Ticks

 

By Sherry Gigous, FSBD Volunteer 

Park Rangers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are adding ticks to their list of things to keep an eye on and educate visitors about this summer season.

Some of these little guys, who hitchhike on bushes tall grasses and other vegetation are so small that they are not visible to the human eye or are extremely difficult to spot. They can be smaller than poppy seeds! They also have the ability to transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Babesiosis.

Photo from MLive Article, Tick Explosion Underway in Michigan.

Tucker, along with Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, is focused on following preventative safety measures against ticks before they even have a chance to bite. This includes wearing long sleeves (tick gaiter sleeves will enhance safety) and long pants that can be tucked into boots or socks if possible. Light-colored clothes will make it easier to spot ticks. Use insect repellent that includes 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535. Consider wearing clothing treated with permethrin. Inspect yourself for ticks after being outdoors. Pay particular attention to skin folds. Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 60 minutes to kill any remaining ticks. 

Check for any bull’s-eye patterned rashes. And if you find a tick, a tick-removing tool will help remove it intact, leaving no parts behind. Friends of Sleeping Bear will donate 150 such tools to Park staff this summer.

Unfortunately, even with the best proactive practices, illness may still be transmitted from ticks. A Friends volunteer became infected with Lyme disease after hiking the Kettles trail last year, even though she had worn long clothing, found no ticks on herself, and had no warning rash. A few weeks after returning to her home downstate, she visited her local ER thinking she was experiencing a heart attack and has suffered malaise, neurological pain in her neck and the base of her skull. She has been diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Even with fairly successful treatment, she continues to have Lyme-related rheumatoid pain in her knees. If you are feeling unwell for no explainable reason after recently visiting an area where ticks are prevalent, it’s important to follow up in diagnosing possible tickborne illness.

Don’t forget about your fur babies either! Make sure you discuss tick prevention with your veterinarian.

Be tick smart to stay safe and have fun at SLBE this summer!

For more information, see the MDHHS Tick info sheet. 

The post Tick Warning for 2021 appeared first on Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

The Book YOU helped Create is here! Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear contains a delightful collection of photographs and stories submitted by locals and visitors to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Area.

Pre-order Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear today and you can select the option to pick up your pre-paid copy at the book signing party at Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor, July 11th, 2-4 pm.

Look for the Friends of Sleeping Bear tent outside between the retail store and winery. Order books online for a speedy pick-up at the event. It’s a great opportunity to have many photo and story contributors sign your books! Books can also be purchased on the day of the event.

You’ll have a chance to chat with some of the writers and photographers whose stories and photos are published in the book. To find out more, go to www.sleepingbearbooks.org

Pre-ordering is now available. Learn more on the Book Page!

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Catch us at the 4th of July Parade in Glen Arbor. 

The National Lakeshore and the Friends will be walking in the Glen Arbor 4th of July parade. 
The Friends will be walking and carrying our banner, wearing your orange vests and possibly some new 50th Anniversary Logo Wear. We will also be driving the Trackchair along the way. We will have some small goodies we are giving away too.

If you’d like to participate please send an email for the details.

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We finally got some much needed rain this past week and are excited for the sun to return and the Fourth of July weekend to commence. July kicks off the launch of our NEW book, Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear! As well as NEW 50th anniversary logo wear. Keep reading for more information as well as an informative blog about ticks and how to protect yourself from them. 

Enjoying the 4th of July in Northern Michigan is a tradition for many. Please keep in mind fireworks, firecrackers or any other pyrotechnic items are not allowed in Sleeping Bear Dunes. Rangers can write tickets for setting off fireworks and fireworks can spark wildfires, disrupt other visitors and wildlife, and leave trash behind.

Catch us at the Glen Arbor 4th of July Parade!

The Friends will be walking and carrying our banner, wearing your orange vests and possibly some new 50th Anniversary Logo Wear. We will also be driving the Trackchair along the way.

Photo from MLive Article, Tick Explosion Underway in Michigan.

Park Rangers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are adding ticks to their list of things to keep an eye on and educate visitors about this summer season.  Ticks are out throughout the park and there is a grave concern about tick-borne illnesses being contracted on our trails. Some of these little guys, who hitchhike on bushes, tall grasses and other vegetation, are so small that they are not visible to the human eye or are extremely difficult to spot. They can be smaller than poppy seeds!… keep reading Sherry Gigous (FSBD Volunteers) tick blog here: Tick Warning for the 2021 Season

Cover of the NEW Book, Picture Perfect Sleeping Bear, by the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. All Sales fundraised go to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park projects.

Pre-order Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear today.

Hundreds of pictures tell the stories. Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear contains a delightful collection of photographs and stories submitted by locals and visitors to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Area. Order today for shipping in early July or save shipping and handling and pick up your copies at the book signing party at Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor, July 11th, 2-4 pm.

The Preventive Search and Rescue Team (PSAR) volunteers interact with visitors at the Dune Climb and at the Pierce Stocking Lake Michigan Overlook to inform them of the risks that the dunes can present to the unprepared. PSAR is looking to provide more coverage of critical areas to further enhance the safety of visitors to Sleeping Bear. Last year was the busiest season on record for Sleeping Bear. During that time, there were fewer calls for service and fewer actual rescues than at any time since PSAR was formed. We are looking for outgoing volunteers who have a love and knowledge of the Park. Learn more on our program page.

Please contact either Jesse Lewit  PSAR Coordinator jlewit1128@gmail.com or Mike Kohl National Park Service-PSAR michael_kohl@partner.nps.gov if you are interested in volunteering. 

