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ICE FISHING IN MICHIGAN / LIGHTING THE SKIES AT NIGHT

LAKEMAGAZINE.MEDIA OCTOBER 2026

ISLANDS OF OAKLAND LAKES LEVELS

10.26 5 Lake winter season When winter settles over Oakland County, its hundreds of inland lakes become a destination for anglers willing to trade open water for a layer of ice. But successful ice fishing is about more than finding fish beneath the frozen surface.

10 View from above An aerial view of Upper Straits Lake, a 323-acre waterway that straddles West Bloomfield Township and the city of Orchard Lake Village.

19 Islands of Oakland County We take a look at the 300-acre Island Lake in Bloomfield Township.

20 Lakes Levels

13 Lighting up the darkness On a warm Michigan evening, just after the sky turns cobalt and before the mosquitoes lay their claim to the summer air, a familiar spark appears. Then another. Then a dozen. It’s fireflies or what is more commonly referred to as lightning bugs, 24 different species of which appear in Michigan.

Cover credit: Photo by Suzanne Vigna of Witches at a Loon Lake Sunset in Waterford. Witches are Vickie Klein, Amy McNeil, Michelle Walters and Janice Hyland.

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LAKE magazine

10.26

ICE FISHING REDUCING RISK FOR ONE OF MICHIGAN’S FAVORITE WINTER TRADITIONS BY MIKE SCOTT

hen winter settles over Oakland County, its hundreds of inland lakes become a destination for anglers willing to trade open water for a layer of ice. But successful ice fishing is about more than finding fish beneath the frozen surface. A safe and rewarding day on the ice begins with preparation, from understanding Michigan’s fishing regulations and choosing the right gear to monitoring ice conditions and preparing for emergencies, Michigan's fishing regulations are updated annually in the Michigan Fishing Regulations booklet, available by searching the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) website at michigan.gov/dnr. The booklet is more commonly known as the state’s fishing guide. It lays out the rules governing where, when, and how Michigan anglers can fish. The publication includes everything from fishing/license requirements and general regulations to species-specific limits, minimum sizes, seasons, special regulations, and county-by-county exceptions. Anglers can access the current guide online through the Michigan DNR website or through the DNR hunt fish app. It is published each year by April 1 to align with the period when an annual license is valid (April 1 to March 31).

Anglers should check the regulations before they cast into the ice. Rules can vary from one species or waterbody to another, and the regulations are updated for each new fishing year. The DNR recommends anglers use the current guide alongside its online fishing maps and other resources. A fishing license in Michigan is universal for any type, including ice fishing, said Kyle Ratliff, manager of The Bait Shop in Waterford. Fishing licenses are good for 12 months from April 1 through March 31, and cost $26. Daily fishing licenses may be purchased for $10. The DNR usually hosts two annual free fishing weekends in February and June when a license is not required. This winter’s free weekend is February 13-14, the Saturday and Sunday of President’s Day weekend, according to the Michigan DNR website. A license holder may fish in any public body of water with it, but it goes deeper than that. They can specifically fish within waters of the state, which is mainly defined by any body of water with both inflow and outflow, said Cleyo Harris, a fisheries biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. That includes anywhere on the water in both private and public lakes with inflow from the waterbody and inflow into it from other water sources. “You still need a license to fish in these (areas), but any organism in these lakes is the property of the state of Michigan,” Harris said. The “waters of the state” designation, which includes lakes and rivers, does not give anglers the right to fish off someone’s private property without approval, Harris said. In other words, if an angler is standing on private land, fishing in a public lake, they may be trespassing. But ice fishing from a shack in the middle of a lake, even near publicly owned shoreline, is allowed. Ponds often don’t have inflows and outflows and thus would not be subject to this rule even in the winter. Anglers would have to access water from a public space, launch point or with approval from a private landowner. Many inland lakes and rivers have a Michigan Department of Natural Resources launch point that allows such access in the winter, Harris added. “It really comes down to how you access the water,” Harris said.

ocal ordinances may, in rare cases, shift this narrative. Tommys Lake is owned by Orion Township, which at times required anglers to practice catch and release. Outside of local ordinances, anglers should follow current Michigan DNR fishing regulations for applicable species-specific seasons, size limits, and harvest restrictions “In my experience it’s pretty rare, but you will want to check any (local rules) for that lake or (municipality),” Harris said. For boaters and anglers, Michigan’s network of public launches is extensive. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources currently administers 1,045 public boating access sites statewide, providing access to the

Great Lakes as well as inland lakes and rivers. The DNR does not publish a separate statewide total for inland water launches, but its current list identifies 15 DNR boating access sites in Oakland County, all serving inland lakes. Those include launches on Orchard Lake, Union Lake, Lake Orion and more. Ice fishing is a popular winter activity in Michigan. Fishing licenses in general rose dramatically in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID pandemic. Michigan's fishinglicense numbers show a noticeable pandemic-era bump in participation. According to the Michigan DNR, roughly 1.1 million people purchased fishing licenses in 2015, with the number generally hovering around the one million mark during the following years.

hat changed dramatically during the COVID19 pandemic. Fishing license purchases surged in 2020, reaching roughly 1.5 million and representing the highest level of the past decade, according to DNR data. The increase was part of a broader pandemic-driven boom in outdoor recreation as Michiganders looked for activities that could be enjoyed outside and with social distancing. Interest remained elevated in 2021, when about 1.13 million people had purchased fishing licenses through November. “Oakland County lakes get heavily fished,” said Pat Larsen, a long-time member of the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club in Clarkston and a former president of the organization’s fishing club. Larsen lived in Clarkston for many years before moving to near Bay City late last year. “You can find a lot of good ice fishing spots in lakes around here.” Larsen, who quit ice fishing in his late 60s five years ago, has years of experience ice fishing in several northern Oakland County lakes including Maceday, Lotus, Scott, Lake Oakland and more. By 2025, about 1.2 million people were purchasing fishing licenses annually, 5.8 percent more than in 2015. Michigan DNR officials have said it is difficult to attribute all of the long-term increase to one factor, but the pandemic appears to have introduced a significant number of new people to fishing, some of whom have continued the activity. “ When we do have good (ice fishing weather) we get a lot of anglers,” said Harris, who pointed out that the DNR does not have data on how many anglers specifically ice fish. “It seems like we have leveled out (with fishing licenses) after the COVID bump the last few years, but it’s still pretty consistent.” Oakland County anglers have plenty of panfish to pursue, even beneath the winter ice. Bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, white crappie, yellow perch, and rock bass are among the county’s familiar panfish. The Michigan DNR lists bluegill in waters ranging from Cass and Crescent Lakes to Maceday and Pontiac lakes, while crappie are found in lakes including Cass, Kent, Lakeville, Long, Pontiac, Sylvan, and Union. Yellow perch also inhabits several Oakland County

