Missaukee Conservation District

10/15/2026

⚠️ WEATHER ALERT ⚠️
Our Chief Meteorologist has issued his official winter forecast. 🐛

According to Michigan folklore, the wider the orange band on a woolly bear caterpillar, the milder the winter ahead. More black means we'd better dig out the snow shovels early.

Science says... he's just a caterpillar. Band width actually depends on his age and how well he ate this year, not on what January has planned.

But honestly? We trust him more than the weather app. 📱❄️

📸 Help us gather data! Spotted a woolly bear crossing the road or trail? Post your photo in the comments with the town where you found it. Wide orange band or skinny? We'll tally up the "official" Missaukee County forecast at the end of the month.

10/14/2026

🪸 Happy National Fossil Day! 🪸

Fun fact: Michigan used to be a tropical beach destination. 🏝️

More than 350 million years ago, long before snowstorms and polar vortexes, Michigan sat much closer to the equator and was covered by a warm, shallow sea. Coral reefs thrived here, full of ancient sea creatures.

Those reefs are still here today, turned to stone. Michigan's state stone, the Petoskey stone, is actually a fossilized colony of coral. Each little six-sided shape was once home to a single living coral animal, and the dark dot in the center was its mouth. 😮

So Michigan's still a beach destination... it just requires more fleece now. 🧥❄️

Found a Petoskey stone lately? Share your best find in the comments! 👇

10/13/2026

Renewable Roots Retreat Countdown
🌱 The 3rd Annual Renewable Roots Retreat is November 5 at Timber Wolf Lake Camp. Join fellow land stewards, educators, and conservation enthusiasts for a day of learning, connection, and our annual silent auction. Educators, ask us about scholarships for the Aquatic WILD track! Get tickets: https://missaukeecd.org/renewable-roots-2026

10/12/2026

Meet the unpaid forestry crew of Missaukee County. 🐿️🌳

Every fall, gray and fox squirrels bury thousands of acorns and nuts to get through the winter. They dig a lot of them back up. But not all of them. The ones they forget? Those become the next generation of oak trees.

So basically, some of Michigan's forests exist because a squirrel lost track of its snacks.

Honestly, we relate to forgetting where we put things. 🙃

Want to give your local squirrels (and future oaks) a hand? Leave some leaf litter, plant native oaks and hickories, and let a few acorns stay where they fall.

10/10/2026

Witch Hazel Blooms Now!
Put a spell on your garden. 🧙♀️ While everything else is winding down, native witch hazel is just starting to bloom, with spidery yellow flowers in October and November. It's one of the last food sources for late-season pollinators, and its seed pods pop open to fling seeds up to 30 feet. Spooky AND useful.

10/09/2026

Wicked: Monarchs Defying Gravity
Talk about defying gravity! 🦋 The monarchs that left Michigan this fall are flying up to 3,000 miles to Mexico, and none of them has ever made the trip before. Thanks to everyone who joined our monarch tagging at the Lake City Legacy Garden! Plant native milkweed this fall to welcome the next generation back in spring. 💚

10/08/2026

Scooby-Doo: Unmasking the Lake Villain
Green, slimy algae taking over your favorite lake? Let's pull off the mask… 🔍 It was PHOSPHORUS all along! And it would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling neighbors who keep leaves, grass clippings, and fertilizer out of ditches and storm drains. Zoinks, that's good stewardship!

10/08/2026

🌊 What a day on Crooked Lake! 🌊

On October 7th, more than 40 amazing people rolled up their sleeves for our Natural Shoreline Cleanup. Local community volunteers worked side by side with students from Lake City High School, and together we pulled over 150 pounds of trash out of Crooked Lake and its shoreline. That's 150 pounds that will never wash into our water, tangle up wildlife, or break down into our watershed. 💙

A huge thank you to Rob Hall, Lake Township Supervisor, for helping arrange the air boat, and to our amazing air boat operators who hauled out bag after bag (and gave a few students the ride of the day 🚤). We're also so grateful to Todd Anderson and Jessica Nielsen for giving us access to the campground. Your support made this day possible!

Days like this are what conservation is all about. Healthy lakes don't happen by accident. They happen because neighbors show up for them. Here at the Missaukee Conservation District, we're proud to help teach the next generation to love and care for our lakes, and judging by the smiles and muddy boots, they're already well on their way. 🌿

Thank you to everyone who came out. Our lakes are better because of you!

Did you help out at the cleanup? Share your favorite moment in the comments! 👇

10/07/2026

❤️

🍁Did you know 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women are color blind? If you're on a fall leaf color tour this weekend, stop into the visitor center. We have a few pairs of glasses that correct color-blindness. Try them for free. Specially adapted EnChroma lenses help people who have red-green colorblindness to see color more clearly, distinctly and vibrantly. Scenic viewers or glasses are currently available at several Michigan state parks, with hopes to expand into additional parks in the future. Learn more about DNR locations with color blind scenic viewers or glasses at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/accessibility/color-blind-scenic-viewers

🍂Leaves in the Cadillac area are just beginning to change. Reds are showing in sumac and red maples; yellows are showing on the cherries. Be sure to grab a copy of the Fall Color Guide by the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau! This wonderful brochure features suggested routes for day trips around Cadillac’s lakes and the greater-Cadillac area.

The Carl T. Johnson Hunting & Fishing Center is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through November 8.

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