Black Tern Bog

State Natural Area (No. 49)

Location: Vilas County. T40N-R6E, Section 11 NE1/4. 26 acres.

Access: From Woodruff, go north on Highway 51 about 5 miles. The bog lies on the east side of the highway, 1.1 miles north of Farming Road and 3.3 miles north of State Highway 70.

Description: Black Tern Bog consists of two small seepage lakes in a pitted outwash plain and contains an outstanding flora including several rare and unusual species. About 20 acres of quaking sphagnum bog surround the bog lakes and contain such characteristic species as sundew, buckbean, bog-laurel, bog-rosemary, leather-leaf, and cotton grass sedge. Of special interest are uncommon plants including swamp pink (Arethusa bulbosa), rose pogonia, grass pink, and the state endangered bog rush (Juncus stygius). Dwarf white pine and black spruce are found on the bog with second growth hardwoods surrounding it. Uncommon birds include black tern (Chlidonias niger) and American bittern (Botaurus longicauda). Other nesting bird species are killdeer, common snipe, mallard, song sparrow, and red winged blackbird. Black Tern Bog is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1967.