Michigan Department of Natural Resources

"Our goal is to manage our state's forests to encourage natural disturbance processes that help maintain intact, functional landscapes and ecosystems, providing healthy and sustainable habitat for the broad range of Michigan's native plant and animal species," says Michigan DNR Director Keith Creagh. The agency works to "maintain a variety of forest successional states, diverse species composition, and balanced age- and size-class structure to enhance biological diversity and ensure adequate regeneration of even-aged cover types, such as aspen woodlands." Adds Russ Mason, DNR's Wildlife Division Chief and co-chair of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Association's Woodcock Task Force, "Managing American woodcock, both in Michigan and at a national level, is very important. To this end, we're focused on developing successful strategies to advance young forest habitat goals."