On the Ground: Volunteers Clean Up Pointe Mouillee State Game Area

Olivia Triltsch • May 22, 2025

On Saturday, May 17th, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) partnered with Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival (PWMF) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to host a clean-up at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Wayne/Monroe County. Trash and debris were disposed of via a dumpster donated by All In Dumpster Rental. The game area consists of 4,040 acres managed by the Michigan DNR along with other partners, including PMWF, as part of one of the largest freshwater marsh habitat restoration projects globally, according to the DNR.

Volunteers Unite to Restore Marsh Habitat

A total of 18 volunteers helped improve habitat in Pointe Mouillee State Game Area by removing approximately 3,560 pounds of trash and debris. Among the volunteers were passionate birders, photographers, anglers, and waterfowl hunters alike, looking to maintain the natural beauty of the area. Trash littered around the area included furniture, tires, and car parts, among other things, left to deteriorate. By removing the trash from the state game area, volunteers improved over 132 acres of fish and wildlife habitat along the shores of Lake Erie.

Why is this Important?

Trash cleanups are critical in protecting habitat for fish and wildlife, which can cause more harm than some may consider if the debris remains. Various species, both aquatic and terrestrial, can ingest litter or get trapped in debris, contributing to a local decline in population depending on the severity. Michigan’s watersheds inevitably lead into the Great Lakes system, whose health impacts the economy of the state. Following large rains, even the debris furthest from the waterways can be transported to culverts and stormwater systems, ending up in lakes and streams. Even a few organized clean-ups a year, along with mindful recreation, can make an impact, creating a cleaner habitat and freshwater.

Learn More

Want to volunteer your time to improve habitat for wildlife? Visit mucc.org/on-the-ground for more information and a list of upcoming projects. The On the Ground program works to conserve and enhance Michigan’s natural resources by hosting volunteer projects to improve wildlife habitat. Common habitat projects include brush pile building, invasive species removal, river cleanups, tree plantings, and more. All ages are welcome to attend, so bring a friend or two if you’d like! Families are welcome as well. Registered volunteers receive lunch and a free appreciation gift for their efforts. Additionally, check out the annual Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival this year on September 13th-14th.

Upcoming Projects:

June 21, 2025 – Native Wildflower and Grass Planting at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (Barry County)

July 12, 2025 – Manistee River Clean Up at High Bridge Boat Launch (Manistee County) - Registration opens soon

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Uncommon Whitetails: Antlered Does

By Olivia Triltsch • November 20, 2025

If you have ever seen a deer with velveted antlers at strange times of the year, it may have been a rare sighting of an antlered doe. Unusual circumstances like this allow for the antlered and antlerless deer tags to still apply as imposed by the Michigan DNR deer regulations, as it can be difficult to identify a doe from a buck while in the field, aside from the presence of antlers. Often, hunters who tag an antlered doe do not find out it is a female until they go to field dress their kill.