LAKE magazine

10.26

waters, including Cass and Union lakes. These smaller fish are an important part of the food web, providing prey for larger species such as northern pike and largemouth bass. “ Mostly around here you find a lot of panfish,” Larsen said. “It’s a lot of bluegill, occasional perch. I’ve caught some rare pike or walleye. And crappies, of course.” However, other species may have state-mandated limitations. This includes largemouth bass, whose harvest season ends in December, Harris said. There are other restrictions as well, such as the limitation of spearing to catch certain species in Lake St. Clair and some statewide inland lakes. “Harvesting is not legal in the winter, but you can still catch and release (largemouth bass),” Harris said. “But we try to give anglers lots of access.” Such guidelines are also outlined in the Michigan Fishing Regulations guide. “You can catch some bass as well, but you have to release those (according to the state’s fishing regulations),” Larsen confirmed. The Michigan DNR has stocked Maceday Lake in Waterford Township with a significant amount of lake trout, Harris said. Its environmental structure allows the lake to supply a plethora of oxygen and is a “good coldwater lake” for species, he added, such as crappie and bluegill. The type of bait used by ice fishing enthusiasts varies a bit from warm-weather fishing. Lax worms and spikes are commonly used to catch panfish such as bluegill, black crappie, yellow perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, and rock bass. These species are found in numerous inland lakes throughout the county and are among the fish commonly targeted by ice anglers.

arious types of minnows are more common for game fish such as walleye and pike. The fish tend to bite under the ice at around the same times of the day as during warm weather. “The times don’t change much,” Ratliff said. “Many (anglers) like to go out in the evening for crappie or walleye, but first thing in the morning is good too. Those are the two main active times. Midday is generally going to be slower for (getting bites), but there are a lot of variables.” Ice anglers use different types of rods given they can’t cast lines of seven to nine feet as they would in the summer, said Brian Seiferlein, owner of Walleye King near Saginaw Bay, a business that offers guided fishing tours and lodging. Seiferlein lived in Waterford for many years. Instead of casting, ice anglers typically use short rods or specialized ice-fishing rods. These are paired with small spinning reels or, for some presentations, simple inline reels. The shorter rod is easier to manage inside a shelter or around an ice hole. Seiferlein prefers to use rods that are 26 to 28 inches long when ice fishing, but his focus is on larger fish, such as walleye and perch in Saginaw Bay. Inland lake anglers may use a slightly lakemagazine.media

longer pole of around 32 inches. “For me, having a shorter pole allows more control over the fish when you get (a bite),” Seiferlein said. “If that fish you catch hits the bottom of the ice, it will get knocked off the hook.” The slightly longer ice fishing rods of 32 inches or more provide more sensitivity for panfish and bluegill, he said, because anglers may not know when they have a bite from a smaller species. “You know when you have a walleye bite, but panfish is harder to be sure of,” he said.

nland lakes remain active even under a sheet of winter ice. Microscopic organisms continue to fuel an underwater ecosystem in the winter, according to the DNR. When enough sunlight penetrates clear ice, phytoplankton can continue photosynthesis, providing the foundation for a food web that supports everything from tiny zooplankton to game fish such as perch and northern pike. The winter food chain is similar to what exists in warm weather. But everything operates more slowly in the winter. Sunlight supports different types of plankton, which in turn are consumed by minnows and other small fish. Larger predators like perch, walleye, and pike continue hunting smaller fish beneath the ice. Cold water slows a fish's metabolism, meaning it requires less food and expends less energy chasing prey, but it still must eat to survive. The DNR notes that fish remain active throughout winter, even if their feeding patterns become less aggressive. Cold weather also brings the challenge of winterkill. Prolonged ice and snow cover can dramatically reduce oxygen levels in a lake. Ice seals the water from absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere, while thick snow blocks sunlight needed by aquatic plants and algae to produce oxygen through photosynthesis. As oxygen declines, fish can experience significant stress or die, particularly in shallow lakes, ponds, canals, and slow-moving streams where oxygen is already limited. The DNR reported on its website in March 2026 that winterkill is the most common type of fish mortality event in Michigan. Water bodies with abundant aquatic vegetation and soft, organic lake bottoms are especially vulnerable because decomposing plant material continues consuming oxygen throughout the winter. Many anglers will set up a permanent or portable ice shack or shanty on the water when the ice is thick enough for safe activities. The DNR says clear ice with a bluish tint is strongest, while milky ice formed from melted and refrozen snow is weaker. A minimum of five to seven inches of ice is recommended by the DNR, although thicker ice is even better. Heated shacks allow anglers to fish for longer periods of time, including overnight or early in the morning. Anglers often store an array of equipment in their permanent shacks, which are sturdier structures that can be left overnight for days or weeks, assuming other laws are followed.

