Bird Repellant

  • Birds roost in nooks and crannies of ornate buildings such as the Illinois capitol. Cleaning up their droppings and repairing damage they cause costs tens of millions of dollars each year.

Armed with spikes, electronic devices, cages, and cannons… building
maintenance supervisors across the nation try to protect their buildings
from being invaded. If they fail, the cost could be damage to the
building or to property inside. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:

Zebra Mussels Flourish in Warm Weather

Here’s something else to blame on El Nino. Because last
year’s winter was so mild, the zebra mussel population has exploded in
one Lake Superior port. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mike
Simonson has the story:

The Prairie Pioneer

For almost forty years, Dr. Robert Betz searched the railroad tracks and
back roads of the Midwest for remnants of the nearly extinct tall-grass
prairie. Along the way, he helped define and popularize a new
environmental movement on the rise throughout the Great Lakes and the
country—a movement called ecological restoration. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Alex Blumberg has this report:

Global Warming in the Peatlands

President Clinton has said this summer’s record breaking heat is evidence of global warming, and he blasted congress for ignoring the problem. Most scientists are firmly convinced that global warming is already underway, but there is still some scientific uncertainty about what effects it might have. Around the world, scientists are looking for answers. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Stephanie Hemphill reports on one research project now underway:

Seed Industry Growing in Foreign Markets

The global marketplace is growing, with many industries enjoying theadvantages of free trade agreements that give them easier access toforeign consumers. But seed businesses still face tight regulationswhen it comes to crossing borders, and some in the industry say therestrictions should be loosened up. But if that happens, there may bean environmental price to pay. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s WendyNelson reports:

Groups Gather to Discuss Alvar Protection

This week (week of June 8th), an international group of scientists, policy-makers, and conservationists will gather in Tobermory (TOE-burr-mor-ee), Ontario to discuss strategies for protecting one of world’s rarest and least publicized habitats—the alvar. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s David Hammond reports: