Montcalm Conservation District

05/29/2026

Check out this moon poo our staff found at the Comden-Towle Model Forest! 🌕✨
Moon poo, also called false puffball, is a slime mold that grows on dead trees in damp areas of forests throughout the world. Although they can resemble fungi and grow in similar habitats, slime molds are actually formed by groups of amoebas. Moon poo starts out looking like a cluster of small, white eggs before it transforms into a smooth, pearlescent white mass about half the size of a golf ball, like the one pictured. It later becomes silvery and papery as brown spores develop inside. After the spores have dispersed, the moon poo disappears and leaves behind a dark stain on the tree bark. Fun fact: The name moon poo comes from its common name in Mexico, “caca de luna,” which translates to "moon’s excrement."

Learn more about slime molds:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/the-sublime-slime-mold

Learn more about moon poo:
https://ultimate-mushroom.com/slime-molds/480-enteridium-lycoperdon.html
https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/false-puffball.html

05/26/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Montcalm Conservation District Scholarship recipients, Kenzie Karcher of Montabella High School and Ian Mark of Lakeview High School. We wish you both the best in your agricultural, environmental and natural resource studies!

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

Saturday, June 13, MCD is hosting a Float Fundraiser with Flat River Watershed Council and Double R Ranch! Join us at Double R Ranch by 9:00 a.m. for a leisurely kayak float down the Flat River to help the FRWC fund conservation work in the Flat River watershed. Participants can bring their own gear for $25 or rent from Double R Ranch for $40. All participants and gear will be shuttled up to Water Street Park in Belding for an approximately 2.5 hour float back to Double R Ranch. This fundraiser is CASH ONLY.

RSVP’s preferred by Saturday, June 6. To sign up, fill out the registration form by visiting https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1boNgE1UyDjMmEqjsEzOGyIhTUW2Y3vTe-4FRYxt0KlA/edit.

05/21/2026

This past Tuesday and Wednesday, MCD staff had the pleasure of running an invasive species identification activity at Montcalm County Farm Bureau's Project RED at Heritage Village in Sidney! Project RED (Rural Education Day) teaches fourth grade students about agricultural and environmental concepts. Classes were split into groups and tasked with identifying five invasive plants: autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, tree of heaven, Japanese barberry, and garlic mustard. Shout out to the students for their excellent ID skills and a big thank you to Farm Bureau for asking us to participate!

05/20/2026

Our Native Pollinator Wildflower Seed Mix is back in stock! The mix includes native annuals and perennials that grow best in full to partial sun and sandy, loamy soil. Covers 1000 sq ft.

Our $20 mixes can be ordered in person or online at https://www.montcalmcd.org/shop-7.

Online orders must be picked up in person. NO DELIVERY.

05/19/2026

Last Tuesday, MCD staff and volunteers pulled invasive garlic mustard at the Comden-Towle Model Forest! Despite the drizzle, we cleared out a good chunk of the garlic mustard patch near the High Point Trail. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers! We couldn’t have done it without you!

05/18/2026

Spots are still available for our Spring Blooms Plant & Tree ID Walk this Wednesday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m.! To RSVP, visit https://www.montcalmcd.org, email [email protected], or call 989-831-4212 x 2136.

Our Spring Blooms: Plant & Tree ID Walk is next Wednesday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m.! Join us rain or shine for a leisurely walk to see the Comden-Towle Model Forest in bloom.

RSVPs required. Limited spots available. To RSVP, visit https://www.montcalmcd.org, email [email protected], or call 989-831-4212 x 2136.

05/15/2026

Join us Wednesday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m. for a Reptile & Amphibian Adventure led by Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s Autumn Baker and MCD staff! Learn how to find and safely handle the reptiles and amphibians of the Comden-Towle Model Forest. We will walk the trails rain or shine, so please dress for the weather!

RSVP required. Limited spots available. To RSVP, visit https://www.montcalmcd.org/event-details/reptile-amphibian-adventure, email [email protected], or call 989-831-4212 x 2136.