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One such Michigan law requires permanent shacks to have some sort of personal identification on them, listing the name of the owner and contact information. Under MCL 324.46502(1), anyone placing or using a fishing shanty on Michigan waters must affix owneridentification information to each side of the outside of the shanty. The information also must be legible and at least two inches high, be readily visible, be made of material that is not soluble in water and be permanently affixed directly to the shanty.

ortable, or pop-up shacks do not require such information if they are constructed and taken down the same day, Harris said. However, the state’s fishing rules, outlined in the state’s fishing regulations, also designate midnight on March 15 as the date when all ice shacks in the Lower Peninsula need to be removed from frozen waterbodies. This date is designed to help lessen potential safety hazards and the chance of a shack falling through the ice if a sudden warm spell were to occur. However, temperatures have often risen enough that ice becomes unstable well before the March 15 deadline. In fact, National Weather Service (NWS) climate data for the Detroit area show normal daytime temperatures climbing from about 40 degrees on March 1 to roughly 45 degrees by March 15 over the last decade. The first half of March can bring some remarkable temperature swings to Oakland County and southeast Michigan. National Weather Service records show that, since 2010, temperatures during March 1-15 have climbed as high as 77 degrees, recorded March 15, 2012, while freezing conditions have remained possible at the same time of year. NWS climate records also document a 0-degree low on March 3, 2014, illustrating how quickly conditions can shift during the first two weeks of the month. Long-term records are even more dramatic, with temperatures during March 1-15 ranging from well below zero to the upper 70s. For ice anglers, that volatility is important. A lake that remains locked in winter during a cold stretch can begin losing ice rapidly when temperatures surge into the 40s to 60s. The Michigan DNR cautions that warming weather can weaken existing ice and that old ice can become particularly unpredictable. In Oakland County, where anglers have hundreds of inland lakes to choose from, the combination of above-freezing afternoons, stronger March sunlight, and increasingly marginal nighttime freezes can turn what appears to be solid late-season ice into an unpredictable surface. “You want to be careful of many (Oakland County) lakes there are several that have rivers flowing into them, and that can be a dangerous situation,” Larsen said. “It seems to be true for a lot of lakes around here.” Anglers need to pay close attention to the weather and ice thickness if they ice fish, and particularly if they have permanent shacks on a lake, Harris said. There are instances when an ice shack that falls through the ice

could cause some type of environmental problem, such as if a gas tank or other item housed within the shack also fell through the ice, causing physical harm to the lake or organisms, Harris said. “You would rarely (get a ticket or fine) for losing a shanty in the water, but in some cases, it could be a littering issue,” Harris said. “The key is you have to keep a close eye on ice conditions.” There is a significant financial issue with a lost ice shack, Harris said. Anglers often keep an array of equipment in a shack, including but not limited to rods and reels, tackle boxes, fish finders/sonar devices, augers, sleds, gear boxes, comfortable chairs and more. Those losses can reach thousands of dollars. Seiferlein recommends anglers interested in regular ice fishing consider getting a permanent shack or shanty that is insulated. The cost is higher, but insulated shanties prevent condensation from entering the interior, which can then drip down “like rain.” “The extra money is worth every penny,” Seiferlein said. “It’s like the difference between analog compared to digital with new technology years ago.” The appeal of ice fishing is clear. When Oakland County lakes freeze over, fish don’t stop feeding. Instead, the feeding process slows down and follows the food available beneath the ice. Tiny organisms such as phytoplankton and zooplankton remain active, supporting a food chain that includes minnows and other small fish, according to the Michigan DNR.

ellow perch, which remain active all winter, feed on immature aquatic insects, crayfish, and the eggs and young of other fish. Bluegills also remain active, eating aquatic insects, small fish, and some plant material. Predators such as largemouth bass move near the lake bottom in winter, while northern pike continue hunting perch, sunfish, minnows, and other fish. The quality of the ice fishing experience varies from one inland lake to the other. One of the biggest considerations is the amount of snowmobile activity on lakes. Cass Lake and White Lake are two Oakland County lakes with active snowmobiling and ORV activities, either planned or recreational, Harris said. That type of activity will discourage experienced anglers from those lakes because of noise pollution, safety concerns, and impact on successful catches. “ There are definitely lakes that have a better (reputation) for ice fishing,” Harris said. “A lot of that can be tied to (snowmobile) recreation.” Larsen hasn’t had many issues with snowmobiling on Oakland County lakes interfering with his enjoyment over the years. While there is potential for a diverse number of species on Great Lakes-connected waterways like Lake St. Clair and Saginaw Bay, Larsen has found more issues with motorized vehicles on the ice in those larger bodies of water. However, he knows there are inland lakes in Oakland County with snowmobiling and ORV events in the winter.

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“They aren’t much of a problem, but you want to check ahead of time,” Larsen said. He referenced a snowmobiling “drag strip” on Big Lake in Springfield Township as one example. “In my experience, it’s more of a problem elsewhere.” As previously mentioned, safety is one of the most relevant issues with ice fishing in Michigan. The DNR’s main message is that “no ice is safe ice,” according to Harris. Anglers should always use caution because ice conditions can be highly variable based on the water body, the quick change in temperatures, and the location on a lake or river, Harris said. For example, areas near the shoreline may have direct inflow or currents. These areas often are the first to melt during periods of warmer temperatures, Harris said. Anglers should be particularly careful in accessing the lake near the shoreline as a result. The DNR's advice is straightforward. Anglers should never judge ice safety by the calendar or air temperature alone; check the actual ice conditions and remember that no thickness guarantees safety.

atliff suggested aspiring ice anglers buy a spud to help gauge ice depth and thickness. Anglers can use a spud, needle bar or ice auger to test ice thickness and quality as they move onto the lake. A tape measure or marked gauge can then be used to determine the actual thickness. The DNR recommends checking the ice yourself rather than relying on reports from other anglers. Before venturing onto a frozen Oakland County lake, ice anglers should make ice safety equipment as much a part of their gear as their auger and tackle box. The DNR indicates on its website and in printed literature that there is no single ice thickness universally considered safe, as conditions can vary significantly even within the same lake. “(A spud) is probably the first item that an ice fisher should buy,” Ratliff said. Larsen agreed, saying that “spudding is always a good idea.” The second critical item is a pair of ice spikes, which can be used by an angler to drag themselves onto ice or dry land if they fall through into the water. For emergencies, ice picks or ice claws should be worn where they are immediately accessible, such as around the neck or in a chest pocket, according to information provided online on “Ice Safety” and ‘Ice Fishing” by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. If an angler breaks through, the picks can be driven into solid ice while the person kicks and pulls toward the surface. Larsen recommends ice spikes and a rope, which have helped to get ice anglers out of threatening predicaments in the past. Public access sites are generally good places to access, Larsen added. But he cautions anglers to stay away from inlets. “Before you go on a lake, notice where the other (ice) fishermen are,” Larsen said. “If they’ve done this before, they know where they are going.”

