Beth Weiler
Newsroom InternBeth Weiler is a newsroom and digital intern covering the environment. She graduated from the University of Michigan where she studied pollinator ecology and also fell in love with frogs, salamanders and snakes. She loves story-telling and photography, and is making the shift from ecology into environmental journalism.
She has previously worked as an ecologist, horticulturist, and research technician on a variety of ecological projects. You can find her – with her camera and nets – flipping logs and wading in muck to find critters. She enjoys reading environmental non-fiction, traveling, gardening, listening to electronic music (shoutout to Detroit, birthplace of techno!), and adventuring with her dog, Birdie.
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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently released 1,800 Arctic grayling in three lakes. The fish are surplus fish from a broodstock at the Marquette State Fish Hatchery, which is raising grayling that they hope will reproduce. -
Blue-spotted salamanders and other amphibian species migrate annually to unique habitats called vernal pools. The Superior Watershed Partnership plans to use grant money from the DNR to build tunnels for the salamanders to use, to protect them during their migration. -
The U.S. EPA strengthened its soot air quality standard from 12 micrograms per liter to 9 micrograms. Members of the Great Lakes Business Network are happy with the rule. -
The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail stretches about 20 miles through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A new segment of the trail would add about five miles, but require the removal of over 7,200 trees, according to one independent analysis. -
The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding a $60 million grant to the Southfield-based U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium to be used for research and development of electric vehicle batteries and chargers. -
Michigan Technological University's wolf-moose study is the longest running predator-prey study in the world. Surveying was suspended this year because of prolonged warm temperatures melting some of the ice pack on Isle Royale. -
Michigan is one of two states that does not have an official insect. House Bill 4159 would change that, designating the black swallowtail as Michigan's state butterfly. -
Billions of periodical cicadas from Brood XIII and Brood XIX will emerge this spring; some of the insects could reach southern parts of Michigan. -
Michigan dispensaries sold over $3 billion in medical- and recreational-use marijuana in 2023. Industry experts say 2024 could see slower sales as the market approaches saturation. -
21 Great Lakes region fishing companies have signed the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge. They hope to use all parts of commercially caught fish by 2025, not just the filets.
