On 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 MoreA Great Year of Service
Today is the final day of my first term of service with Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program. Even though so much has occurred since I began my service, it is still hard to believe that ten months have passed since my first day. Back in February, like all other…
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 MoreDeer Regulations Appear at November NRC, Wolves Discussed
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) met Thursday to review proposed rules for the 2021 deer hunting season. These include a removal of the Upper Peninsula’s (U.P.) “Hunter’s Choice” option, the creation of a universal antlerless license and legalizing crossbows during the late U.P. archery season. However, most of the public comment period centered around…
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 MoreTests needed for Bovine TB Surveillance Program
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) work in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish surveillance quotas in order to detect changes in the occurrence of bovine TB in free-ranging white-tailed deer. The seven counties surrounding MDARD’s Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ) have…
Read More2021 Deer Regulations Appear at November NRC Meeting
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will meet Thursday to review new rules for the 2021 deer hunting season, including a universal antlerless license, removal of the Upper Peninsula’s (U.P.) “Hunter’s Choice” option and the use of crossbows during the late archery season in the U.P. Each of these rules, and others presented in WCO…
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…
Read MoreMUCC’s Statement on Federal Wolf Delisting Announcement
Michigan United Conservation Clubs strongly supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s final rule that delists the gray wolf in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Western Great Lakes Region gray wolf population is beyond recovered. Science dictates the management decisions of our natural resources in Michigan, and the wolf population in our state needs management.…
Read MoreOTG Wraps Up 2020 Field Season
This past Saturday, the MUCC 2020 field season wrapped up with an On the Ground native tree planting near Kalkaska. It was a crisp fall day, and I am thankful that it was dry because it was a very good day to be outside planting trees. This particular project was funded in part by a…
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