Beth Weiler
Newsroom InternBeth Weiler is a newsroom and digital intern covering the environment. She graduated from the University of Michigan where she studied pollinator ecology and also fell in love with frogs, salamanders and snakes. She loves story-telling and photography, and is making the shift from ecology into environmental journalism.
She has previously worked as an ecologist, horticulturist, and research technician on a variety of ecological projects. You can find her – with her camera and nets – flipping logs and wading in muck to find critters. She enjoys reading environmental non-fiction, traveling, gardening, listening to electronic music (shoutout to Detroit, birthplace of techno!), and adventuring with her dog, Birdie.
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The North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest national trail and was recently designated a unit of the National Park Service. Michigan is home to the most trail miles of any state that it crosses.
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Lake sturgeon was designated as a threatened species in Michigan in 1994, prompting recovery efforts. Researchers from the Grand Rapids Public Museum and partner organizations have recently found the fish in the Grand River.
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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been working to secure a conservation easement in the western Upper Peninsula. Recently awarded grants worth one million dollars will help with the project.
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The U.S. EPA recently proposed improvements to its Lead and Copper Rule. Michigan is already complying with the proposed improvements and has some of the most stringent lead and copper rules in the country, state officials say.
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Oak wilt is a fungal disease that can kill oak trees. Winter is the best time to trim oak trees to prevent spread of the disease.
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A package of bills in the Senate would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in the state.
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A respiratory illness is spreading between dogs in other states; no cases have been confirmed in Michigan, but vets are encouraging dog owners to look out for symptoms.
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The hemlock woolly adelgid has now been found in seven Michigan counties. It threatens ornamental hemlock trees and hemlock forests statewide.
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Chronic wasting disease is a fatal illness that affects the nervous system of deer, elk, and moose. Cases are rising in Michigan.
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The Michigan Food Waste Policy Road Map is an offshoot of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, aiming to contribute to the goal of reaching carbon neutrality in Michigan by 2050.