Rabies remains a problem in Michigan, with 70 animals testing positive in 2010. Most cases of animal rabies are reported in the Lower Peninsula, especially in the southeast. There were 68 positive animal tests last year, 79 in 2007 and 47 in 2001.

A service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture mapped the distributions of plant species in North America in addition to other plant characteristics in an online database.

A set of initiatives by the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth is making it easier for communities to go green. Program goals include developing recycling and household hazardous waste programs for residents and businesses.

A team of Michigan State University veterinary students, guided by veterinarian Dr. James Sikarskie, rehabilitates birds of prey in hopes they can return to the wild.

By learning about wildlife medical care techniques, the students have helped hundreds of birds.

A 7.5-mile auto trail through Michigan’s Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge will open in May. The trail would allow visitors to observe birds in the refuge like the bald eagle and peregrine falcon.

Recent oil spills in Michigan, Illinois and the Gulf of Mexico have led to the release of approximately 208 million gallons of oil into the environment. That’s more than 346 Olympic-sized swimming pools of toxic sludge.

Wildlife centers are one way to minimize the environmental effects of oil spills. Federal and state agencies, oil companies and contractors use variety of specialized methods. But cleaning up an oil spill is messy business. It’s a labor-, capital- and time-intensive process that can take years to complete.

The Wisconsin Coastal Guide maps lighthouses, shipwrecks, parks, beaches and other attractions along the state’s Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines, part of the Great Lakes Circle Tour.

Does Chicago have too much influence over the Great Lakes given its minimal geographical footprint? The Asian carp’s advance toward Lake Michigan highlights the impact the city has on 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water.

Michigan is making strides in protecting its unique landscapes and wildlife.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) initiated a “Living Legacies” program to identify, restore and manage places that best represent the state’s biodiversity.

A laser developed at Purdue University can shine through E. coli samples to determine what kind of animal hosts bacteria that prompt a beach to close.

The method could make finding the source of contamination quicker and cheaper.