Motorists advised to beware of waterfowl in the road

Because of the lack of open water in the area, there has been an increase in the number of ducks on county roads.  Leelanau Dispatch received 3 such calls over the weekend from citizens concerned that ducks loitering in the road would be killed by vehicles.

It was learned from DNR Conservation Officer Rebecca Hopkins that the waterfowl are having trouble locating open water due to continued cold temperatures.  The only open water in the County is the Lake Leelanau Narrows. Ducks are landing on county roads, mistaking the sheen of the road surface for water.  Once on the road, the ducks have difficulty taking flight because the slippery surface prevents them from getting the running start necessary to fly.

Motorists are asked to slow down and proceed cautiously if ducks are in the road.  If citizens are concerned that the loitering ducks are unable to take flight, they can relocate them to the Narrows.  According to Wildlifehotline.com, the only way to catch adult ducks is to do so at night (they don't see well in the dark) by creeping up on them while they sleep and to gently cover them with a lightweight blanket or towel and scoop them into a carrier. 

Or just try and guide them away from harm's way in the road and trust that nature can take care of itself.  

Suttons Bay woman cited for DWLS

A 23 year-old Suttons Bay Township woman was cited for Driving While License Suspended by Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies Sunday.  She was stopped for a traffic violation on S West Bay Shore Drive near Murrary Court in Bingham Township at 8:29 pm.  A license check showed that her privileges were suspended due to a citation in Kalkaska not being taken care of.

She was cited for first offense DWLS and will resolve the matter in 86th District Court.

Garbage burning neighbor arrested on warrant

Leelanau Dispatch received a call from a resident on S Lake Leelanau Drive just south of E Duck Lake Road Friday afternoon.  The caller reported that he could see flames and smelled smoke next to the neighbor's pole barn.

Officers from the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office and Michigan State Police were nearby and checked it out.  They discovered that the neighbor was burning a pile of trash and that is what was seen by the caller.  A file check on the garbage burner showed that there was a bench warrant for his arrest for violating probation on a drunk driving charge in Grand Traverse County.

Jeremy S. Dennison, 39, was taken into custody and turned over to Grand Traverse County authorities on the warrant.  The fire was not a hazard and the fire department was not called.