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CREATURE FEATURE – A Shy and Harmless Neighbor

Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) – Anita Gould CC-BY-NC-2.0- image cropped GET TO KNOW Eastern garter snake Garter snakes...

Paddle Trail – New Canoe/Kayak Rental Open in Dearborn

Friends of the Rouge is excited to announce the opening of Motor City Canoe’s newest location at Ford Field in...

European Frogbit (hydrocharis) Jermey Halls - CC-BY-SA-2.0)

FLORA FEATURE – A Great Lakes Hitchhiker

European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) – Jeremy Halls (CC-BY-SA-2.0, image cropped) GET TO KNOW European frog-bit European (or common) frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)...

CREATURE FEATURE – DANCE OF THE MAYFLY

Adult flathead mayfly (family: heptageniidae) – Judy Gallagher CC-BY-2.0 GET TO KNOW – The Mayfly Each spring/summer, mayflies around the...

Garlic Mustard flower, leaves, tall plants

FLORA FEATURE – The Importance of Place

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolate) – photos by: Joshua Mayer CC-BY-SA-2.0 (2 close-ups) and “c “– Public Domain (last picture) GET...

CREATURE FEATURE – A Grumpy Garden Helper

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) – M.G. Mittlestat GET TO KNOW Eastern American Toad The Eastern American toad – with his...

Rouge Rundown April 7, 2021

April 7, 2021ROUGE RUNDOWN Celebrating Earth Month! Spring has sprung with lots of ways for you to...

FLORA FEATURE – All-Star Host for Pollinators

American Pussy willow (Salix discolor) with pollen – photo by Liz West CC-BY-2.0 GET TO KNOW American Pussy Willow The...

STREAM Girls Coming to the Rouge River!

Friends of the Rouge is excited to partner with Trout Unlimited to bring the STREAM Girls program to Rouge River Watershed! STREAM...

Male wood duck by Mike's Birds CC-BY-SA-2.0

CREATURE FEATURE – A Fine Coat of Many Colors

Male wood duck (Aix sponsa) in full color – photo by Mike’s Birds CC-BY-SA-2.0 GET TO KNOW Wood Ducks Admired...

Explore the Rouge: Virtual River Education for Home, School and Lifelong Learners!

Looking for at-home or at-school learning activities? Become a Rouge River Detective and explore local environmental issues in your community...

Spring ephemeral flowers - by Deb Nystorm CC-BY-2.0

FLORA FEATURE – Fleeting Flowers in the Woods

Photo of spring ephemerals in bloom in a woodland – photo by Deb Nysrom CC-BY-2.0 GET TO KNOW Spring Ephemerals...

CREATURE FEATURE – A Song of Spring

Midland chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata) – Ben Mazur CC-BY-2.0 GET TO KNOW Midland Chorus Frog One of the earliest songs...

Your Rouge, Your Story: Scot Martin

We all have a story to tell; why we are passionate about the Rouge River, how we got involved with...

CREATURE FEATURE – Snow Fleas

Snow Flea (Hypogastrura harveyi or Hypogastrura nivikola) by Charles de Mille-Isles CC-BY-2.0 A Tiny Circus in the Snow GET TO...

Winterberry shrub by David Guthrie CC-BY-SA-2.0

FLORA FEATURE – A Wintertime Bounty for Birds

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) – by David Guthrie CC-BY-SA-2.0 Winterberry One of the prettiest plants in the winter landscape is the...

CREATURE FEATURE Dark-eyed Junco

Male Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren -CC-BY-2.0 Nature’s Original “Snowbird” GET TO KNOW Dark-eyed juncos...

CREATURE FEATURE Winter Stonefly

Slender Winter Stonefly on the ice – photo: FOTR A Journey to the Ice and Snow GET TO KNOW Winter...

CREATURE FEATURE North American Beaver

North American Beaver – photo by Amanda CC-BY-2.0 The Return of an Old Friend GET TO KNOW Rouge River Beavers...

CREATURE FEATURE – Redside Dace

A Creature in Danger GET TO KNOW Redside Dace The redside dace is a small, silvery member of the minnow...

CREATURE FEATURE – Striped skunks

Striped skunk: Photo by GO-TO-VAN CC-BY-2.0 Beyond the Stink GET TO KNOW Striped skunks Skunks get a bad rap. Too...

CREATURE FEATURE – Mourning Cloak

Caption: Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) by Aah Yeah -CC-BY-2.0 A True Survivor GET TO KNOW Mourning Cloaks If butterflies...

CREATURE FEATURE Eastern red-backed salamander

Eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) – photo: Dave Huth CC-BY-2.0 Life Under the Leaves GET TO KNOW: Eastern red-backed salamanders...

CREATURE FEATURE Belted Kingfishers

Left – Male belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) – photo: Henry CC-BY-2.0Right – Female belted kingfisher – photo: Kevin Murphy Watershed...

CREATURE FEATURE Freshwater Snails

Gilled freshwater snail swims in Rouge watershed. – photo by FOTR A Tale of Two Snails GET TO KNOW Freshwater...

Rouge UnCruise graphic, Take me to the River

Watch our 2020 Rouge UnCruise Trips

Join us for this amazing virtual adventure from the comfort of your home! For five consecutive Tuesday evenings through September...

CREATURE FEATURE – Round Goby

Round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) photo from FOTR website An Unwelcome Imposter GET TO KNOW round goby Due to its general...

Rouge Rundown: August 12, 2020

August 12, 2020ROUGE RUNDOWN Thank You, Rouge UnCruisers! Over 200 Friends showed up last night on the...

Hummingbird Moth Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

CREATURE FEATURE – Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe) photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren CC-BY-2.0 Is it a hummingbird? A butterfly? A moth? Have...

Rouge Rundown: July 29th, 2020

July 29, 2020ROUGE RUNDOWN Trip 1: Zug Island on Aug. 11, 6-7 PM, Reserve YOUR Seat on the...

CREATURE FEATURE – Green Heron

Green Heron hunting in Rouge River – photo by Donna Hall Hide & Seek! Can you find me? GET TO...

CREATURE FEATURE – Opossum

Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) mama with six babies in Hines Park in 2016. Photo by P. Stark Guess who helps...

CREATURE FEATURE – Snapping Turtle

Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra sepentina) crossing road in Rouge Park. photo by D. Hall Why did the turtle cross the...

CREATURE FEATURE- Damselfly

6/3/2020 by Colleen Sturm Am I a dragonfly? Known for brilliant, jewel-toned colors, damselflies can easily be mistaken for their...

CREATURE FEATURE – Rainbow Darter

Can you find a rainbow in the river? GET TO KNOW rainbow darters If you see a small, bright flash...

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