Environment

The Department of Natural Resources is looking for help into the illegal poaching of a bull elk at one of Michigan's state forests. The head of an elk was found in the Pigeon River State Forest, about 20 miles northeast of Gaylord in the upper portion of the lower peninsula.

A new report on an invasive species of the Great Lakes reveals mainly good news in the fight to wrest control over the waterways from the sea lamprey. Populations of the eel-like organism remain at near-historic lows for most of the Great Lakes, with the exceptions of some areas.

In the FOX-E Report, Meijer is testing a new app that could cut down on food waste, and save you money.

Michigan's Department of Natural Resources is pledging $8 million to the construction of a barrier in Illinois that would protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. 

A county health department in Illinois says a Michigan company voluntarily is recalling nearly 2,300 cases of apples due to potential listeria contamination.

Earlier this summer, Michigan officials said more lead will soon be found in our water. That time has come. 

Since Detroit's population exodus, the city's been left with hundreds of thousands of vacant lots. Considered a liability and property tax loss, communities are now converting this land into a panacea for flood mitigation, neighborhood beautification and a way of reshaping the city's landscape. Detroit Future City's Working with Lots program has helped drive this push toward green space restoration - and it just completed its fourth year.

If you haven't poked your head outside in the last 89 days, you probably haven't noticed the changing spectrum of colors being painted across Michigan's foliage. The canvas that is Michigan trees is a sight to behold, and it's now on display for all to see.

October isn't quite beach weather, but make no mistake that when the time comes to enjoy the rivers and lakes outlining the state, that water will be clean enough to jump into. Every year, 60 days of heavy rainfall washes into water bodies without being disinfected. However, the Great Lakes Water Authority took advantage of equipment and put it to use during those heavy rainfall periods, and have since disinfected every drop of water that's entered the Rouge River - saving the region hundreds of millions of dollars.

"Oh you got it! You gotta send me that," said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.

In 1969, a worker on the Rouge River dropped his torch into the water. The flame ignited oil from an accidental spill from the nearby Shell refinery by the I-75 overpass. It lit the river on fire - and hardly anyone cared. Now, 50 years later, with the aid of thousands of volunteers, the cooperation of hundreds of groups and more than a billion dollars, the restoration of the river and its watershed has become a paradigm for how others should clean their polluted rivers.

Danish toymaker Lego is testing a new way for customers to return their unwanted bricks in an effort to move closer to its goal of switching to 100 percent sustainable materials in the next decade.

A third night of aerial treatment to combat Eastern Equine Encephalitis is underway, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday.