Dogs, Owners To Help Protect Endangered Birds Along Michigan's Dunes

EMPIRE, Mich. (AP) — Volunteers and their dogs are being sought for second year to help protect the endangered piping plover which nests along Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northwestern Michigan.

MLive.com reports Friday that orientations will be held Saturday and Tuesday for the "Bark Ranger" program.

Humans and their dogs will serve as park ambassadors, keeping other pets from getting into areas used by the piping plover. When the birds are startled by a dog, which they see as a predator, they flee their nest.

Nesting season runs to September.

Saturday's orientation is at 1 p.m. at the D. H. Day Log Cabin near Glen Arbor. The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire will host Tuesday's 7 p.m. meeting.