Join us for Search and Rescue Day at the Dunes On July 31, details to be announced. The highlight will be a robotic rescue system called EMILY where volunteers will get to learn how to operate it. The goal is to provide additional service on the water when the National Weather Service issues a Beach Warning for portions of Leelanau or Benzie County that fall within Sleeping Bear.

This round we are offering favorites for the summer season on the lake, including zip-up fleece hoodies, 100% cotton tees, and a beach tote with a zip closure that can fit all the necessities for a day at the beach.

Pictured are our sport tech options which come in both short sleeve and long sleeve for women and unisex fit. These relaxed fit shirts are made from moisture-wicking fabric in white which allows for sun protection while out and active. Don’t the bright colors of the Anniversary Bear Logo just pop! All items also include our Friends of Sleeping Bear insignia to show your support for our amazing organization.

Track Chair Program: Participants and Volunteers Needed

The Track Chair is a personal mobility device, a tracked wheelchair that enables access to rustic trails and gorgeous park features. The Track Chair Program is officially up and running with our first Park Visitor going out on Friday, July 2nd! Please check our webpage at trackchair.org for available dates and times. And, as always we are looking for volunteers that would like to join our Visitors on the trail, and others that might be willing to help with reservations.

The bicycle maintenance station with tools and air pump has been installed at the Dune Climb near the bike racks at the Donor Plaza. There is another one in DH Day campground near the vault toilet. Two additional repair stations will be installed by next week in Glen Haven near the Sleeping Bear Inn garage & at the Empire Voice/Bar Lake Road trailhead.

You can find out more about this project and others to support the SBHT on our website. 

It’s been a beautiful summer for Yoga on the Beach. Join us with Amy from Yoga on the Beach NMI every Friday Morning at 10 am from through July and August.

UPDATE for this year – classes will be healed at the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum, just to the west of the Cannery.
Learn more on the Yoga on the Beach Program Page of our website.

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The post July 2020 Newsletter appeared first on Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

The map of the route is below.

The post Running Bear Run July 27 2021 appeared first on Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Friends Laurie Pope, Co-chair of the Accessibility Committee, and Jeanne Esch, Trach Chair Program Volunteer will be participating in a National Park Service Roundtable with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) on Thursday, July 22 6:30-8:00 pm EDT.

The panel will discuss present and historical barriers to outdoor access and examine an accessibility project from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, to highlight strategies and opportunities to improve access to all types of parks and public lands for the Disability community.

Register for the event here: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/healthandsafety/julypopforhealthroundtable.htm?fbclid=IwAR2LkHgJJAHSolvFiOHosXn6LjpnFjPQBpLK-ikMpaBiaaiVWAgcqni4J6k

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Join us on August 29th , 2021 at the Empire Town Hall for our annual Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes Annual Meeting! 

The post Annual Meeting appeared first on Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Piping Plovers

Written by Sherry Gigous July 2021

Pipling Plover Chick, Photo by Sheen Watkins

Adorable little balls of fluff are coming to a beach near you! Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is home to several pairs of nesting piping plovers (Charadrius melodus). During this nesting, small birds will begin appearing until August. At this time, these endangered birds must be given extra protection. Visitors may notice certain areas will be cordoned off and dog leashing rules strictly observed. (For reference: dogs should be on a 6-foot leash, closely controlled, and kept in designated areas. Restricted areas are clearly marked and fluid, depending on where Plover are specifically locating.)

Because these little white and sand-colored birds with black neckbands and bar patterns on their foreheads (these markings, only present during mating and nesting time, gradually fading away along with the bright orange of their legs during the rest of the year, and orange beaks turning black) lay four creamy colored, dark brown flecked eggs in open sandy pebbled areas, there is a greater chance of them being stepped on by humans. Human disruption, in general, may cause them to leave their nest, young and eggs vulnerable.

Both male and female of the lifelong pair incubate the eggs, for 27 days. Hatchlings, looking much like cotton balls have feathers and are able to move and leave the nest within hours of hatching and will walk and run on the beach. They will be able to fly after about 28 days but will stick with adult birds through migration. 

The Piping Plover voice sounds like, “peep-lo” or simply “peep.” Their diet consists of insects, crayfish and small mollusks due to limited vegetation growing on sandy beaches. Plovers are very territorial and will approach unsuspecting humans and attempt to “walk” them past nesting areas. Sometimes they feign a broken wing, such as their Killdeer cousins. If you see this particular behavior, please distance yourself as quickly and as much as possible from the area. You can also help by not burying trash or food on the beach that might attract predators.

It’s nothing short of miraculous so many of these birds choose the Great Lakes to build their families. They were hunted nearly into extinction by 1900, primarily for sport and gathering feathers for the hat industry. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918, saw the Piping Plover population recovered to a 20th-century peak in the 1940s, only to decline again as human development and recreational use greatly intensified in coastal habitats. That decline led to Federal Endangered Species Act protection in 1986. In 1996, there were thirty-two pairs in the Great Lakes population. Today there are seventy-five to eighty pairs. As recently as 2017, there were 41 of them calling SLBE home. This is your National Park Service at work!

For more information about Piping Plovers in Sleeping Bear Dunes: https://www.nps.gov/slbe/learn/nature/pipingplover.htm

Photo by: Sheen Watkins 

The post Plover Update 2021 appeared first on Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Join us and meet other Picture-Perfect writers and photographers at the Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor, August 8th, from 12-2 pm. 

Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear is a collection of stories and photos showcasing the history and memories of time spent in the Sleeping Bear area.  The book was created by Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. It can also be purchased directly at friendsofsleepingbear.org.

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Join the Preventative Search and Rescue Volunteers and Park Staff to learn about new park initiatives. 

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