northernmost section. It is bounded primarily by Lake Superior to the north, separated from the Canadian province of Ontario at the east end by the St. Marys River, and flanked by Lake Huron and Lake Michigan along much of its south. Thimbleberry jam and chokecherry jelly are a treat.[95]. Red-Bellied Woodpeckers will often steal the nests of other birds. It also contains most of the state-run parks and wildlife reserves. It has many of the same animals as the other state parks. Ten mountain lion sightings have now been confirmed in Michigans Upper Peninsula in 2021, according to the DNR. In addition to full time positions, we also hire many seasonal positions including park workers, interpreters, rangers, wildlife workers and more. Spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, and other invertebrates are probably among the most common animals in the state. When the scope is restricted to vertebrates, however, Michigan also has a lot of rodents like mice, rats, squirrels, and chipmunks. Among larger animals, deer are probably the most common. The Upper Peninsula was dominated by forest, with maple, beech and birch in the uplands, and cedar, spruce, and tamarack in wetter areas. [1]) With the exhaustion of readily available minerals, the area's economy declined in the 20th century, largely becoming dependent on logging and tourism. Early tribes included the Menominee, Odawa, Ojibwa, Nocquet, Potawatomi. The Black-legged Tick, also known as the deer tick, can seem relatively harmless due to its small size. They are especially dangerous and can be lethal to those who have an allergic reaction to their stings. DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. The Finnish sauna and the concept of sisu have been adopted widely by residents of the Upper Peninsula. In terms of sports fandom, residents may support Detroit professional teams or those of Wisconsinparticularly the Green Bay Packers. WebIn Michigan, the small-mouthed salamander is listed as an endangered species and the marbled salamander and the six-lined racerunner are listed as threatened. Some of the casinos are now quite elaborate and are being developed as part of resort and conference facilities, including features such as golf courses, pool and spa, dining, and rooms to accommodate guests. Click the box above to see all species, or click the species group below. is the northern and more elevated of the two major landmasses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan; it is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac. [93] Fresh Great Lakes fish, such as the lake trout, whitefish, and (in the spring) smelt are widely eaten. Throughout the Upper Peninsula, there are newspapers, such as The Daily News in Iron Mountain, The Menominee County Journal in Stephenson, The Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton, The Daily Press in Escanaba, and the Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Technological University in Houghton, and Northern Michigan University in Marquette), one private university (Finlandia University located in Hancock, Michigan, on the Keweenaw Peninsula), and five community colleges (Bay Mills Community College in Brimley, Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba and Iron Mountain, Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, and Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College in Baraga). Mockingbirds are incredible mimics that can learn hundreds of songs! In some cases, commercial cartographers draw incorrect maps that inadvertently annex the Upper Peninsula into Wisconsin.[92]. Its lowest elevation is along the shoreline of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, averaging 577 feet (176m) above sea level. The American Bison is an iconic species that was once abundant across much of North America. NEW! The Upper Peninsula is rich in mineral deposits, including iron, copper, nickel, and silver. There are one Interstate Highway, five US Highways and 24 other state highways in the Upper Peninsula. They hide in the grass and shrubs and climb up the host for several hours before attaching. These include ferries for Sugar Island, Neebish Island, and Drummond Island. In 2004, microbreweries began opening across the Upper Peninsula; 14 opened by 2014, and 23 by 2019. Lakes and rivers contain many fish such as walleye, muskie, northern pike, trout, salmon, bullhead catfish, and bass. The Polyphemus moth doesnt and can't eat, except when it's a caterpillar! Kirtland warbler in Michigan. