A new federal plan will grant state wildlife officers the ability to control local populations of double-crested cormorants. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Karen Kelly reports:
Transcript
A new federal plan will grant state wildlife officers the ability to control local populations of
double-crested cormorants. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Karen Kelly reports:
Double-crested cormorants are big fish eaters. And the birds have wreaked havoc on game fish
populations throughout the Great Lakes.
Up until now, states needed a federal permit to disturb or destroy the cormorant eggs and the
birds themselves. A new federal plan will allow agencies in 24 states to control the cormorants
on their own.
Shawna Hanisch is a biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
“It allows them to carry out control more quickly. They don’t have to go through the permit
process. And if there’s a problem, they want to prevent it before it even gets started, you know,
before it becomes a serious problem, they can go ahead and take action.”
Hanisch is quick to point out that state and tribal officials are the only people allowed to kill or
disturb the birds.
The service ruled against a cormorant hunting season.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Karen Kelly.
Environmentalists are protesting a new air pollution rule from the Bush Administration. They say it will make it easier for the industry to continue to pollute or even pollute more. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
Transcript
Environmentalists are protesting a new air pollution rule from The Bush administration. They
say it will make it easier for the industry to continue to pollute or even pollute more. The Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
Despite the 1970 Clean Air Act, some factory owners have kept polluting at the same rate for
more than 30 years. That’s because plants only were required to add pollution controls when
making significant updates. Environmentalists say a new rule put in place by the Bush
administration makes that loophole even bigger.
Eric Schaeffer is a former EPA official who quit, protesting the weakening of environmental
rules.
“What this rule says is if you’re sitting on an old plant that’s pretty dirty, that’s uncontrolled, that
isn’t meeting the Clean Air Act standards, you can go in and piece by piece, you can continue to
rebuild these plants and keep them alive and keep them going without putting on pollution
controls.”
The new rule comes in the wake of a General Accounting Office report that found the Bush
White House made the decision based almost entirely upon anecdotes from factory owners rather
than from hard data collected by the EPA.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, this is Lester Graham.
Tens of millions of gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage were dumped into the Great Lakes basin during last month’s massive power outage, but environmentalists say that’s a drop in the bucket compared with the overall problem of contamination from sewage spills. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Sarah Hulett reports:
Transcript
Tens of millions of gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage were dumped into the Great
Lakes basin during last month’s massive power outage. But environmentalists say that’s a drop
in the bucket compared with the overall problem of contamination from sewage spills. The Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Sarah Hulett reports:
Environmental groups say a heavy rain can easily send more raw sewage into lakes and streams
than an event like last month’s blackout.
In Michigan alone, officials say 57 million gallons of sewage were dumped because of the
blackout. Environmentalists say that’s not much, compared to the 50 billion gallons the state
dumps yearly.
Bethany Renfer is with Clean Water Action.
“I think we need to look at all steps that we can take to help to reduce the overflows – both those
that are happening in extenuating circumstances, like a blackout – but also those that are regularly
occurring…that we can almost plan for.”
The blackout strained wastewater treatment facilities from Michigan to New York. All told, at
least 550 million gallons were dumped into lakes, harbors, and streams.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Sarah Hulett.
The risk of contracting West Nile virus from mosquitoes is highest at this time of year. Nationwide, the number of serious cases is up. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Rebecca Williams has more:
Transcript
The risk of contracting West Nile virus from mosquitoes
is highest at this time of year. Nationwide, the number of
serious cases is up. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Rebecca
Williams has more:
West Nile virus made its way farther west late last year,
reaching Colorado, and it continues to spread.
Dr. Anthony Marfin is an epidemiologist with the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. He says nationwide this year,
health officials have reported more serious cases of West Nile
virus than last year at this time.
“So we have every reason to believe we’ll have as many cases
this year as we did last year. It’s just that it’s somewhat
shifted, it’s more in the west and the north central states.”
Marfin says early mosquito control efforts in the Great Lakes
states might have helped.
“States and communities that have a large number of cases
do a lot more preparation in the coming year to reduce the number of breeding
sites for mosquitoes.”
Marfin says it’s still important to avoid getting bitten by
mosquitoes, and to drain standing water where mosquitoes breed.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Rebecca Williams.
