Deer Island State Natural Area

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Four separate units comprise Deer Island and support a large block of wet forest in the core of the Central Sand Plains Ecological Landscape. White pine and red maple swamp dominate narrow bands at the wetland/upland interface. This unique community type is found only within this region and harbors several rare plant species. Upslope, the forest transitions to one dominated by oak. In the wetter portions of the site, tamarack, black spruce, and white pine are common and eventually grade into a bog birch and open poor fen. The forests provide habitat for many boreal bird species well south of their normal range including hermit thrush, blue-headed vireo, and golden-crowned kinglet. Rare Wisconsin species such as the golden-winged warbler, Canada warbler, Connecticut warbler, and the Jutta arctic butterfly, all appear to thrive in this area. Deer Island is owned by Jackson County and was designated a State Natural Area in 2010.