On the Ground: Volunteers Enhance Game Bird Habitat at Potterville State Game Area

Kristina Kennedy • May 4, 2022

Volunteers work to plant 270 shrubs in Potterville SGA.

This past Saturday, April 30, 2022, 9 On the Ground volunteers gathered at the south entrance of Potterville State Game Area (SGA) to assist Eaton Conservation District in planting 270 native trees and shrubs.

Silky dogwood is a popular mast-producing plant that provides forage for wildlife including rabbits, white-tailed deer and pheasants.

The Potterville SGA is a relatively new land acquisition by the MI DNR and was purchased under the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. This area is currently being managed for grassland restoration to increase pheasant and small game hunting opportunity. In 2021, Eaton Conservation District (ECD) was awarded a grant that will aid in wetland restoration and wildlife enhancement at the SGA through 2023. With funds from this grant, ECD purchased tree and shrub seedlings to be planted by volunteers for Arbor Day. The group of volunteers was small, but with hard work and determination, all plants were put in the ground in under 3 hours! In total, volunteers impacted 8 acres of wildlife habitat on public land.

Species that were planted included highbush cranberry, American hazelnut, silky dogwood, and buttonbush. These mast-producing plants will provide a variety of wildlife with cover and forage for years to come. For more information on wildlife-friendly shrubs and trees that you can plant in your own backyard, click HERE.

If you would like to get involved in an On the Ground project near you, visit our events page at mucc.org/on-the-ground/.

Recent Posts

On the Ground: Jack Pine Planting Day 2026

By Olivia Triltsch • May 7, 2026
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, a group of dedicated volunteers joined Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, Huron Pines, Saginaw Children’s Zoo, and MUCC's OTG program in planting approximately 4,800 jack pine saplings within the Grayling Forest Management Unit in Crawford County. Jack pines are a critical nesting habitat feature for the once-threatened Kirtland’s warbler. In total, volunteers directly impacted about 7 acres of land were prepared by the Michigan DNR for this planting to allow volunteers to maximize their efforts across the land. This is one of our annual events that is perfect for helpers of all ages and interests.

MUCC Announces Dissolution After Nearly 90 Years of Conservation Advocacy

May 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) announces its decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years of conservation advocacy, citing ongoing financial challenges and outlining next steps in an orderly wind-down process.

On the Ground: Trees and Trash in Grayling Forest Management Unit

By Olivia Triltsch • April 30, 2026
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, MUCC's On the Ground program partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Ruffed Grouse Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers for a crabapple tree planting and dump site clean-up event in the Grayling Forest Management Unit. Volunteers worked as a team to plant, compost, mulch, and fence 25 eight-foot trees at various locations in Crawford County on the public lands to offer forage for wildlife. Many species, like grouse, turkey, and deer, utilize mast-producing trees for food when other resources are not available. These trees were planted along an old logging road for both game and non-game wildlife, while enhancing the local recreational opportunities. Another group of volunteers branched off to remove trash from three dump sites on public land in Kalkaska County, which included couches, mattresses, shingles, and tires. Volunteers filled a 30-yard dumpster with trash found in the landscape in an attempt to keep the environment better than how it was found while improving future recreational opportunities. In total, volunteers directly enhanced 2.1 acres of wildlife habitat through this project.
More Posts