Although a pretty plant, purple loosestrife crowds out native plants necessary for wildlife habitat. (Photo by Roger F. Thoma)
We’ve all heard about exotic species invading the Great Lakes states. Zebra mussels, gypsy moths, and Asian carp all pose serious threats to the ecosystems they invade, but insects and fish aren’t the only unwelcome visitors. Invasive plants are also creeping in. One U.S. Forest Service biologist is hoping to recruit a small army of volunteers to help him keep the invasive weeds under control. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Stephanie Hemphill reports:
Transcript
We’ve all heard about exotic species invading the Great Lakes states. Zebra mussels, gypsy
moths, and Asian carp all pose serious threats to the ecosystems they invade. But insects and
fish aren’t the only unwelcome visitors. Plants that don’t belong in Great Lakes forests are
creeping in. One U.S. Forest Service biologist is hoping to recruit a small army of volunteers to
help him keep the invasive weeds under control. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Stephanie
Hemphill reports:
Jack Greenlee wades through chest-high grasses, rushes, wild raspberries and roses. He reaches
for a clump of lacy plants with soft purple flowers. He yanks one out of the ground.
“It’s got an extensive root system, big & woody. The plant itself is 6 feet tall, these spikes of
beautiful light purple flowers, lots of them, so very eye-catching.”
It’s purple loosestrife, and it’s invading everywhere – including Johnson Creek, in the Superior
National Forest, north of Duluth Minnesota. The creek flows into a wetland here, near a
highway.
This area is a favorite spot for mallards and other water birds. But Greenlee says the loosestrife
could change that.
“As the invasion of a marsh progresses, there’s more and more loosestrife and fewer and fewer
native marsh plants – consequently fewer resources for waterfowl that might stop.”
That’s because loosestrife isn’t on the menu for a mallard.
Purple loosestrife is one of several plants that arrived in North America in grain shipments a
hundred years ago. They’ve been spreading across the continent since then. Some – like
loosestrife – have also been grown in gardens.
“It came from Europe, and there are different insects that eat the plant there, but when it was
brought here, the insects didn’t come along. There’s no insect predators, viruses, molds – so
consequently, it’s able to thrive.”
Because they have no natural predators, the exotic plants can shoulder aside the native ones.
That can affect everything in the complex web of life.
“Once they’re there, they’ll always be there, can’t ever restore truly to what used to be. always be
component, so aggressive and hard to get rid of. So it’s kind of a one-way street.”
(walking)
Greenlee is taking an inventory of all the non-native plants in the Superior National Forest. He
says they usually show up along roads and other places where the land is already disturbed.
People bring them, without knowing it, on their tires or their boats.
“And here’s another species we’re tracking; it’s common tansy.”
These kinds of exotic plants are causing a lot of problems around the Great Lakes. The remote
parts of the Superior National Forest aren’t too badly infested yet.
So Greenlee is training a cadre of vigilantes to keep an eye out for non-natives, especially in the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
“It’s a large, pretty intact ecosystem without a lot of invasives yet. It’s a lot harder to get into,
there’s not a lot of people driving down the roads, so the more eyes the better.”
So far, about a dozen people have volunteered. Hikers, and other people who enjoy the outdoors,
people concerned about preserving the unique wilderness of the Boundary Waters. They spent a
day learning how to recognize purple loosestrife, tansy, and the other invasive non-natives.
Greenlee tells his recruits to report to him when they see some, or even to pull them up.
“We’ve had patches pulled in before, our seasonal crews revisit sites & don’t see them after
pulling them. when you have small infestations, can be effective.”
Greenlee hopes next year more people will want to join his volunteer team, and help him prevent
a major infestation of non-native invasive plants in the Superior National Forest.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Stephanie Hemphill.
Wild ginseng is protected in the Great Lakes states, but poachers illegally dig up the herb because of high prices.
Wild ginseng has been poached in North America for years. American ginseng is considered among Asian herbalists to be among the world’s most potent. But a dwindling supply in the more common hunting areas and a global, increased demand for herbal medicine is putting many states in the region at new risk for poaching. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Kaomi Goetz reports from Michigan:
Transcript
Wild ginseng has been poached in North America for years. American ginseng is considered
among Asian herbalists to be among the world’s most potent. But a dwindling supply in the more
common hunting areas and a global, increased demand for herbal medicine is putting many states
in the Great Lakes region at new risk for poaching. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Kaomi
Goetz reports from Michigan:
Wild ginseng is protected by some states as a threatened native species.
No one knows just how much ginseng is growing wild in the Great Lakes region. Yet incidents
last summer have law enforcement officers on the alert.
