3 minute read
More Marshes To Explore This Spring
Jonna Mayberry
Jonna Mayberry is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.
Springtime is the perfect season to get outdoors and explore a marsh.
As you’ve learned elsewhere in this issue, our state has some well-known marshes, but there are plenty of other gems. We did some digging to highlight a few of these locales.
Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area
Dewey Marsh contains a large expanse of relatively undisturbed northern sedge meadow, including smaller islands of tamarack and black spruce swamp, paper birch and white pine woods and ericaceous bog (plants of the heather family, like the cranberry).
The marsh is dominated by blue-joint grass, steeple bush and wire-leaved sedges, with cattails and burreed. It forms the headwaters of Hay Meadow Creek.
Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area
Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area is a 2,600-acre property located in eastern Washington County. The property is comprised mainly (60%) of forested wetland. The nearly 600-acre Jackson Marsh State Natural Area forms the property’s core and includes remnant white cedar swamp and southern swamp hardwood communities.
Cherokee Marsh Fishery Area
This marsh is an urban escape in Madison. It feels like you’re out in the middle of nowhere, but you’re still right in the city.
Cherokee Marsh is part of an extensive wetland complex of over 2,000 acres, jointly owned by the city of Madison and the DNR. Many species of mammals and birds use Cherokee Marsh, which was designated a state natural area in 1976.
Powell Marsh Wildlife Area
Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area spans more than 4,300 acres in Vilas County. Its large peatland complex contains several unique wetland and plant communities, making it a favorite area for birders, trappers and waterfowl hunters.
Peters Marsh Wildlife Area
This wildlife area covers 1,687 acres in central Langlade County. The property includes forests, wetlands and native grasslands. The diversity of cover provides habitat for numerous wildlife species, including waterfowl, ruffed grouse, deer, turkey, black bear, woodcock, snowshoe hare and beaver.
Leola Marsh Wildlife Area
This 2,550-acre property is located 15 miles southeast of Wisconsin Rapids. The wildlife area is predominately nonnative cool-season grassland that was formerly marsh, drained by the many ditches dug during the first part of the 1900s.
Leola Marsh sits in the heart of the area first studied in the 1950s through 1970s by noted Wisconsin naturalists Frances and Frederick Hamerstrom, who examined the habitat needs of Wisconsin’s greater prairie chickens. The property is home to many grassland bird species of conservation need, as well as the state-threatened greater prairie chicken and upland sandpiper.
If you enjoy birding, make the trip and walk across large tracts of open public grassland. Many butterfly species, including purplish coppers, silver-bordered fritillaries and monarchs, can also be found here.
McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area
A short drive north of Marshfield, this wildlife area is approximately 6,500 acres of primarily shallow marshes and shrub wetlands with scattered grasslands, upland hardwoods and aspen stands. It provides a valuable habitat for many game and nongame wildlife species.
Hunting, trapping, bird watching and hiking are some of the most popular activities on the property. A 5.5-mile seasonal bike trail (open May 1-Aug. 31) is also a popular attraction.