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A life jacket or flotation device and a rescue rope are also valuable safety equipment. If a breakthrough occurs, remain calm, turn toward the direction you came from, pull yourself onto the ice, and roll or crawl away from the opening, according to the Michigan DNR. “You want to go to (a retailer) and make sure you have all the items you need,” Ratliff said. “It can be very rewarding, but you don’t want to miss any items.”

hose items should include any type of warm clothing that may be needed while on the ice. Harris said wind chills can vary significantly from hour to hour, and that no angler wants to get caught on a lake without proper clothing like hats, gloves, scarves, earmuffs, and other winter clothing designed to protect them from harsh conditions. Even without falling through the ice, anglers can experience a dulling of reaction time if their body temperature falls. This can result in other safety concerns. For this and other reasons, Harris’ most significant recommendation is for anglers to always let at least one other person know exactly where they are ice fishing and for how long. “You should check in with that (person), so they know you are okay as well,” he said. The quality and amount of high-tech gear available to ice anglers also support the popularity of the sport. Such gear can help anglers determine exactly when they have a bite under the ice, and the amount of nearby activity. Electronics matter, Seiferlein said. Different cameras and devices can confirm the presence of fish in a certain area. Cameras are very useful for that, but it can take several minutes to set up, he added. Anglers often “hole hop” in the winter while on the ice and using a camera for each new hole is extremely time-consuming. “A camera is really good if you know fish are there,” Seiferlein said. “Like any (technology) there are pros and cons. But electronics have really changed the game. Before electronics, we would drill a hole in the ice, drop a line, and hope for the best.” The best time to ice fish is any time an angler can do it safely, Harris said. He’s been successful ice fishing in the middle of the day. Anglers who follow safety guidelines, let someone know where they are, and can accurately measure ice thickness are generally rewarded with an enjoyable experience. Oakland County offers plenty of opportunities for ice anglers, with panfish, perch, crappie, and other species available in many local lakes. But as Michigan DNR officials and other experts emphasize, there is no such thing as guaranteed safe ice. Changing temperatures, currents, and varying ice conditions can make winter fishing unpredictable, particularly later in the season. By checking regulations, testing ice thickness, carrying essential safety equipment, and letting someone know where they are fishing, anglers can enjoy one of Michigan’s favorite winter traditions while reducing the risks of venturing onto frozen water.

LAKE magazine

VIEW FROM ABOVE

Upper Straits Lake Upper Straits Lake is an exclusive, private 323-acre all-sports lake located in West Bloomfield and Orchard Lake Village. Carved by glaciers, this spring-fed lake plunges to a maximum depth of 96 feet, providing exceptionally clear waters and a thriving, low-pressure habitat for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and northern pike. Historically named for its position as the top link in a three-lake chain connected by natural "straits," the area evolved from a turn-of-thecentury luxury summer resort for wealthy Detroiters into one of Oakland County's most prestigious residential shorelines. © Aerial Graphics

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LAKE magazine

10.26

THE VANISHING GLOW FIREFLIES AROUND THE WORLD, IN AMERICA, AND CLOSE TO HOME IN MICHIGAN BY MARK H. STOWERS

n a warm Michigan evening, just after the sky turns cobalt and before the mosquitoes lay their claim to the summer air, a familiar spark appears. Then another. Then a dozen. To children, fireflies are summer’s smallest fireworks bringing smiles and laughter and wonderment. To scientists, they are beetles in the family Lampyridae, insects with complicated courtship codes, surprisingly predatory young, and life cycles tied to soil moisture, wetland edges, dark nights, and the slow work of leaves breaking down underfoot. Katie Hietala-Henschell’s work begins after sunset, when the air cools, the mosquitoes rise, and a field that looked ordinary by day starts blinking with messages. The Michigan Tech alum, endangered species conservation biologist for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, grew up in southeast Michigan and now works with the organization’s firefly team to expand the Firefly Atlas, support firefly sanctuaries, and build conservation efforts across the central United States.

Photo: Katie Hietala-Henschell / Xerces Society

“My love for all insects has just grown over the last decade,” she said, describing a career that has moved through forest ecology, invasive species, rare-species surveys, and now fireflies. For Hietala-Henschell, fireflies are not just a nostalgic summer pleasure. They are a conservation puzzle still being assembled. “We still need a lot of baseline data and information on the full extent of firefly ranges,” she said. “New species are still being discovered.” That uncertainty is part of what makes the lights in a Michigan yard both familiar and mysterious – scientists know enough to see trouble, but not always enough to measure it cleanly.

ireflies or commonly referred to as lightning bugs, are not flies at all. They are soft-bodied beetles in the family Lampyridae, best-known for their bioluminescence – the chemical production of light. The answer to the age old question, “Daddy, why do their butts glow?” is a chemical reaction. Fireflies store Luciferin, a light-emitting compound in their lower abdomen. The enzyme Luciferase combines with the substrate Luciferin along with magnesium and ATP. When oxygen is introduced, the chemical reaction results in bioluminescence. The light is a “cold light” because the light produced is a visible light and not heat and the emitted flash is controlled by how much oxygen flows into the firefly’s light organs. Restricting the oxygen creates flashes and not a constant glow. Around the world, more than 2,000 firefly species live in forests, wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, rice fields, stream corridors, dunes, and suburban yards. Hietala-Henschell said Michigan currently has “24 different firefly species” known from the state, though she cautions that number will likely change as surveys expand. “With the currently available data, we don’t fully understand the full range of many firefly species and recent survey efforts are detecting populations outside of their previously understood range and resulting in new state records. It’s exciting to gain a better understanding of where species occur and this information will help inform conservation efforts,” she said. In Michigan, Sarah Hughson, Ph.D., specialist in outreach and insect/arthropod diagnostician with Michigan State University Plant & Pest Diagnostics, estimates there are “about twenty or thirty species of fireflies.” Their glow may be nostalgic, but their future is not guaranteed. The firefly life cycle is easy to miss because the 14

