MI Wildlife Conservancy restores the state’s natural beauty

Since 1982, the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy has fought to restore Michigan’s natural wonders. Proof of cougars roaming Michigan? It did that. Reintroducing the moose to the Upper Peninsula? Them, too. The wild turkeys strutting around your yard? They were thought to have completely disappeared in Michigan. But in the ’90s, the MWC helped bring them back.

“We basically do habitat restoration. Looking into endangered species, specifically the species who are not being helped by other organizations or the DNR,” said John Ropp, president and CEO of the MWC. “University of Michigan partnered with us. We work with some of the tribes in the state.”

COVID halted its most recent project — researching the fisher, a weasel-like animal. Most folks assumed fishers in the Lower Peninsula had all left. But Patrick Rusz, the MWC’s resident wildlife biologist, believed that he could find proof of their presence.

“The Odawa tribe put up trail cameras for us on their property,” said Ropp. “We spotted one instantly. U-M is doing DNA analysis, but because of COVID, everything was shut down. But now it’s starting up again. We’ve already had some positive results.”

The MWC doesn’t just work with animals, though. It has also done extensive work restoring wetlands, grasslands, prairies, streams and lakes. At the 200-acre Bengel Wildlife Center in Bath — owned and operated by the MWC — you can see the stunning effects of the work Ropp and his colleagues have completed.

“It had been drained off, so it was a mud-bogging pit for years in the ‘70s and ‘80s. People had fun, partied, drove their trucks there,” said Ropp. “We restored it back to its natural state. Now it’s filled with wildlife. There are five species of ducks now, sandhill cranes, hawks, everything.”

The Bengel Wildlife Center wears many hats. It’s a conference center, wedding venue or the perfect place to host a corporate team-building seminar. There is a nine hole disc golf course, four miles of trails and an archery range, too.

It is also the home of the Wildlife Pub, a hidden gem tucked six hundred yards back from the road. Visitors to the pub can play euchre, cornhole or — on certain nights — catch a live music performance.

“It’s a beautiful area. People love to sit on our deck,” said Ropp. “It’s a gorgeous and peaceful setting. You can get a drink, something to eat and just enjoy the wildlife.”

The MWC is privately funded. It hasn’t received a dime from the federal or state governments. The Wildlife Pub, revenue gained from hosting weddings and small donations help keep the organization alive and fund its mission work.

At the Bengel Wildlife Center, their slogan is “Treat yourself to an up-north experience without the drive.” According to Ropp, a trip to the wildlife center will make you feel like you’re in the UP, even though you’re actually only seven miles away from the MSU campus.

“People just haven’t heard about us!” he exclaimed. “We’ll have two or three people every single night saying, ‘Wow, I didn’t know you were even here.’”