| Wisconsin Islands Wilderness | |
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| Location | Door County,Wisconsin,USA |
| Nearest city | Liberty Grove, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 45°12′32″N86°58′38″W / 45.2090127°N 86.9773006°W /45.2090127; -86.9773006 |
| Area | 29 acres (12 ha) |
| Established | 1970 (1970) |
| Governing body | United States Fish & Wildlife Service |
TheWisconsin Islands Wilderness is a 29-acre (12 ha)[1]wilderness area located inDoor County in northeasternWisconsin. It is one of the smallest wilderness areas in the United States. Managed by theU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the wilderness area is composed of three islands inLake Michigan.
The islands comprising the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness were initially declared anational preserve and breeding ground for migratory birds around 1913, and designated as wildlife refuges shortly thereafter. Plum Island and Pilot Island both have lighthouse facilities (thePlum Island Range Lights and thePilot Island Light, both on theU.S. National Register of Historic Places), and have had minorU.S. Coast Guard presence, even as late as 2007.[2] However, Spider, Hog, and Gravel Islands have always remained uninhabited in the post-settlement era. In 1970, these three islands were designated a wilderness area under theWilderness Act.
The Wisconsin Islands Wilderness is managed by theU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and is composed of three islands inLake Michigan:
The three islands are largelylimestone anddolomite outcroppings of theNiagara Escarpment, exhibit geology typical of changing water levels and glaciation, and rise only a few feet above the surface of Lake Michigan.Canadian yew,red raspberry, andred-berried elder grow on Hog Island, while only the remnants of a mixedbirch, cedar, andtamarack forest remains on Spider Island, after having succumbed to thousands of nesting birds. There is no known vegetation on Gravel Island.
The nesting grounds of the islands support many types ofcolonial birds, includingshorebirds,seabirds, andducks. Spider and Gravel Islands are one of the westernmost breeding grounds of thegreat black-backed gull. All three islands have significant colonies ofherring gulls anddouble-crested cormorants.Caspian terns can be found on Gravel Island. Spider Island also supports a number ofwaterfowl species, including theAmerican black duck,Canada geese, and themallard.Red-breasted mergansers andgreat blue herons can be found on Hog Island.
Contrary to the original plan when the Wilderness Area was founded,[3] no public access is allowed.[2][4] This is due to the fragile nature of the bird habitats. Boaters are required to stay one-quarter mile (0.40 km) from shore, both to limit accidents on the rocky shoals surrounding the islands and to protect the nesting bird species. In 1969, a joint meeting of several U.S. House subcommittees was held in preparation for the Wilderness Area designation. U.S. Representatives present at the meeting were told by John Gottschalk, the Director of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, that out of the six lake islands included in the plans for the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness and theMichigan Islands Wilderness, five of them would be open to the general public.[3]
Lake Michigan Islands | ||||
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