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE ORV HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Information on DNR shooting and archery ranges, rules and regulations, resources to get started and more. They are unlikely to be encountered by the average person, however. They include: The porbeagle is one of the few sharks that jumps out of the water. Like the entire Lower Peninsula, most of the Upper Peninsula observes Eastern Time. [7], The Upper Peninsula contains 16,377 square miles (42,420km2),[8] about 29 percent of the land area of the state (exclusive of territorial waters, which constitute about 40% of Michigan's total jurisdictional area). Bohemia. Sault Ste Marie is the oldest European settlement in Michigan and the site of Native American settlements for centuries. Tourism has become the main industry in recent decades. Blacklegged tick: Present on low forest vegetation and along human and There is significant discussion and studies over the presence of eastern cougars in the UP. In 1881, the Mackin This regionalism is not only a result of the physical separation of the two peninsulas, but also the history of the state. John Jacob Astor founded the American Fur Company on Mackinac Island in 1808; however, the industry began to decline in the 1830s as beaver and other game were overhunted.[3]. According to the DNR, wolves are native to Michigan and the current U.P. Following the end of the French and Indian War (part of the Seven Years' War) in 1763, the territory was ceded to Great Britain. The largest animal in Michigan is the black bear. Until the bridge was completed in 1957, travel between the two peninsulas was difficult and slow (and sometimes even impossible during winter). The Brook Trout is actually part of the salmon family, making it not technically a trout. There are five public access airports with turf runways and thirteen airports for the private use of their owners. The Upper Peninsula's mines produced more mineral wealth than the California Gold Rush, especially after shipping was improved by the opening of the Soo Locks in 1855, and docks in Marquette in 1859. State park, historic sites and visitor center events. As tiger trout are sterile, they cannot produce offspring. However, the diseases that they spread are extremely dangerous to humans. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, only venomous snake in the entire state of Michigan, most gorgeous waterfalls in Upper Michigan, Yellowish Cuckoo Bumblebee (formerly Fernalds Cuckoo Bumblebee), Michigan is home to a number of aquariums. [25] The DNRE verified five sets of tracks and two trail camera photos in Delta, Chippewa, Marquette, and Menominee counties since 2008. If you are stung, it is important to not swat or squash the wasps as it will further irritate the wasps. However, there was an armed conflict known as the Toledo War with the state of Ohio over the location of their mutual border. Two highways run the eastwest length of the peninsula, US Highway2 along the south and M-28 to the north. From the state flower to the only flower completely endemic to the region, read more on the native plants in Michigan. [14], About one-third of the peninsula is government-owned recreational forest land today, including the Ottawa National Forest and Hiawatha National Forest. [59], The Upper Peninsula remains a predominantly rural region. It was the largest supplier of iron ore by the 1890s, and production continued to a peak in the 1920s, but sharply declined shortly afterward. Proposals have been made to establish the UP as a separate state, but have failed to gain traction. This is about 48 miles from the southern Marquette County photo taken on October 6. Paper Wasps have slender bodies that are a little less than an inch long. Wolverines were once commonly seen across Michigan, but by the early 1800s, their numbers had decreased significantly due to hunting and habitat loss. Brown Recluse Spider. [2] The Eagle Mine, a nickel-copper mine, opened in 2014. D araneus iviei Orb-weaver spider Wolf spider Fishing spider Loxosceles reclusa (Brown [24] A citizen's group, the Michigan Citizens for Cougar Recognition (MCCR), independently tracked sightings and in 2009 listed Delta County as the location with the greatest number of reports in the state. [26] DNRE officials acknowledge that there are cougars in the UP, but not elsewhere in the state. Its natural range is now restricted to Michigan and Indiana, but it was once much more widespread. Beech bark disease and beech leaf disease both target Spotted Turtle This small semi-aquatic turtle, identified by the spots on its carapace, is classified as threatened or endangered throughout parts of the eastern United States. [72][73] As of 2018[update], three of Michigan's fifty largest breweries were in the Upper Peninsula: Keweenaw Brewing Company, Blackrocks Brewery, and the Ore Dock Brewing Company.[74]. Sandhill crane in Michigan. Poweshiek Skipperling Identified by its luminous strange, looking brown and orange wings, this rare prairie butterfly once stretched across most of the Midwest, but it has since suffered from habitat degradation. It is composed of two discontinuous peninsulas, connected artificially at the closest point by the Mackinac Bridge. WebGo to Learn about Michigan's species Learn about Michigan's diverse range of fish, plants, trees, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. In 1967, when the Uniform Time Act came into effect, the Upper Peninsula went under year-round CST, with no daylight saving time. In the early 20th century, 75% of the population was foreign-born. Use the button above to visit the target shooing and archery home page, or go directly to one of the pages below: Find snowmobile trail permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. WebCoyote hunting and trapping seasons are available statewide. Moving southward on the Lower Peninsula, people visit Saugatuck Dunes Natural Area for sightings of black bears, river otters, and sandhill cranes. Click the box above for tips and tricks to fill your basket. The sparsely populated northern half of the state is rich in all kinds of forest-dwelling wildlife and shorebirds. