Time to get wild!
Think you know a thing or two about wildlife and conservation in Michigan? Test your knowledge with our quiz — which first appeared on the Detroit RiverWalk!
This quiz has 13 questions and will test your knowledge on the wildlife, people and practices that keep Michigan’s outdoors beautiful and balanced!
Ready to get started? Click the button below to begin!
Question 1
True or False? Money from purchasing a fishing or hunting license is used to fund wildlife and conservation programs.
Correct!/Incorrect
The purchase of hunting and fishing licenses is largely responsible for funding Michigan wildlife and conservation programs! Conservation programs result in millions of acres of habitat restoration and population management.
Question 2
How long can a lake sturgeon live?
Correct!/Incorrect
Lake sturgeon can live up to 100 years! A once endangered species, the sturgeon’s numbers are on the rise thanks to management practices like building habitat structures suitable for spawning — like the Belle Isle Reef!
Question 3
True or False? White-tailed deer are generally excellent swimmers.
Correct!/Incorrect
White-tailed deer are generally excellent swimmers and have even been called the Olympians of the forest! This species of deer has a huge population, meaning you can find them in every Michigan county. Conservation tactics like hunting help with population management — curbing the spread of disease and car crashes.
Question 4
True or False? Pheasants are migratory birds.
Correct!/Incorrect
Pheasants are nonmigratory game birds! An increase in agriculture and development puts Michigan pheasants at a disadvantage because it changes or eliminates their grassland habitats. Wildlife management takes teamwork — Michiganders can help by planting native grasses to help restore grassland habitats for pheasants.
Question 5
How many jobs are supported by the hunting and fishing industries in Michigan?
Correct!/Incorrect
Can you believe there are more than 171,000 jobs supported by hunting and fishing in Michigan? It’s no joke that it takes a village to maintain the beauty and balance of Michigan’s outdoors!
Question 6
When were elk reintroduced in Michigan?
Correct!/Incorrect
Conservationists reintroduced elk to Michigan in the early 1900s by relocating seven elk from Western states to Cheboygan County. Today, the elk population has increased to the point where highly regulated hunting is allowed with the purchase of a hunting license — which provides much-needed revenue to fund management efforts!
Question 7
True or False? A snowshoe hare’s coat changes color depending on the season.
Correct!/Incorrect
It’s true! A snowshoe hare’s coat changes depending on the season! This means that a lack of snow and ground cover during winter can make them an easy target for predators. Wildlife management practices, like creating horizontal ground cover, create safe spaces for snowshoe hares and other species.
Question 8
Which are the only two states where you can find a Mitchell’s satyr butterfly?
Correct!/Incorrect
Mitchell’s satyr butterflies can only be found in Michigan and Indiana! To survive, these butterflies require a special kind of habitat found only in prairie fens — which are grassy wetlands in parts of the Midwest that were scoured by glaciers.
Question 9
How many miles of rivers and streams are in Michigan?
Correct!/Incorrect
There are 36,000 miles of rivers and streams in Michigan! The purchase of hunting and fishing licenses and equipment are largely what fund conservation efforts. Hunters and anglers help keep fish populations balanced, restore habitats and wetlands, and prevent invasive species.
Question 10
What do you call a baby wild turkey?
Correct!/Incorrect
A turkey-tot is better known as a poult! Careful management of habitats and strategic relocation efforts have led to wild turkey population increases! It is now to the point where hunting of wild turkeys is allowed – which through the sale of hunting licenses directly provides much-needed revenue to fund management efforts now and into the future.
Question 11
Where do piping plovers nest?
Correct!/Incorrect
Piping plovers build their nests exclusively on beaches, which can be threatened by rising ocean levels and human interference. There are multiple conservation efforts at play in Michigan to help protect piping plover nests, including giving adult piping plovers a unique leg band so wildlife biologists can track their health and migration patterns.
Question 12
True or False? Muskellunge have sharp teeth
Correct!/Incorrect
Muskellunge (often referred to as Muskys) have sharp teeth and are the second-largest fish in Michigan! Anglers with an active fishing license can find Musky in Lake St. Clare and the Detroit River in abundance.
Question 13
True or False? Ospreys pair for life
Correct!/Incorrect
Ospreys, otherwise known as fish hawks or river hawks, pair for life! Few wildlife restoration programs have been more successful than Michigan’s effort to strengthen the state’s osprey population. Building and maintaining artificial nest platforms is one such management practice that has helped rebuild declining osprey populations.
You got 0/13 questions right!
While you might not be an expert on Michigan wildlife and conservation efforts yet, you did a great job! When it comes to enjoying Michigan’s outdoors, remember:
- Hunting and fishing largely help fund wildlife management and conservation
- Wildlife management practices are the cornerstone of healthy, balanced populations
- Healthy ecosystems take teamwork to maintain and conserve our wildlife, waters and forests