On The Ground
On the Ground: Volunteers clean up the Clinton River Watershed
On Saturday, April 13, 2024, MUCC’s On the Ground program traveled to Yates Park to host the annual Clinton River cleanup in partnership with the Clinton River Watershed Council and Metro-West Steelheaders. MUCC has held a long-standing partnership with these organizations since 2014, and each year we partner with them to host a trash cleanup…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Spring Volunteer Opportunities
Are you looking for a way to give back and help improve wildlife habitat this spring? Look no further! On the Ground has many volunteer opportunities available throughout April and into May. Now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather while improving public lands here in Michigan. We…
Read MoreGarlic Mustard: The Edible Invasive
Have you ever heard of an invasive species that you can eat? Now you have! Garlic mustard, also called poor man’s mustard, hedge garlic, and garlic root, is an invasive species of plant found across the northern United States. It hails from Europe and Asia and was introduced to the United States in the 1800s…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Long-Term Partnerships
MUCC’s On the Ground program has been going strong since its inception in 2013. Funded by an MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, On the Ground has been able to complete a variety of habitat improvement projects statewide. The program celebrated 10 years in 2023 with a total…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Improving Wildlife Habitat Across Southern Michigan
MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG) program had a busy week in Southern Michigan. OTG traveled from the Southeast side in Port Huron to the Southwest side in Portage to host volunteer stewardship projects to improve habitat for wildlife. In a single week, volunteers improved about 20 acres of public land. On Friday, February 23, 2024,…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Volunteers improve Wood Duck Nest Boxes at Maple River State Game Area
On Saturday, February 17, 2024, MUCC’s On the Ground program partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to maintain and install nest boxes for wood ducks at Maple River State Game Area. Wood ducks are one of the most stunning waterfowl in Michigan and are very popular among hunters and birders alike. They…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Volunteers Build “Rabbitat” at Bellevue Conservation Club
On Saturday, February 3, 2024, MUCC’s On the Ground Program hosted a brush pile-building event in partnership with the Bellevue Conservation Club. Brush piles are called “rabbitat” because they provide habitat for rabbits and many other species, including chipmunks, squirrels, mice, snakes, and ground-nesting birds. Brush piles are also used as hunting grounds for hawks,…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Volunteers Restore a Prairie Ecosystem at Fort Custer Recreation Area
On Saturday, January 27, 2024, 18 On the Ground (OTG) volunteers gathered at Fort Custer State Recreation Area in Kalamazoo County to remove woody vegetation from a prairie management area. In total, about 56 acres of public land were improved by the removal of woody vegetation like Siberian elm and Eastern cottonwoods. Although Eastern cottonwoods…
Read MoreOTG Volunteers Needed: Edge-feathering and Brush Pile Building at Bellevue Conservation Club
MUCC’s On the Ground Program is excited to be partnering with the Bellevue Conservation Club. Volunteers are needed on February 3, 2024, at 9:00 AM to help create edge-feathering and build brush piles at the Bellevue Conservation Club. To register for the event, click HERE. The Bellevue Conservation Club (BCC) was established in 1928. Since…
Read MoreKick Off the New Year By Helping Wildlife
What’s a better way to start the new year than helping improve wildlife habitat on public lands near you? Join MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG) program in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on January 13th and January 27th to help remove invasive vegetation to make room for native plants to grow.…
Read More