Posts by Makhayla LaButte
DNR Parks and Recreation Division Hiring Seasonal Employees for 2021
Are you or someone you know interested in working at one of Michigan’s beautiful state parks or recreation areas this summer? The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Recreation Division is currently hiring for more than 1,000 seasonal positions at state parks across the state. If you love working outdoors, interacting with the…
Read MorePrescribed Fire as a Habitat Management Tool in Michigan
Note: Cover photo by Jonathan Schechter. A Brief History of Fire in Michigan Despite being best known for its abundant forest and water resources, Michigan’s natural history has also been molded by fire. Many fire-adapted ecosystems like jack pine forests, oak savannas and grasslands all rely on fire for optimal health and regeneration. Before the…
Read MoreHappy Holidays from OTG
Happy Holidays from the On the Ground (OTG) program! Although 2020 was filled with its fair share of challenges, we still had a very impactful season when it comes to wildlife habitat improvement in Michigan. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers that have helped shape OTG into the award-winning program that it is. We are…
Read MoreOn the Ground: How to Get Involved in 2021
The On the Ground (OTG) program is already adding wildlife habitat improvement events to the 2021 calendar, and we are looking forward to returning to the field with fellow conservationists in the new year. Despite limitations early last field season due to COVID-19, the OTG program was able to end the field season with seven…
Read MoreProject Preproposals Being Accepted for $1.85 Million in Fisheries Habitat Grants
According to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) press release on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, an expected $1.85 million is available in grant funding for fisheries habitat projects. Three themes dominate the grant funding this year and include aquatic habitat conservation, aquatic habitat and recreation in the Au Sable, Manistee, and Muskegon river watersheds,…
Read MoreSurvey Your Hemlock Trees for Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid This Winter
After recent news of the northward spread of invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) to Ludington State Park, it is more important than ever before that hemlock trees on public and private property are checked for the invasive insect. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Thank You, Wildlife Volunteers
Although 2020 has had its fair share of hardships, there is still much to be celebrated and grateful for. This is especially true for the On the Ground (OTG) program, which faced an uncertain fiscal future and limited habitat improvement hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we are now ending the year on a…
Read MorePrevent Oak Wilt by Pruning Oak Trees in the Winter
Oak wilt is a fungal disease that is carried to oak trees by small beetles that feed on the sap produced from fresh wounds to the tree (i.e. pruning, storm damage). The spores of the fungus then move through the vascular system of the infected tree, which is responsible for transporting water throughout the tree.…
Read MoreDNR Seeking Public Comment During Annual Review of State Forest Roads
Michigan boasts thousands of miles of state forest roads that are open for public use. Each year, these forest roads are inventoried by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Resources Division (FRD) and reviewed to ensure accuracy and proper management. Interested members of the public are encouraged to share their comments with the…
Read MoreOn the Ground: 2020 Year in Review
Despite limitations early in the field season due to COVID-19, the On the Ground (OTG) program was still able to improve habitat across the state of Michigan during the 2020 fiscal year (October 2019 through September 2020). While a typical field season usually includes 20-25 habitat projects, the OTG program hosted eight in 2020. Volunteers…
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