Tamarack Creek Bog

State Natural Area (No. 60)

Location: Within Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area, Trempealeau County. T19N-R9W, Section 3. T20N-R9W, Section 34. 130 acres.

Access: From the intersection of Highways 93 and 35/54 in Centerville, go west on 35 0.5 mile, then north on County F 6.6 miles. Park along the road and walk east into the site. To reach the northern unit, continue north on F 0.9 mile to a parking area on the west side of the road. Walk east into the site. The two units are indicated on the map.

Description: Tamarack Creek Bog consists of one of the largest tamarack swamps in the Driftless Area outside the Glacial Lake Wisconsin area. The swamp forest and open marsh occur along both sides of Tamarack Creek and its tributaries in a zone 0.25 to 0.5 mile wide and about 6 miles long. The occurrence of this large wetland complex in the ridge and coulee region may be a result of Tamarack Creek aggrading its stream bed when the Mississippi gorge was flooded with glacial melt waters. Numerous species typical of northern Wisconsin bogs are present including many orchids, balsam fir, Canada yew, yellow blue-bead-lily, American starflower, and several violets. Nesting birds are diverse and include the uncommon Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii). Many mouse and vole species support such predators as red fox and the least and long-tailed weasels. The best area of tamaracks are in the northern unit. Poison sumac is abundant here. Tamarack Creek Bog is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1968.