famous adult stage is only the finale. Hietala-Henschell said adults live only “about two to four weeks,” but the larvae can live “about one to two years,” meaning fireflies spend most of their lives out of sight. After mating, females seek moist places such as leaf litter, downed logs or sphagnum moss to lay eggs so they do not dry out. Hughson explains that fireflies undergo “complete metamorphosis,” moving through “an egg stage, a larva stage, a pupal stage” and then the adult stage. The larvae hatch looking more like armored little alligators than the delicate adults people catch in jars, and they spend their time eating and growing. “If we’re thinking about the whole life cycle of a firefly, it’s actually a pretty long-lived insect,” HietalaHenschell said, “But it spends the majority of its life in the larval stage, just eating and growing.” Only after this long juvenile period do larvae pupate in soil chambers, leaf litter or, in some species, on vegetation. As Hughson puts it, when insects are larvae, “their job is basically to eat and grow,” storing the energy they will need during the nonfeeding pupal stage. Once adults emerge, their main jobs are to mate, lay eggs and continue the cycle. Their short adult season helps explain why weather can make one summer seem brilliant and another strangely dim – a wet fall, mild winter, and wet spring can support larvae and their prey, while drought or habitat disturbance can suppress the show. Firefly light is a language, and Hietala-Henschell said scientists often need that communication, also referred to as flash pattern, to identify a species. “We really need their behavioral data,” she said, “Including the flash pattern, where they’re flying, what time they’re flying, and the color of the flash. In many flashing species, males fly above vegetation sending species-specific signals – single pulses, paired flashes, rising glows, or repeated patterns.” Hughson says some species “will have different patterns that they use when they light up,” a system that helps them “recognize one another” and attract mates. Females often wait lower in the grass or on leaves, watching for the correct signal before answering. Their light also has an edge. Hughson notes that “there are also a couple of species where the female will mimic the pattern of other species so they can catch them and eat them.” In other words, the same glow that courts a mate can also lure prey. Sean Zara, wildlife program coordinator for Oakland County Parks and Recreation, adds that “All firefly larvae can glow, even in species whose adults do not use light to attract mates. Larval glow likely began as a warning signal because larvae are toxic or at least bad tasting. A way of telling predators, ‘you don’t want to mess with me.’” Light pollution is a critical factor in the short life

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span of adult fireflies. Hietala-Henschell called it one of the major threats because it affects fireflies’ “ability to communicate,” along with other nocturnal insects and migrating birds. Porch lights, security lights, landscape lighting, sports fields, parking lots, streetlights, billboards, headlights, and the regional haze of skyglow can all interfere with courtship. A lawn may still look green by day, but if it is washed in light at night, it may be functionally unusable for species that communicate by flash. Globally, fireflies are most diverse in warm, humid regions, but they occur across temperate and tropical landscapes. Southeast Asia is famous for synchronous fireflies that gather in mangroves and river corridors, where whole trees can pulse in rhythm. In Japan, fireflies are woven into cultural memory and seasonal festivals, yet some populations have been harmed by stream modification and water pollution. The US is also home to synchronous fireflies, the most famous being Photinus carolinus (Synchronous Firefly) in the Great Smoky Mountains. This species is found in the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains from as far south as Georgia and north into New York. To help protect populations from the negative effects of firefly tourism, the National Park Service and other stewards have implemented best practices such as using a lottery system to limit the number of visitors, minimizing the use of artificial light, and keeping visitors to trails and boardwalks to reduce disturbance to the ground where larvae are vulnerable to trampling. In Europe, glowworm species have declined in many areas as meadows, hedgerows, and dark rural lanes have changed. In North America, the flashing fields of the eastern United States are among the best-known displays, while western species may be less conspicuous or less dependent on flashing. The common pattern is not that every firefly everywhere is disappearing at the same rate. It is that many species are vulnerable for similar reasons – they need intact habitat across their full life cycle, moisture for larvae and prey, dark nights for communication, and landscapes not saturated with broad-spectrum insecticides. Species with narrow ranges, specialized wetland or coastal habitats, aquatic larvae, or flightless females can be especially at risk because they cannot easily move when conditions deteriorate. In the United States and Canada, researchers have begun turning anecdotes into assessments. HietalaHenschell said The Xerces Society and partners helped conduct IUCN Red List conservation assessments for firefly species in the U.S. and Canada, and the results show both danger and uncertainty. “Over half of the species assessed were data deficient,” she said. “Scientists do not yet have enough information to say how many firefly species are faring. When species of conservation concern are included, up lakemagazine.media

to a third of the species in the US and North America appear to be threatened with some level of extinction.” The Firefly Atlas was created to help fill those gaps by collecting observations, photographs, survey data, and habitat information from community scientists across North America. The largest U.S. threats mirror the global list – habitat degradation and loss, light pollution, climate change, pesticide exposure, poor water quality, invasive species, and physical disturbance of leaf litter, soil, wetlands, and shoreline vegetation. Hietala-Henschell puts habitat first. “Habitat loss and degradation is probably the first, the biggest threat,” she said. “We’re still filling in wetlands when really, we shouldn’t be because they’re really hard to restore and create in other places.” Fireflies are not simply ‘yard insects.’ They are residents of layered habitat such as wet places, shaded places, unmowed edges, native plant communities, forest margins, marshes and damp meadows. Remove the layers, and the lights often go with them.”

ichigan is wholesome firefly country because it has the ingredients many species need – lakes, rivers, wetlands, damp woods, marshy fields, floodplains, roadside ditches, rain-soaked lawns, and long summer twilights. Hughson noted most Michigan fireflies, as larvae, live in “moist soils” near places such as wetlands, streams, ponds and lakes, where they feed on “soft-bodied animals” including earthworms, slugs and snails. Adults, she says, often favor grassy areas; some are predators, while many feed on pollen and nectar from flowers. In some recent summers, Michiganders have reported unusually vivid firefly displays. HietalaHenschell said the answer to whether numbers are declining is nuanced. “We don’t have the data to say that outright,” she said, “Because long-term monitoring has not existed for fireflies the way it has for some other insects. Anecdotally, many people report seeing fewer fireflies, but some species appear to be doing well. The big dipper firefly, or common eastern firefly, is one example. We have that one in Michigan, and it’s the one you see in your yard. The last couple of years, they’ve been doing great.” Hughson emphasizes that while insects are declining globally and fireflies are part of that broader concern. “We don’t have any fireflies on the federal endangered species list,” Hughson explained. Still, Michigan is not risk-free. Hietala-Henschell said that of the state’s 24 known species, “over a third”

