Big Swamp Tamarack Fen State Natural Area (Town of Canton, Wisconsin)

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Situated in a large wetland complex on the drainage divide between Bear and Farrington Creeks, Big Swamp Tamarack Fen is the largest tamarack relict in the Driftless Area. Since the mid 1980's, disease and/or insect infestation has killed many of the larger tamaracks leaving the smallest (less than 4 inches in diameter) to dominate. Poison sumac is abundant throughout the site. Other common species include bog birch, winterberry, willow, elderberry and red-osier dogwood. White pine of moderate size is located in the northwestern part of the swamp. The herb layer is diverse with bluejoint grass, wooly-fruit sedge, marsh fern, American manna grass, water horehound, boneset, creeping snowberry, swamp loosestrife, sensitive fern, royal fern, meadow-rue, and swamp saxifrage. Interesting animal observations include arctic shrew, orchard oriole, and northern harrier. Big Swamp Tamarack Fen is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2009.