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. The biologists with the DNRE currently do not believe that there is a breeding population anywhere in the state, rather that the sighted animals are visitors to the state. American dog tick: Active from May to November in Michigan forests and grassy areas. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE CAMPING HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Get all your fishing information here, including rules and regulations, license info, the weekly fishing report and much more. In 1881, the Mackinac Transportation Company was established by three railroads, the Michigan Central Railroad, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, and the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad, to operate a railroad car ferry across the Straits. [65][66], From approximately 1870 to 1915, about 32 quarries mined Jacobsville Sandstone in the Upper Peninsula, particularly near Marquette and the community of Jacobsville. After being assigned to various territorial jurisdictions, it was granted to the newly formed state of Michigan as part of the settlement of a dispute with Ohio over the city of Toledo. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE)[b] formed a four-person team to investigate sightings in the state. All of the higher areas are the remnants of ancient peaks, worn down over millions of years by erosion and glaciers. Human activities such as urban development can also contribute to habitat loss and fragmentation, which reduces available resources for native wildlife. They have specialized jaws for removing snails from shells. Adult males can reach heights between 3 4 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 250 pounds when fully grown. John Ball Zoological Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan Sea Life Aquarium in Auburn Hills. In Michigan, the Southern Lower Peninsulas bobcat shooting season runs from January 1 to January 11. Keep an eye out for them under logs, tree roots, or in small mammal habitats. Although the peninsula extends as a geographic feature into the state of Wisconsin, the state boundary follows the Montreal and Menominee rivers and a line connecting them. Michigan is home to many common forest-dwelling and freshwater animals. [57], Due to the geographic separation and perceived cultural and political differences from the Lower Peninsula, at various times there have been proposals for the Upper Peninsula to secede from Michigan as a 51st state named Superior, sometimes including portions of northern Wisconsin and/or the northern Lower Peninsula. Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air. [84] Finlandia University, America's only college with Finnish roots, is located in Hancock. Wolves hunt in packs and innately chase after prey that is fleeing. Classes & Workshops; If you do come across one, back away slowly without making any sudden movements this will give both parties time to get out safely! Michigan is home to many common forest-dwelling and freshwater animals. A few reasons for the decline include habitat loss, pesticide use, and disturbances by humans, but by far, the greatest reason is white-nose syndrome, a strange fungal disease that interrupts the bats natural hibernation cycle. The other known populations are located in Ontario, Canada. Interstate75 is the only freeway in the region and runs from the Mackinac Bridge at St. Ignace to the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Mosquitoes are attracted to water so try to avoid standing water or water-drenched plains if you are looking to escape them. Some iron mining continues near Marquette. WebOf this total, around 10,000 live in the Upper Peninsula, while 2,000 live in the Lower Peninsula. Mont Ripley, just outside Houghton, is popular among students of Michigan Technological University (the university actually owns the mountain). Marie. Unless otherwise stated, each hunter is only permitted to hunt one bobcat in the states Lower Peninsula. Residents of the western Upper Peninsula take on some of the cultural identities of both Wisconsin and Michigan. An analysis of data collected in 2022 produced an estimate of 631 wolves, give or take 49, the Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday.

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what animals live in the upper peninsula of michigan