Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area

Located two miles south of Manitowish Waters and seven miles north of Lac du Flambeau, Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is home to waterfowl, deer, ruffed grouse, furbearers, raptors, shorebirds, songbirds and many other types of wildlife. The 4,096-acre property is a large peatland complex with a variety of wetland types and plant communities.

Powell Marsh is a regionally important wetland because of its large size and open character. Without management, this open peatland habitat succeeds to tamarack forest and black spruce muskeg. A combination of prescribed fire, hand-cutting, mowing and shearing, as well as changes in water levels, is used to limit the growth of shrubs and trees while increasing the abundance of grasses and sedges. Control of woody species is the primary required habitat manipulation for many wildlife species. Flowages are managed with periodic draw-downs.

Mammals common to the area include muskrat, beaver, otter, mink, and various species of shrews, mice and voles. A variety of reptiles and amphibians are also found at Powell Marsh, such as the wood frog, American toad, spring peeper, and several species of snakes, salamanders and turtles. Uncommon species include the northern leopard frog, eastern gray tree frog, green frog, western chorus frog and mink frog.

In addition to hunting of waterfowl and trapping of furbearers, birding is a very popular activity at Powell Marsh. Species commonly observed include a variety of waterfowl, waterbirds, migrant shorebirds, open-area birds, such as sharp-tailed grouse and sandhill crane, the red-winged blackbird, sedge wren, bobolink, common snipe, song sparrow and swamp sparrow. Several uncommon to rare species, including Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow, LeConte's sparrow, yellow rail, short-eared owl, northern harrier, American bittern and merlin, are also often seen. Bald eagles and osprey occasionally hunt the flowages. Migration can bring large numbers of waterfowl, shorebirds and passerines.

An 1800-acre refuge within the marsh is maintained to protect wildlife from hunting and other disturbances. Entry into this posted area is not allowed from September 1 to December 1.

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