Whether you want to wind through the woods Of Ontonagon, Iron, Houghton and Gogebic Counties, or go the distance anywhere in Michigan, or just share the outdoors with friends and family, it’s time to set your sights on 365 days of off-road adventure. ORV license and trail permits are valid for one year, which begins April 1 and ends March 31 of the following year. You can get your Permit sticker here:
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As any UP Michigan resident knows, ticks and mosquitoes are quite the nuisance. But more than just an annoyance, they can also spread many illnesses to people. Preventing bites from ticks and mosquitoes is the key step in avoiding these illnesses.
The two types of ticks that most commonly bite people or pets in Michigan are the deer (black-legged) tick and the wood (dog) tick. A third type of tick that can bite people or pets in Michigan the lone-star tick, is less common. Bites from all three of these ticks(link is external) can make you sick. In Michigan ticks can spread anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi(link is external), ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia. Illnesses spread by ticks can be prevented if you take the proper steps.
Not all of the 50+ species of mosquitoes in Michigan bite humans, but many of those that do can spread diseases. In Wisconsin, mosquitoes can spread Eastern equine encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon virus, La Crosse encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and West Nile virus. There are also illnesses that you can get from mosquitoes when you travel outside of the United States. Some of these diseases are chikungunya, dengue, Japanese encephalitis(link is external), yellow fever, and Zika virus. Illnesses spread by mosquitoes can be prevented if you take the proper steps.
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MI-TRALE is holding youth safety class certifications this year after an absence of 2 years due to the pandemic. The first class was in Ewen with 26 attendees and the second class was in Ontonagon with 46 attendees. These classes are taught by MI-TRALE’s DNR certified instructor and Club Director, Jim Fooce, as well as helpers from the club, guest trainers from the DNR and the County Sheriff’s department. The students are taught and tested on the ATV safety guidelines, regulations and use, as set by the State to obtain their operators permit. The next class is in Lake Linden/Dollar Bay. This is a valuable tool and service the club provides in cooperation with the DNR, Sheriff’s Department and Schools to ensure the safety and knowledge of our future riders and the future stewards of our trails.
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ATTENTION ALL MOTORIZED TRAIL MAINTAINERS: and PROPERTY OWNERS:
DO NOT PRUNE OAK TREES BETWEEN APRIL 15 AND JULY 15.
Click here for an online map showing active areas of Oak Wilt à OAK WILT MAP
Help prevent the spread of oak wilt:
Know what to look for;
The following guidelines against pruning and preventing damage to oak trees can help prevent the spread of the disease.
| Oak trees have a reputation for being mighty, but these majestic trees need our help in spring and early summer to prevent the spread of a microscopic killer. From April 15 to July 15, oak trees are at high risk for oak wilt, a serious fungal disease that can weaken white oaks and kill red oak trees within weeks of infection. During this time of year, flying beetles can carry oak wilt fungus spores from tree to tree and the fungus can infect trees through wounds left by pruning or storm damage. The fungus can move from an infected oak to neighboring oaks through root grafts. Depending on tree size, adjacent oaks may be connected to other trees, or grafted, through root systems. Roots of large trees can reach 100 or more feet. Left untreated, oak wilt will continue to move from tree to tree, killing more red oak over an increasingly larger area. As more trees die from oak wilt, more fungal spores are produced, which allows the beetle to carry infection to new locations. Trees in the white oak family are more likely to survive an infection because they are capable of compartmentalizing the fungus. |
| Trees in the red oak family are most susceptible to oak wilt. These trees have leaves with pointed tips and include black oak, northern red oak, and northern pin oak. Trees in the white oak group have rounded leaf edges and include white oak and swamp white oak. They are less susceptible. Symptoms most often appear from late June through September. Affected trees will suddenly begin to wilt from the top-down, rapidly dropping leaves, which can be green, brown or a combination of both colors. If you have an oak tree on your trail that gets damaged during the risk period from April 15 to July 15, immediately cover all wounds with tree-wound paint or latex-based paint. |
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We are fast approaching the 2022 Riding season and here are a few things to remember. All this information and more is in the MI-DNR OHV Handbook
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We are fast approaching the 2022 Riding season and here are a few things to remember. All this information and more is in the MI-DNR OHV Handbook
Be Prepared
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Attention Horse lovers! It’s time to drag the tack out and prepare for the 2022 riding season. It’s time to start the chore list:
1. Clean and treat all leather surfaces 2. Check all the leather strapping for tears or breaks that might fail when out riding 3. Check, clean and polish all metal surfaces to remove dirt and rust 4. Clean all Horse blankets and pads removing dirt and foreign objects that may injure your animal 5. Check you maps to be sure they are up to date and that the trails you want to ride are or may be closed because of logging 6. Make reservation’s if required at any campgrounds you plan on using. 7. Check your First Aid kits and replace all out of date items.
The Courtney Campground is close to being finished. We have small amounts of signage and ground prep that needs to be done. Please consider helping this fabulous project to a completion by attending a work day. Email the MI-TRALE Equine Director, Cathy, for information on how to help.
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Check out the 2023 Calendar for Meeting Dates, Rides and Events. You will also find Ride specific dates under Rides. We will post the itineraries closer to the ride dates. Posting of any Equestrian rides will be coming soon. If you have any questions please contact any club Officer or Director
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Geocaching is a fun activity that is enjoyed by many worldwide. You can look for Cache’s everywhere in your area as well as around the world. MI-TRALE sponsors a number of of these fun treasure finds that are hidden in our area.
Watch for more on this exciting sport and Check out our new Geocaching page under Club Stuff. Download the Geocaching app and get ready to JOIN the FUN. If you’d like to help in maintaining a few of our cache’s contact any club officer.
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Our counts for the season have been completed and we are now looking at our trails under the snow. We get lots of hits to count as you can imagine especially when a tractor pulling a big hunk of iron over the counter.
Check out the new TRAFX tab under ATV/ORV for more information and what kind of reports we can generate!
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