Apostle Islands Maritime Cliffs

State Natural Area (No. 267)

Location: Within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Otter Island and Devils Island, Ashland County. T52N-R3W, Sections 1, 2 (Otter Island). T53N-R3W, Section 10 (Devils Island). 28 Acres.

Access: Public access is restricted due to the sensitive nature of the site. Contact the State Natural Areas Program for more information about visiting this site.

Description: Two Lake Superior islands -- Otter and Devils -- within the Apostle Islands archipelago contain units of this State Natural Area. Both sites feature exposed sandstone cliffs and caves sculpted by wind, water, and ice. On Otter Island, the natural area consists of about 1 mile of cliffs on the north end of the island. Rare plants find refuge on the semi-shaded, dripping sandstone cliff faces and bluff edges. These include fir club-moss (Lycopodium selago), adder’s-tongue (Ophioglossum pusillum) and the state-threatened spike trisetum (Trisetum spicatum). The cliffs on the north end of Devils Island are similar, and harbor hair-like sedge (Carex capillaris), bird’s-eye primrose (Primula mistassinica), and the state-threatened beautiful sedge (Carex concinna). Both islands support large populations of the state-endangered butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), our only terrestrial carnivorous plant. The yellow-green leaves of butterwort secrete a sticky glaze that acts like flypaper to grip insects and other invertebrates. Enzymes produced by the leaves slowly dissolve the prey. The plant then absorbs the nutrients released by the dissolved organisms. These and two other Apostle Island sites are the only know locations for butterwort in the state. The Apostle Islands Maritime Cliffs are owned by the National Park Service and were designated a State Natural Area in 1992.