By John Gallagher - Detroit Free Press Business Writer

The return to the Detroit River of the beaver, once plentiful but trapped out of the area for its valuable fur over about 150 years, shows new evidence of being for real.

A trail camera set up at DTE Energy's River Rouge Power Plant recently caught images of a beaver out for his nighttime meal, dragging a small tree into the river. Beaver eat bark for food and famously use trees and branches to build their lodges and to erect dams, sometimes to the consternation of landowners whose property might get flooded out by the furry workers' construction projects.

The return of the native creature was heralded in early 2009 after perhaps a century without seeing any evidence of beaver in Detroit. A beaver was spotted having built a lodge at the DTE Conners Creek power plant. He moved on during that summer, but in November of that year was spotted having returned with a family.

Now there is fresh evidence that the beaver are multiplying along several points of the Detroit and Rouge rivers and might be making a sustained comeback in the city, said John Hartig, a manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He said evidence of beaver has been found at the Conners Creek plant in Detroit, the River Rouge plant and other points.

"They could be expanding their range," he said.

Beaver played a crucial role in the early history of Detroit. The French founded the city in 1701 as a fur-trading outpost, when beaver pelts were in great demand by European fashionistas for coats and hats.

During the next 150 years or so, the animals were almost wiped out in this area.

Then industrial pollution in the mid-20th Century made the Detroit River too toxic for beaver and many other species to return. The cleanup of the river in recent decades has seen many species making a comeback.

"This is one piece of evidence," Hartig said of the latest beaver sighting. "But if you add in there the return of lake sturgeon, the return of lake whitefish, the return of walleye, the return of bald eagles, peregrine falcons, osprey, beaver, wild celery, it's one of the most dramatic ecological recovery stories in North America."

Jason Cousino, a DTE safety expert at the River Rouge plant and an outdoorenthusiast, first noticed gnawed branches and other evidence of a beaver at work along the shoreline over the winter. He set up a trail camera that captured several images of the critter at work.

One mystery that remains is the location of the beaver's lodge. It's not at the plant itself. Cousino speculates he may find it up the canal nearby that Henry Ford built for easier access to his River Rouge factory almost a hundred years ago.

Contact John Gallagher: 313-222-5173 or gallagher99@freepress.com

Read the original story here.

A 30-day public comment period on a Draft Environmental Assessment for additional public use of Sugar Island, a unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (DRIWR), begins February 7th, and runs through March 8, 2013.  Alternatives for additional public access to Sugar Island were developed by refuge staff based on input and recommendations from a Public Workshop held on September 25, 2012 at the Grosse Ile Middle School in Grosse Ile Township, Michigan.

 

The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluated four alternatives for additional public use of the island which included: No Action, Full Island Public Access, East and West Beach Access with a Trail Linking the Beaches, and the Preferred Alternative, West Beach Public Access Only.  

 

Under the proposed preferred alternative, public use of Sugar Island’s west beach would be opened during daylight hours, the Saturday prior to Memorial Day through Labor Day.  The area opened for public use would be clearly marked with signs and a single panel kiosk would be located on the beach to: inform visitors about rules and regulations pertaining to the island; interpret the mission and purpose of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in the context of the National Wildlife Refuge System; educate visitors about the ecological significance of Sugar Island; and inform visitors about the island’s unique history.  Prohibitions on the island would include: fires, alcohol, camping, glass containers, fireworks, public access to concrete piers, staging for scuba diving, and unleashed pets.  This alternative does not allow for the provision of public restrooms.  In addition, a “tip line” telephone number will be provided for visitors to report problems and violations.

 

Sugar Island is a 30-acre, uninhabited island located in Grosse Ile Township at the mouth of the Detroit River that was purchased earlier this year with federal funds for conservation of fish and wildlife habitats.  Additionally, in conjunction with other unique Refuge units, including the Gibraltar Bay Unit, Calf Island Unit, Humbug Marsh Unit, and Lake Erie Metropark Unit, Sugar Island is part of a “conservation crescent” surrounding the southern end of Grosse Ile.  These unique habitats serve as important stopover habitat for migratory birds and important spawning and nursery habitat for fishes.

 

Public participation has been vital to the success of this project and the Service encourages your continued involvement.  The Draft EA will be available for review and public comments will be accepted through March 5, 2013.  The document is available for review and comment electronically on the Refuge’s website. 

 

The Refuge Headquarters – 9311 Groh Road, Grosse Ile, MI 48138; 734-692-7600

The Grosse Ile Township Office – 9601 Groh Road, Grosse Ile, MI 48138; 734-676-4422

The Dorsch Library -  18 East First Street, Monroe, MI 48161; 734-241-7878

The Trenton Veterans Memorial Library  - 2790 Westfield Road, Trenton, MI 48183; 734-676-9777

The Bacon Memorial Library – 45 Vinewood Street, Wyandotte, MI 48192; 734-246-8357

Comments may also be sent to Refuge staff at the address below:

 

Greg Norwood, Wildlife Biologist

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

9311 Groh Road

Grosse Ile, MI 48138

Greg_Norwood@fws.gov

 

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge incorporates more than 5,700 acres along 48 miles of the lower Detroit River and western Lake Erie.  It stretches from southwest Detroit to the Ohio-Michigan border.  The Refuge focuses on conserving, protecting and restoring habitat for 300 species of birds including 30 species of waterfowl, 23 species of raptors, and 31 species of shorebirds, and for 117 species of fish.  It is the first international wildlife refuge in North America and one of few urban refuges in the nation.  Unique habitats being managed within the Refuge include islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and riparian waterfront lands.  Learn more about the Detroit River International Wildlife refuge, visit www.fws.gov/refuge/Detroit_River.

 

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.  The Service is both a leader and trusted partners in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.  For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

at the GIBRALTAR BAY UNIT of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

Event sponsored by the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy

The 4th Annual celebration of World Wetlands Day will take place on Friday, February 1, 2013 at the Gibraltar Carlson High School.  

The event will feature a Wetlands Exposition showcasing over 20 displays dedicated to wetland conservation from a number of environmental organizations, short presentations by ecology experts and many other activities -- all designed to teach students about the many valuable benefits of wetlands and the importance of wetland stewardship.