Posts Tagged ‘Public Land’
Garlic 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: 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: more than 4,000 volunteers engaged through statewide habitat improvement efforts
The final day of September marked the end of MUCC’s 2023 fiscal year. Last year’s volunteer turnout brought a lot of excitement for the On the Ground team as 771 volunteers joined us out in the field, marking the most volunteers in a single year since the program’s inception in 2013! On the Ground…
Read MoreVolunteer with On the Ground to Help Restore One of Michigan’s Most Endangered Habitats: The Oak Savanna
Habitat improvement projects are always gratifying work, especially when they benefit rare habitats such as oak savannas. We often hear about how habitat restoration efforts impact charismatic species like white-tailed deer or wild turkeys, but many lesser-known species benefit from these projects just the same. Rare insects such as the dusted skipper, grizzled skipper, monarch…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Volunteers helped deFENd unique habitat at Gourdneck State Game Area
On Saturday, September 9, 2023, 26 On the Ground 21 volunteers gathered at Gourdneck State Game Area in Kalamazoo County to remove woody invasives from a unique prairie fen habitat. In total, 2 acres of public land were improved by the removal of woody invasives like glossy buckthorn, autumn olive, and honeysuckle. Volunteers split up…
Read MoreOak Savannas are more than OAK-ay: Volunteer with On the Ground in Kent County to Help Restore One of our State’s Rarest Habitat Types
Join MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG) program in partnership with Kent Conservation District for an oak savanna habitat restoration day at Cannonsburg State Game Area. Oak savannas can be defined as groups of scattered oak trees, acting as a transition system between prairies and woodland habitats. The scattered trees allow plenty of sunlight on the…
Read MoreHelp Remove Invasive Buckthorn with On the Ground Next Weekend in Kalamazoo County!
On Saturday, September 9, 2023, OTG will be co-hosting a stewardship work day with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the City of Portage Parks and Recreation Department at Gourdneck State Game Area in Kalamazoo County. Our goal is to remove invasive buckthorn from a unique prairie fen habitat. Invasive buckthorn is a woody…
Read MoreMichigan and The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
In 1968, Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act establishing the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (NWSRS) to preserve free-flowing rivers for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects more than 13,400 miles of rivers and streams in the U.S. The Forest Service is involved in…
Read MoreBrush Hour! Reese Middle School Volunteers Remove Invasive Vegetation and Build Brush Piles at Denmark Township State Game Area
On Wednesday, May 10, 32 students and faculty from the Reese Middle School Out-of-Doors Club participated in MUCC’s On the Ground Jr. program. Students cleared invasive vegetation from Denmark Township State Game Area and built brush piles as part of a grassland improvement project. This grassland is home to various wildlife from ring-necked pheasants and…
Read MoreSpring into April with these On the Ground Opportunities
Warm weather has finally arrived in Michigan; the birds are singing, and the spring buds are blooming. What better way to enjoy this warm weather than by going outside to help enhance habitat for Michigan’s wildlife? There are multiple opportunities to volunteer with On the Ground (OTG) this April. From watershed cleanups to building brush…
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