(WWJ) Wrapping up a year in news, WWJ is looking back at which stories grabbed your attention. And — not at all a surprise — again we found that headlines featuring furry creatures were some of the most popular stories.
With that in mind, here's a rundown of animal news Metro Detroiters could not get enough of 2023:
Topping the list: Turkeys seem to have had a moment.
Last summer, tens of thousands of people clicked on an article about the Michigan DNR asking Michiganders to report wild turkey sightings. And, just in time for Thanksgiving, the same department celebrated "Michigan's wild turkey comeback" — estimating that there are now more than 200,000 of these big, brown birds gobbling all across our state. Learn more about that.
In back-to-school news last September, one turkey in particular made headlines when parents dropped of their kids in Brighton got fed up with a big bird routinely blocking traffic. Speaking exclusively to WWJ, one dad called the situation "mildly infuriating." It turned out it was a pet named "Dinner." No kidding. Here's the update.
You have no doubt noticed by now that coyotes have been becoming a common sight in cities and suburbs, including Metro Detroit. Recently, a roaming pack caused a stir in Farmington Hills. More on that, here.
On a popular episode of The Daily J podcast, WWJ's Brian Fisher explored why this canid is invading the concrete jungle, and whether or not it's a threat.
In other floofy news, some WWJ listeners were surprised to learn that people hunt black bears in our state. Is it for meat, for sport, or to control the population of a dangerous beast? We looked into it.
Some more on bears: Metro Detroiters had to say goodbye this year to a pair of polar bear cubs from the Detroit Zoo that truly captured our hearts.
Nesting right here in Metro Detroit, the once endangered peregrine falcon captivates thousands. Atop the GM Tech Center in Warren sits a camera providing a 24/7 feed of a nest box, meant to attract these beautiful birds of prey. Learn more about them.
Also in 2023: A new push to protect pets in Michigan. Led by Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, the group MI Pet Alliance used National Pet Day to announce an initiative to create a law in Michigan that would require animal abusers to sign up in a statewide database.
In creepy-crawlier news: If you're tired of the cold weather already, try to remember it keeps the bugs away. Springtime means warmer weather and flowers blooming — but it also means the insects are returning to Michigan, by the millions. WWJ's Zach Clark learned from experts that mosquitoes and similar insects are a necessary evil.
