DNR Backs Down: Michigan Duck Rescue Wins Key Break in Fight to Save Dozens of Birds
After months of legal battles, the Michigan DNR now says it’s willing to work with the Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary on permits — a major turnaround in a story I first broke.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now signaling it may work with Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary after more than a year of legal uncertainty surrounding the nonprofit’s care of abandoned ducks and geese — a story I first broke a few weeks ago.
Matt and Teresa Lyson, who founded the sanctuary in 2014, said they recently received written confirmation from a DNR spokesman that the department is willing to collaborate on licensing and permit requirements — a major shift in tone from the agency’s earlier stance.
I’m breaking stories the mainstream media ignores. Sign up for my FREE newsletter, and if you already have, consider supporting my work for less than $1 a week. Paid subscribers make this possible.
“This was all we had asked from the beginning, and we have shown good faith along the entire way,” Lyson said in a statement Tuesday. “When government and people work together, so much more can be accomplished.”
Click here to donate to Lyson and his mission.
The sanctuary, located on five and a half acres in Washtenaw County, has long provided refuge for domestic ducks and geese that were abandoned or injured. The Lysons said they have cared for thousands of animals over the years, often taking in birds dumped in the wild that could not survive on their own.
The DNR began investigating the couple about a year and a half ago, alleging they lacked proper permits to house certain waterfowl. Lyons says he attempted to apply for permits in 2022, but the response was often delayed due to failure and communication from the DNR.
The said the state initially denied their permit applications in 2023 and ordered the euthanasia of the birds within 30 days — sparking outrage among animal advocates.
The case is still scheduled for trial in early December after being postponed this week. The couple hopes the recent communication from the DNR will pave the way for a resolution.
“We sincerely hope they keep their word and we can work together and create unthinkable results,” Lyson said. “We are the stewards of God’s creatures, not their captors.”
Lyson said the organization remains committed to caring for the animals and advocating for cooperation between government officials and private rescuers.
“The DNR is supposed to be an organization that is about conservation, supposed to help animals,” he said. “If somebody is out there willing to spend their time and money to do something, bothering no one at all, they should not be harassed.”
Click here to donate to Lyson’s rescue.
The DNR has not yet issued a public statement on the latest developments.
Supporters of the sanctuary have rallied behind the Lysons, calling on state officials to find a humane solution. The couple continues to operate under their nonprofit status and is asking the public for continued support as they await the outcome of the December court date.