Volunteers are needed to help inventory plant and wildlife species present on a portion of land at Crow Island State Game Area in Saginaw County. A volunteer workday, hosted by the Department of Natural Resources and ITC Holdings Corporation, is set for Monday, Aug. 4, starting at at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the East Unit parking area, just north of the Zilwaukee Bridge and I-75 off-ramp on the east side of M-13/Bay City Road.

ITC partnered with the DNR, the Wildlife Habitat Council and the National Wild Turkey Federation to implement wildlife habitat enhancement within and adjacent to ITC's high-voltage electric transmission corridors crossing the Crow Island State Game Area.

Four areas (portions of the Stork, East, Panko and Baldpate units) totaling approximately 100 acres received woody invasive species control measures during ITC vegetation management. Some of the cut, woody material was utilized to create brush rows and piles for wildlife habitat. The ITC-Crow Island State Game Area Partnership was first certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council in 2013 as an ITC Wildlife at Work program. Plant and wildlife surveys will help characterize habitat use and the results will be used to document Wildlife Habitat Council program monitoring efforts and inform future management activities.

Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome for the workday. DNR and ITC staff members and ecologists from Environmental Consulting and Technology, Inc. will be on hand to review the use of various field guides and reference materials and assist with plant and wildlife identification.

Volunteers are asked to:

• Bring binoculars, hand lenses and their favorite field guides (if they have those items).
  
• Dress for the weather.
  
• Wear jeans or work pants and boots (the ground may be wet in some areas).
  
• Bring a lunch and water bottle.

Volunteers will be asked to sign a volunteer waiver before beginning work. Those under 18 will need to have a parent or guardian signature before working. Anyone seeking more information about the Aug. 4 workday is asked to call Holly Vaughn at 313-396-6863.

Contact: Holly Vaughn, 313-396-6863Call: 313-396-6863 or Ed Golder, 517-284-5815Call: 517-284-5815