LAKE magazine

are either data deficient or species of conservation concern. Some may be rare; others may simply be poorly documented. “That should be enough to get people to want to care,” she said. One example of that uncertainty and risk is the Marsh Imp, a Michigan firefly tied closely to wetland habitat, according to Hietala-Henschell. “One species of conservation concern in Michigan is Pyractomena lucifera, also known as the Marsh Imp. This species has been assessed as Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List Firefly Specialist Group and appears to have a decreasing population trend based on available data. It can be found across the central and eastern US and into Canada. This species is a wetland habitat specialist and found in marshes with aquatic vegetation and cattails. The Marsh Imp occurs in small populations making it susceptible to extreme weather events and development. One population that was studied in the 1970s appears to be extirpated, likely due to habitat loss. While data on direct threats for this species is lacking, we can infer likely threats based on the Marsh Imp’s life history. Two of the likely leading threats include habitat degradation, from development or changes in hydrology, and light pollution. Additional research is needed to better understand the effect of these threats, population size, and population trends. There are no protections or conservation strategies in place for this species and others like it,” she said. The Marsh Imp is a smaller Pyractomena, typically measuring less than half an inch (9–10 mm), when compared to more common species such as Pyractomena borealis (Spring Treetop Flasher) or Pyractomena angulata (Say’s Firefly). The habitat it occupies and the flash pattern are essential pieces of information needed to identify this species. It gives a faint orange flash that repeats every five–seven seconds. In addition to being a marsh specialist and occurring in small numbers, this species is challenging to detect due to its short display period, typically occurring for up to an hour after sunset. In Michigan, it can typically be seen in late June through July. Zara points readers toward the species many backyard observers are most likely to notice – the common eastern firefly, also known as the big dipper. It gets that name, he says, because “they flash and they make a little dip as they’re flying,” creating a small Jshaped signal for females. Michigan is home to three common groups (or genera) of flashing fireflies. These are Photuris, Photinus and Pyractomena. Each genus contains several species with different life histories. Some of these species are relatively common and some of them are rare and experiencing decline. The rare ones are often habitat specialists or sensitive to certain threats. While fireflies at first glance look fairly similar across 16

these three groups, there are some differences that can help people identify what fireflies are on their property and narrow it down to the genus level. Fireflies in the genus Photuris can range in size from medium to large (9-15 mm), typically have a greenish flash, and the markings on the head shield tend to consist of a clean black anchor, t-shape, or some variety in between. Species in the genus Photinus typically range in size from small to medium (7-12 mm) (with the exception of a couple larger species like Photinus pyralis and Photinus carolinus), give a yellowish flash, and have a dark spot or bar on their head shield. Fireflies in the genus Pyractomena range in size from small to large (715 mm), give an orange flash, and have a black triangle on their head shield with a diagnostic ridge.

akland County sits in a landscape where firefly needs collide with suburban habits. The county has lakes, ponds, wetlands, woodlots, parks, golf courses, stream corridors, and remnant farm fields – exactly the kinds of moist, mixed habitats fireflies can use. Zara says fireflies occur in “a lot of different high-quality habitats,” with some species acting as wetland specialists and others using different ecological niches. Oakland County also has expanding development, roads, lawn-dominated neighborhoods, bright exterior lighting, mosquito-control pressure, and invasive plant management challenges. Oakland County also faces broader habitat issues common to southeastern Michigan – fragmented wetlands, stormwater runoff, shoreline hardening, deer browse pressure, invasive plants such as Phragmites and knotweed in some areas, and the gradual replacement of layered native vegetation with turf, mulch, and ornamental plantings. These changes may not target fireflies directly, but they simplify the damp, messy places where larvae hunt and adults display. Zara noted Oakland County Parks and Recreation sees them as part of a larger conservation picture. “If parks are protecting native habitats and rare habitat types, they’re probably going to do well if we’re doing everything else right,” he said. “Oakland County Parks does not manage specifically for fireflies, but they are part of a larger conservation picture. They’re probably going to do well if we’re doing everything else right.” Fireflies are ecological neighbors, not just ornaments. Their larvae are predators that help regulate populations of slugs, snails, worms, caterpillars, mosquito larvae, blackfly larvae, and other small animals. Zara describes the larvae as “heavily armored,” flat, plate-covered insects with a “very heavy

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metal look,” crawling at ground level and actively hunting smaller prey. Hughson offers a more cautious framing for their role in human terms – fireflies “don’t harm people, they don’t harm crops,” but they are also not always easy to classify as providing a direct economic service. Their value may be less agricultural than cultural, ecological and experiential. Adults may also visit flowers, moving pollen incidentally as they feed or rest. More broadly, fireflies are indicators of habitat quality. Zara says they “seem to be indicators” of quality habitats, or at least places without heavy insecticide overspray. Their presence suggests that a yard, park, shoreline, or meadow is doing more than looking tidy. It’s functioning as habitat. He also sees a human benefit that should not be dismissed – fireflies “make people feel good” and may be “one of the first things that get kids interested in nature.” For people and ecosystems, fireflies have few true disadvantages. They do not bite or sting in any meaningful way for humans, and they are not structural pests. Some adult fireflies prey on other fireflies, and some species contain defensive chemicals that make them unpalatable or potentially toxic to predators. That isn’t an ecosystem problem. It’s part of their natural role. The more practical concern is that people sometimes misunderstand firefly habitat as messy, mosquito-laden, or neglected. In reality, the leaf litter, tall grass patches, and damp edges that support fireflies also support many other beneficial insects, amphibians, birds, and soil organisms. Light pollution – In developed parts of Michigan, nighttime light is one of the most fixable threats. Hietala-Henschell calls light pollution “the best kind of pollution” because “you can literally just stop it by turning a switch.” She recommends motion-sensor lights, timers, shielding exterior fixtures so light points only where needed, closing curtains in summer so indoor light does not spill outside, and using redder light where practical because it appears less disruptive to fireflies. “Leaving artificial lights on at night can actually be detrimental to them,” Hughson says. Because fireflies use light as a form of communication to attract mates.” Pesticides – Broad-spectrum insecticides used on lawns, gardens, ornamentals, crops, or for mosquito control can expose adults, larvae, prey, and wet soil habitats. Hietala-Henschell said fireflies are “just insects,” so insecticides aimed at other pests can still harm them. She urges landowners to avoid pesticide use, when possible, rely on mechanical removal or spot treatments where needed, and avoid whole-yard spraying. “A lot of times when we try to control for one type of insect, the insecticide that we use might kill other insects that we’re not intending to impact,” Hughson says. lakemagazine.media

