On the Ground: Improving Wildlife Habitat Across Southern Michigan

Sarah Scheitz • February 29, 2024

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, OTG traveled to the Port Huron State Game Area to partner with the Michigan DNR’s Wildlife Division. 22 volunteers, including 10 from the Michigan Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer program, came together to build brush piles in a managed clear-cut. Forest clear-cuts are a valuable tool for managing habitat for wildlife. By building brush piles in the clear-cut, volunteers removed dense down logs and branches from the ground. This will allow regeneration of trees, which will provide browse for white-tailed deer and habitat for woodcocks. The combination of clearing brush from the ground and building brush piles will provide many benefits to a variety of wildlife.

The second OTG project site of the week was at the Gourdneck State Game Area in Kalamazoo County on Saturday, February 24, 2024. OTG partnered with the Michigan DNR and the City of Portage Parks and Recreation Department to restore a unique ecosystem.Volunteer removing invasive species to improve wildlife habitatVolunteers helped improve wildlife habitat by removing glossy buckthorn and other invasive shrubs from a prairie fen. Cut stumps were treated with herbicide to prevent future regrowth in an effort to allow native vegetation the opportunity to regenerate. Volunteers improved a total of 3 acres of land.

A special thank you to all our volunteers for their hard work and dedication to habitat conservation!

 

Recent Posts

On the Ground: Clean Up at Yates Park

By Olivia Triltsch • April 23, 2026
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, MUCC’s OTG program partnered with the Clinton River Watershed Council and Metro-West Steelheaders to host the annual Clinton River clean-up at Yates Park. Volunteers removed about 270 pounds of trash from the riverbanks and the surrounding watershed. Approximately 80.3 acres of fish and wildlife habitat were directly impacted by this project, in addition to improving local outdoor recreational opportunities. Cleaning up the watershed is critical for ensuring safe drinking water, safe recreation, and a clean habitat for fish and wildlife alike.

OTG Volunteers Needed in Crawford County Tree Plantings

By Olivia Triltsch • April 16, 2026
MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG) will be in the northern lower peninsula in late spring to improve habitat for wildlife. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, April 25th, from 8 AM to 12 PM and Saturday, May 3rd, from 9 AM to 2 PM to plant trees across Crawford County. These projects will take place rain or shine, except in the event of severe weather, so please dress accordingly. All registered volunteers will receive lunch and a free appreciation gift for their efforts.

White Oaks vs Red Oaks: Why Does It Matter?

By Olivia Triltsch • April 9, 2026
Oaks are a critical tree species for wildlife in Michigan as they provide food, cover, and long-term habitat in forests, field edges, and public lands. Both red oaks and white oaks are native to Michigan, but there are differences in management between the species, making an impact on conservation and hunting success. The growth patterns are important to understand when planning for land management due to variation in growth, acorn production (mast), and wildlife use.
More Posts