OTG Volunteers Plant Trees in the Escanaba River State Forest in Menominee County

lschultz • September 23, 2021

An OTG volunteer plants one of 80 trees in the Escanaba River State Forest near Daggett Township in Menominee County.

On Saturday, September 18, 2021, a group of 11 volunteers gathered in the Escanaba River State Forest in Menominee County of the Upper Peninsula to plant native trees and shrubs throughout a 9.5-acre parcel of public land.

Home to a larger habitat restoration effort by the Michigan DNR and the Menominee County Pheasant Club, the project site boasts beautiful landscapes and quality habitat for wildlife like ruffed grouse, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer. Ring-necked pheasants are also released annually for hunting purposes. The work completed by MUCC’s On the Ground program volunteers will further enhance the restoration efforts at this site.

Since there were two primary planting locations for the 80 native trees and shrubs, volunteers split into two groups to begin the process of getting the trees planted and fenced. The 80 trees were comprised of a mix of crabapple, hawthorn, and highbush cranberry species, all of which are native soft mast-producing species. As these species continue to mature and bear fruit, their benefits to wildlife will continue to grow as well. Species that will benefit from this tree planting range from songbirds and wild turkey to larger species like white-tailed deer and black bear.

Due to preparatory work completed by Michigan DNR Wildlife Division staff and MUCC staff the week leading up to the event, all of the large holes were augered and the trees and fencing materials were placed by each individual planting location. The only holes that needed to be dug by volunteers were for the smaller hawthorn trees, which were planted in groups of three.

Volunteers made quick work of the tree planting, often working in teams to plant and fence each tree or group of trees. Following the successful tree planting, volunteers regrouped in the parking lot for a lunch provided by MUCC. Each volunteer was given an OTG t-shirt or one of the new OTG coffee mugs as an appreciation gift for their volunteer efforts. The event concluded at 1 p.m.

This tree planting was made possible through a grant from the Caterpillar Foundation of Caterpillar, Inc. and a partnership with One Tree Planted. Part of a larger, global reforestation effort, this project was one of more than 90 similar tree plantings happening across the world. MUCC is a proud partner of this reforestation effort in Michigan, and you can learn more about Caterpillar’s work HERE .

To learn more about MUCC’s award-winning On the Ground volunteer wildlife habitat improvement program, please visit mucc.org/on-the-ground .

 

Recent Posts

Michigan Senators Drop New License Fee Package

By Justin Tomei • May 2, 2025
Yesterday, Senators John Cherry (D-Flint) and Jon Bumstead (R-North Muskegon) released a standalone license fee package, overhauling the fees associated for hunters, trappers, and anglers, and creating new revenue for the Department of Natural Resources. Senate Bills 276 and 277 referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee, represent the newest proposal to fund the DNR after the failure of HB 6229 in late 2024. The legislation would fund the DNR with additional license fees, and a backfill mechanism to reimburse the department for several license discounts, and lost commission to license vendors. This legislation is a project from the senators and differs dramatically from the executive proposed budget earlier this year. Some new costs as proposed in the legislation: Base License: $15 Hunt/Fish Combo: $100 Complete License: $150 All Species Fish: $30 Deer License: $25 (Combo is $50) Antlerless Deer License: $5 (mandated 80% discount from the $25) Child Deer License: $10 (new license) Mentored Hunting License: $10 Turkey: $18 Bear: $30 Elk: $125 Waterfowl: $18 Fur Harvester: $18 Bobcat: $30 (new paid kill tag) In addition to a base license, a combination hunt/fish license, and an all-species fishing license, a $5 surcharge will be included, the funding from the surcharge is restricted to Hunters Feeding Michigan, the Michigan Wildlife Council, and a newly created hunting and fishing education recruitment fund. All licenses will be tied to the Consumer Price Index providing a permanent mechanism for license fees to keep up with inflation. Sen. Cherry said this bill is not a DNR or Executive proposal, but rather a passion project from a pair of hunters. "My friend senator Bumstead and myself started this package as a passion project of two Michigan hunters. The goal of this package is to ensure the DNR has the resources it needs to protect, manage, and improve our great natural resources. We strove to create a mechanism to invest in protecting our hunting and fishing heritage and better align our deer licensing structure to reflect the modern realities of Michigan's deer herd, all while minimizing the burden on Michigan's hunters, trappers, and anglers,” said Sen. Cherry. “I look forward to continuing this work with my Senate and House colleagues to deliver good policy for the people of the State of Michigan." Sen. Bumstead reiterated his passion for this legislation, and the need to ensure the DNR has the funds necessary to properly manage all the state's natural resources. “As an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and conservation work, it was imperative to me that I was involved in this legislative package. Senator Cherry and I got together to work on this package to help ensure that our hunting and fishing cultures can continue to thrive in our state. What we have introduced here, is a product of bills that reflects the input of our sportsman communities and the needs of the DNR to continue protecting and managing habitats and species in Michigan, while minimizing the financial impact of these changes on our hunters,” said Sen. Bumstead. “I am proud of the work that Senator Cherry and I have done thus far and am eager to continue working with my Senate and House counterparts to provide necessary and meaningful policy changes to protect our state’s hunting and fishing heritage.” Michigan United Conservation Clubs supports long-term, sustainable funding solutions for the Department of Natural Resources that ensure the continued protection and enhancement of our natural resources, fish and wildlife populations, and access to outdoor recreation. The organization will continue to monitor this, and another proposal for increased DNR funding.

OTG Volunteers Needed in St. Clair and Wayne/Monroe Counties

By Olivia Triltsch • May 1, 2025
Volunteers are needed on Saturday, May 10th, from 9 AM to 12 PM to plant trees and on Saturday, May 17th, from 9 AM to 2 PM to clean up a watershed in a local State Game Area.

Species Spotlight: The Kirtland's Warbler

By Katelyn Helsel • April 30, 2025
As spring gets fully underway and the warmer weather hits, many birds are in the process of migrating back to Michigan. The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology reports that during peak migration periods, as many as one billion birds could be in the skies in a single night. Michigan is home to many migratory birds, from small red-wing blackbirds to larger sandhill cranes. One migratory species you might see, more so if you live in northern Michigan, is the rare Kirtland’s warbler. This bird has a long and detailed conservation story and has come back from the brink of extinction with the help of strong conservation efforts.
More Posts