Habitat simplification – Replacing wetlands, rough edges, meadow margins, and leaf litter with turf, hardscape, seawalls, sidewalks, parking lots and ornamental mulch removes shelter, moisture, display perches, and prey. “Habitat loss can include the loss of woodland or wetland areas,” Hughson said. “The conversion of land to agriculture or urbanization, and more paved surfaces that block fireflies’ access to soil.” Climate stress – Drought can dry soils and reduce prey. Heavy storms can alter wetland edges. Warmer winters and earlier springs can shift timing. HietalaHenschell said climate change worries her because fireflies and their prey can suffer when larvae dry out under heat and drought, while extreme flooding can “scrape away habitats and wash them to a different place where the habitat isn’t suitable. Fireflies need that middle ground of not too dry and not too wet. Climate change can be especially relevant because fireflies really like to use moist soils.” Water quality and invasive plants – Fireflies that depend on wet habitats can be affected by runoff, degraded shorelines, channelized drainage, and invasive plants that simplify habitat structure. Oakland County’s invasive species work highlights how local biodiversity depends on active stewardship of parks, roadsides, wetlands, and natural areas.

elping fireflies is less about installing something special and more about stopping the habits that erase them. For lakefront owners, Hietala-Henschell’s first recommendation is simple – “turn off any unnecessary lights.” Landowners can begin with a broader rule – make part of the property darker, damper, softer, and more layered. “There’s a lot homeowners can do,” she said. “Many actions don’t really cost a lot of money.” Hughson’s simplest recommendation is also one of the easiest – “turn off the outdoor lights at night.” Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights during firefly season, especially from dusk through late evening. Use warm-colored, shielded, downward-facing lights only where safety requires them. Reduce lawn area and allow patches of taller grass, sedges, native wildflowers, shrubs, and woodland edge plants. Hietala-Henschell encourages property owners to be comfortable with “a little bit more of a messy yard,” because a short-cut turf monoculture may look clean but is “too sterile” for insect communities that evolved with native plants, leaf litter, moist soil and shelter. Leave some leaf litter, rotting logs, brush piles, and unmowed edges where larvae can shelter and hunt.

LAKE magazine

Hughson specifically recommends leaving “some wild habitat in yards,” including tall grass, logs and sticks. “Leaf litter is a great overwintering site for different types of insects, including fireflies,” Hughson said.

Protect wetlands, rain gardens, pond edges, ditches, and low moist areas from mowing, filling, or chemical treatment. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides and routine mosquito fogging whenever possible; Hughson recommends using insecticides only when they are actually needed and tolerating insects that are not harming people, crops, pets or property. Plant native vegetation of varied heights to create perches for flashing adults and habitat for prey. Hietala-Henschell also recommends planting trees and native vegetation. Trees can help “make your own space darker,” she said, by filtering light from neighboring properties while giving adult fireflies cover during the day. Broad-leaved trees such as catalpa, sycamore and maple can provide daytime resting places. Manage stormwater with rain gardens, native buffers, and reduced runoff. Record sightings with community science

programs such as Firefly Atlas or Firefly Watch. Hietala-Henschell said the Firefly Atlas uses a no-kill survey protocol – participants catch a firefly, photograph the top and bottom against a scale, document the flash pattern and release it back where it was found. Fireflies ask for a kind of restraint that runs against modern landscaping – fewer lights, fewer chemicals, fewer hard edges, fewer spotless lawns. They need the places between. The damp margin, the unmowed corner, the leaf-littered strip beneath shrubs, the dark shoreline, the native meadow that looks a little wild until the first flash appears. In return, they give more than beauty. They help regulate small prey, enrich backyard biodiversity, and remind us that a healthy night is not empty. It is alive, signaling. In Michigan and Oakland County, the future of lightning bugs will be decided yard by yard and park by park. The good news is that many of the best actions are simple – turn off the patio lights, skip the pesticide treatment, leave some leaves, keep wet places vegetated, and let a portion of the property grow into layered habitat. If enough landowners do that, summer nights may keep their oldest language – a field speaking in sparks. And children’s wonder and amazement will continue for generations as they gaze into the Michigan skies and their own backyards.

