| French Creek Wildlife Area | |
|---|---|
| French Creek State Wildlife Area | |
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)[1] | |
 | |
  Location within Wisconsin Show map of Wisconsin French Creek Wildlife Area (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Columbia County andMarquette County,Wisconsin |
| Nearest city | Portage,WI |
| Coordinates | 43°37′16″N89°24′2″W / 43.62111°N 89.40056°W /43.62111; -89.40056 |
| Area | 3,506 acres (14.19 km2) |
| Established | 1947 |
| Governing body | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |
TheFrench Creek Wildlife Area is a 3,506 acres (1,419 ha) tract ofprotected land located inColumbia County andMarquette County,Wisconsin, managed by theWisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).[2] Land to be used for the wildlife area was first acquired in 1947 to provide for increased production ofwildfowl and hunting opportunities. Prior to 1947, the area was used for the cultivation ofwire grass which is used for the creation of grass rugs and mats.
The French Creek Wildlife Area is trisected into three different areas; the all-encompassing French Creek Wildlife Area, the French Creek North Natural Area, and the French Creek Fen Natural Area. The French Creek North Natural Area is a 1,439 acres (582 ha)exclave of the wildlife area consisting of mostlywetland and some shallow open water sections.[3] The French Creek Fen Natural Area, however, is found within the defined borders of the French Creek Wildlife Area, and has an area of 219 acres (89 ha).[4]
There are 14 different types of cover in the wildlife area, including agriculture, aspen, central hardwood, developed, forested wetland, grassland, marsh, oak woodland, shrub wetland, tamarack, upland conifer, upland shrub, water, and the most common, sedge meadows.
| Cover type | Acres | Percentage cover |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | 51 | 1% |
| Aspen | 50 | 1% |
| Central hardwood | 10 | <1% |
| Developed | 4 | <1% |
| Forested wetland | 36 | 1% |
| Grassland | 545 | 16% |
| Marsh | 490 | 14% |
| Oak woodland | 490 | 14% |
| Sedge meadows | 850 | 24% |
| Shrub wetland | 650 | 19% |
| Tamarack | 140 | 4% |
| Upland conifer | 25 | <1% |
| Upland shrub | 15 | <1% |
| Water | 150 | 4% |
| Total acreage | 3,506 | 100% |
The most prominent species of trees that can be found in the wildlife area are oak andtamarack, in addition to various other hardwood trees native to the region. The wildlife area is otherwise dominated bysedges, a grass-like plant.
A popular activity in the wildlife area is hunting, with there being a sizable population ofdeer,turkey, and other wildfowl in the area. There is currently apheasant restocking program in the wildlife area, which furthers the agenda of turning the area into a sustainable hunting preserve.[5]