More than 30 people were caught trying to smuggle ginseng out of a Michigan state park next to
Lake Michigan.
Fines can go into the thousands of dollars with even possible jail time.
Even so, Sergeant Ron Kimmerley of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says his
state is largely defenseless.
“There’s only about 200 officers, maybe a little less than that, in the whole state of Michigan. It’s
just not enough. I mean, some counties don’t even have an officer.”
This year, conservation officers are planning other tactics to catch poachers, such as using plain-
clothes officers. Other states such as Indiana and Illinois have also been targets for ginseng
poaching in recent years.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Kaomi Goetz.
Wild ginseng is protected in the Great Lakes states, but poachers illegally dig up the herb because of high prices.
Conservation officers are starting to notice a demand for a threatened native plant. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Kaomi Goetz reports on how wild ginseng might be smuggled out of the nation:
Transcript
Conservation officers are starting to notice a demand for a threatened native plant. The Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Kaomi Goetz reports on how wild ginseng might be smuggled out of
the nation:
While other states have been hit by ginseng smugglers, this is something new in Michigan,
something they’ve never paid much attention to… until now.
Sergeant Ron Kimmerley and Officer Andy Bauer of the State Department of Natural Resources
are deep into the woods.
They’re scouting around Warren Dunes State Park next to Lake Michigan.
They spot what they’re looking for.
What they’ve found are wild ginseng plants, a threatened species that’s protected under Michigan
law.
What they’re also looking for are homemade flags marking the site and signs of digging.
Officer Bauer says they first noticed the flags last summer.
“There were felt flags stuck into the ground, and the rangers had seen those and thought it was
from an orienteering class. Later, we saw the flags were laid down and there were holes where
things had been harvested.”
Until then, Bauer says ginseng poaching had gone largely unnoticed.
More than 30 arrests were made last year and the scenario was often the same: A group would
act as a family of picnickers while one or two people slipped away to dig up ginseng.
Bauer says it was clear that most knew they were breaking the law.
“Some had plastic bags. Others, it was concealed much like narcotics would be, concealed under
their clothes. One woman, we found in the woman’s purse where the bottom was removed, and
there were at least 20 roots.”
Another similarity in the cases was that all those caught were of Asian descent.
Though separate instances, many of them had similar Chicago street addresses.
One man even came from Korea. He came on a 10-day tourist visa, apparently just to harvest
ginseng.
The officers suspect most of the wild ginseng was being taken back to Chicago to sell there or for
export to Asia.
Paul Hsu raises ginseng legally in Wisconsin. He agrees with the conservation officers that the
ginseng is being smuggled to Chicago or out of the country.
“They could have dug it and consumed there. But I don’t think that’s their intention. They dig it,
take it back to Chicago, sell it. They know the value of it.”
Hsu says ginseng roots have been valued in Asian culture for almost 3,000 years for its medicinal
properties.
“The Chinese believe it’s a cure-all…in the old-time, we don’t have antibiotics. It’s more like a
shot-gun approach. Can relieve stress, give you more stamina. To enhance the function of your
body, immune system…whatever.
Wild ginseng is considered more potent than cultivated ginseng, the kind Hsu grows.
And it’s lucrative. A pound a wild ginseng can fetch upwards of $350.
The fines in most Midwest states are fairly high. The penalties in Michigan range up to $5,000
for a first offense and could include jail time.
The poachers are aware of this and usually carry wads of cash. Officers say they suspect it’s
considered the price of doing business.
They’re taking the risk because ginseng is becoming increasingly scarce in Asia.
Environmentalists say that’s what’s behind the high demand and illegal harvesting of American
wild ginseng.
“It’s where there’s greater concentrations that have not yet been harvested.”
Dave Dempsey is a policy advisor at the Michigan Environmental Council.
“It’s more economical for harvesters to exploit here in Michigan and around the Great Lakes.”
Poaching has been going on in southern states for many years because of legendary stock around
the Appalachians.
More recently, poachers are targeting the Midwest because of rich soil. And ginseng has become
so rare everywhere else.
At Warren Dunes State Park, Sergeant Ron Kimmerley is organizing group patrols to try to catch
poachers.
There’s even plans to place plain-clothes officers as picnickers.
But he admits, it might not be enough.
“We’ve got a lot of poachers here, but what’s happening where we can’t be?”
So far, no one has been caught in Michigan this year. But Sergeant Kimmerley says the ginseng
harvest season is just beginning.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Kaomi Goetz.