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ISLANDS OF OAKLAND because their collective land mass has shrunk over the While Island Lake is a mystery to many Oakland years. Bloomfield Township describes them as a County residents, its islands are perhaps even more sanctuary and nesting area for birds including egrets, mysterious. cormorants and herons. Island Lake is tucked into a residential area of Riparian representative and nearby township property Bloomfield Township. Although hidden from many, Island owner Ned Greenberg agrees with that description. The Lake’s separate islands are one of the community's more islands’ ecological importance has also created a distinctive natural features, even if they aren’t populated management challenge, one that residents and the with people. township continue to work on, he says. As with many The lake covers approximately 111 acres and has inland lakes throughout Oakland County, there are about 2.6 miles of shoreline. Island Lake reaches a various challenges to overcome, from fowl to erosion. maximum depth of 55 feet and has an average depth of “We’ve cut down on 13.3 feet, according to the birds, which is Bloomfield Township. important,” says Its nearly 300-acre Greenberg, who lives flows throughout the right on Island Lake. metro area, from Lower “You want to get Long Lake, Forest control of that (bird) Lake, and the Rouge population as much as River to the Detroit possible. We’ve also River. worked to add bio logs The lake's history to provide for shoreline and its islands are protection.” intertwined with the Today, Cottage and development of some Indian islands are of Bloomfield primarily inhabited by Township's most sandhill cranes, which notable estates and are less destructive neighborhoods. One than egrets. The prominent early figure township's plan was Detroit evaluated businessman and bioengineering philanthropist Col. approaches to stabilize Edwin S. George, who the islands while built his country retaining their natural estate, Cedarholm, character. Greenberg overlooking Island PHOTO CREDIT: AERIAL GRAPHICS said that one of the Lake and its islands in other smaller islands is largely populated by deer. Swans 1923. George later provided that estate to a charitable also inhabit areas around the islands and lake. foundation he established, and the property ultimately The four islands, to varying degrees, were traditionally became the setting for Kirk in the Hills, the landmark a place where boaters could dock for a picnic. “Now they Presbyterian church overlooking the lake. generally just kind of circle the islands on their boats,” The lake's name is no coincidence. Bloomfield Greenberg said. “It makes for a nice ride.” Township's official Island Lake Improvement plan identifies Cottage and Indian islands as the two most Island Lake itself remains primarily a private prominent islands in the central portion of the lake. There residential lake these days, surrounded by homes and are two even smaller islands, which are not officially private properties. Current management includes waternamed, according to township records, at the extreme quality monitoring and efforts to control aquatic west end of the lake and along the southern side. None of vegetation. Bloomfield Township also adopted a slow-nothe four islands recognized by the township or other wake restriction for portions of Island Lake in 2024, sources are particularly large, but chances are that which can help prevent some island erosion. regular boaters know them well. The islands house no buildings as well, possibly BY MIKE SCOTT lakemagazine.media

LAKE magazine

LAKE LEVELS

A) Oxford Multi includes: Cedar, Clear, Long, Squaw, Michelson & Tan Lakes B) Waterford Multi includes: Cemetery(Middle), Dollar, Greens, Maceday, Lotus, Lester, Van Norman, Williams, Mohawk, Wormer, Schoolhouse, Silver, Upper Silver & Loon Lakes C) The Loon Lake control structure also controls Mohawk, Wormer, Schoolhouse Silver & Upper Silver Lakes D) The Van Norman control structure also controls Green, Maceday, Lotus & Lester Lakes E) Lake Angelus, Huron River, and Clinton River levels are not under the jurisdiction of this office F) The Dawson Mill Pond and Sylvan-Otter Lakes are controlled by the Price Dam G) Crystal Lake is controlled by the Walter Moore Dam H) Lake Louise and Huff Lake are controlled by the Ruth Johnson Dam I) Waumegah Lake reading in N.G.V.D (1983) J) Some Winter Levels are set by Court Order. Others reflects customary drawdown

Legal Level Weekly Legal Level Lake Level LevelChange Change Summer Summer WinterWinterDifference Difference (E) ( 950.00 0.00 950.00 N/A 0.00 Angelus Bevins 0.00 910.40 909.90 0.30 (J) ( 910.70 Big 1016.90 1016.900.00 0.00 1017.30 1017.30 1016.70 1016.70-0.40 -0.40 Bunny Run 0.10 965.95 965.45 0.30 (J) ( 966.25 Bush Lake 913.33913.330.00 0.00 913.60913.60N/A N/A -0.27 -0.27 Cass -0.07 929.22 927.87 0.29 (J) ( 929.51 Cedar Island 0.00 934.00 933.50 0.08 (J) ( 934.08 Cemetery & Dollar (WML) 968.76 0.04 968.50 968.00 0.26 (J)(B) ( Clinton River - M-59 2.30 0.10 2.10 N/A 0.20 (E) ( -0.25 906.80 906.30 0.55 Commerce (J) ( 907.35 917.75 0.06 917.50 917.00 0.25 Crystal (J)(G) ( Dawson Mill Pond 928.75 -0.33 928.60 927.25 0.15 (J)(F) ( Duck -0.05 1016.63 1016.13 -0.19 (J) ( 1016.44 Fox 0.00 930.00 929.50 0.46 (J) ( 930.46 Huron River 0.86 -0.14 1.08 N/A -0.22 (E) ( Indianwood 0.00 992.62 992.12 0.00 (J) ( 992.62 0.00 952.30 951.80 0.30 Lakeville (J) ( 952.60 Long (Commerce Twp.) 0.00 933.00 932.50 0.17 (J) ( 933.17 Loon (WML) 949.63 0.00 949.30 948.80 0.33 (J)(C)(B) ( Louise - Huff 962.35 0.30 962.27 961.77 0.08 (J)(H) ( Middle & Lower Straits 0.18 930.70 930.40 -0.52 (J) ( 930.18 Mohawk (WML) 949.45 0.00 949.30 948.80 0.15 (J)(C)(B) ( Oakland-Woodhull -0.06 957.50 957.00 0.26 (J) ( 957.76 Orchard 0.27 930.50 930.20 -0.43 (J) ( 930.07 Oxbow 0.00 942.75 942.00 0.05 (J) ( 942.80 Oxford Multi 0.10 1017.80 1017.48 0.10 (J)(A) ( 1017.90 0.00 962.83 962.16 -0.25 Pontiac (J) ( 962.58 Schoolhouse (WML) 949.57 0.00 949.30 948.80 0.27 (J)(C)(B) ( Scott 950.80950.80 -0.02 -0.02 951.00951.00N/A N/A -0.20 -0.20 Sylvan-Otter 928.86 -0.29 928.60 927.25 0.26 (J)(F) ( 0.00 1015.39 1015.25 -0.37 Tipsico (J) ( 1015.02 Union 0.00 927.07 926.66 0.13 (J) ( 927.20 Upper Straits 930.20930.200.00 0.00 930.80930.80N/A N/A -0.60 -0.60 Van Norman (WML) 966.88 0.08 966.70 966.20 0.18 (J)(B)(D) ( Walled & Shawood 932.42932.420.00 0.00 932.80932.80932.10932.10-0.38 -0.38 Watkins 0.02 950.00 949.50 0.02 (J) ( 950.02 0.00 1049.90 1049.40 -0.60 Waumegah (J)(I) ( 1049.30 White 0.00 1019.10 1018.60 0.08 (J) ( 1019.18 Williams (WML) 965.40 0.25 965.42 964.92 -0.02 (J)(B) (

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