Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge consists of Hog Island
(2 acres), Plum Island
(325 acres), and Pilot Island (3.7 acres). The islands are located in Lake Michigan
, near Washington Island
, off the tip of Wisconsin
’s Door Peninsula
. An Executive Order in 1913 declared Hog Island a protected breeding ground for native birds. Plum and Pilot Island were transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2007. The islands were acquired to protect native bird habitats and endangered species habitats in the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. Because the islands are part of the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, public use of any of the islands is prohibited. The refuge is managed by staff at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, in Mayville, Wisconsin
.
to provide a safe nesting and breeding ground for the species of birds native to the area. The Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge became the second national wildlife refuge in Great Lakes
area. It was the 28th wildlife refuge in the United States
. Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge
was also created under the same executive order. It became the 29th wildlife refuge in the United States, and the third refuge in the Great Lakes region. In 1970, Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge were declared part of the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area. This wilderness area is one of the smallest in the entire United States.
Plum Island and Pilot Island originally held lighthouse
facilities and provided safe havens for sailors out on Lake Michigan. Some of these safe havens are considered part of the National Register of Historic Places
. By 1939, the US Coast Guard had taken control of Plum Island, and acquired control of the lighthouse on the island. The old wooden lighthouse was eventually replaced with a steel structure in 1964, and workers were moved to the island in order to oversee the operations of the lighthouse. At this time the lighthouse used range lights. By 1969, these lights were replaced with an automatic lighting system. The lighthouse is still in use today, but no longer are coast guard employees required to stay on the island to monitor the lighthouse.
The lack of human presence on the islands for many years has led to much reclamation of the land by the plants and wildlife native to the area. On October 17, 2007, Pilot and Plum Islands were officially added to the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Previously under the control of the United States Coast Guard, they are now managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
, these islands are mainly composed of limestone
and dolomite
. These rocks form the foundations of the islands, which are a result of millions of years of compaction of sediments. The islands have been eroded and re-shaped over many years by changing water levels, specifically by the drop in water level of oceans and glacier movement.
and their appetite for this shrub. Other vegetation common to the wildlife refuge, specifically Hog Island, includes: red-berried elder and red raspberry plants.
Plum Island is most well known for having large forests of basswood trees and sugar maple
trees, which are local to the island. Also, the coast of the island is mainly covered with white cedar
trees. These trees are most commonly found in areas with an abundance of dolomite located just under the ground surface. Another plant native to the area of Plum Island is the endangered Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris Iacustris). Dwarf Lake Iris is mainly found along or near the shoreline of Plum Island.
s are commonly found building nests and breeding at Hog Island. Large colonies of herring gulls
are common, as well. These birds are able to migrate to the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge every year due to the lack of human presence on the island. No development has occurred on Hog Island due to its small size, remoteness, and landing difficulties.
Plum Island may offer public use opportunities in the future provided they are compatible with the refuge’s purpose and mission. But because no humans are currently allowed on Plum Island, the area has numerous qualities not found in the other mainland areas. One of these qualities would be the abundance of vegetation that is normally destroyed by humans. These qualities of Plum Island have resulted in the formation of a small ecosystem on the island, which has become home to many native species of birds. Pilot Island provides a safe haven for approximately 3,600 double-crested cormorant
nests and almost 650 herring gull nests. Black-crowned night heron
s also nest on Pilot Island. Smallmouth bass
, lake trout
, lake sturgeon
, and lake whitefish
are commonly found in the waters northwest of Plum and Pilot Islands.
passed the Wilderness Act of 1964, which created the National Wilderness Preservation System
. This bill declared almost 9 million acres (36,421.7 km²) of land across the United States federal wilderness and protected it from being overrun and destroyed by the human population. In 1970, Hog Island and Gravel Island became one of the smallest areas of land protected by the Wilderness Act, and thus became known as the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area.
Hog Island (Wisconsin)
Hog Island is a bird sanctuary located off the eastern shore of Washington Island in Door County, Wisconsin. There are no residents on the island, which has a land area of . It is located in the Town of Washington. Since 1913, this sanctuary has served as a habitat for many different types of...
(2 acres), Plum Island
Plum Island (Wisconsin)
Plum Island is an island at the western shore of Lake Michigan in the southern part of the town of Washington in Door County, Wisconsin, USA. The uninhabited island has a land area of 1.179 km² or 117.87 ha . The island is a bird sanctuary under control of the U.S. Coast Guard and will eventually...
(325 acres), and Pilot Island (3.7 acres). The islands are located in Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, near Washington Island
Washington Island (Wisconsin)
Washington Island is located about 7 miles northeast of the tip of Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin. The island has a year-round population of 660 people . It has a land area of 60.89 km² and comprises over 92 percent of the land area of the town of Washington, as well as all of its...
, off the tip of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
’s Door Peninsula
Door Peninsula
The Door Peninsula is a peninsula in eastern Wisconsin, separating the southern part of the Green Bay from Lake Michigan. The peninsula begins in northern Brown and Kewaunee counties and proceeds northeast to include all of Door County. It is the western portion of the Niagara Escarpment. Well...
. An Executive Order in 1913 declared Hog Island a protected breeding ground for native birds. Plum and Pilot Island were transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2007. The islands were acquired to protect native bird habitats and endangered species habitats in the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. Because the islands are part of the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, public use of any of the islands is prohibited. The refuge is managed by staff at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, in Mayville, Wisconsin
Mayville, Wisconsin
Mayville is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States, located along the Rock River. The population was 4,902 at the 2000 census.Mayville is located at ....
.
History
By executive order in 1913, Hog Island was declared a national preserveNational preserve
National Preserve is a designation applied by the United States Congress to protected areas that have characteristics normally associated with U.S. National Parks but where certain activities not allowed in National Parks are permitted. These activities include public hunting, trapping, and oil...
to provide a safe nesting and breeding ground for the species of birds native to the area. The Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge became the second national wildlife refuge in Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
area. It was the 28th wildlife refuge in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge
Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge
Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located off the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin. Founded in 1913 the refuge consists of two Lake Michigan islands, that act as nesting grounds for native bird species. The refuge is part of the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, and...
was also created under the same executive order. It became the 29th wildlife refuge in the United States, and the third refuge in the Great Lakes region. In 1970, Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge were declared part of the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area. This wilderness area is one of the smallest in the entire United States.
Plum Island and Pilot Island originally held lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
facilities and provided safe havens for sailors out on Lake Michigan. Some of these safe havens are considered part of the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. By 1939, the US Coast Guard had taken control of Plum Island, and acquired control of the lighthouse on the island. The old wooden lighthouse was eventually replaced with a steel structure in 1964, and workers were moved to the island in order to oversee the operations of the lighthouse. At this time the lighthouse used range lights. By 1969, these lights were replaced with an automatic lighting system. The lighthouse is still in use today, but no longer are coast guard employees required to stay on the island to monitor the lighthouse.
The lack of human presence on the islands for many years has led to much reclamation of the land by the plants and wildlife native to the area. On October 17, 2007, Pilot and Plum Islands were officially added to the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Previously under the control of the United States Coast Guard, they are now managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Geography/Geology
The Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge consists of three main islands which cover approximately 330 acres (1.3 km²). Hog Island covers 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of land, Plum Island 325 acres (1.3 km²), and Pilot Island approximately 3.7 acres (14,973.4 m²). Located off the northern tip of the Door Peninsula in Lake Michigan as part of the Niagara EscarpmentNiagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois...
, these islands are mainly composed of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
. These rocks form the foundations of the islands, which are a result of millions of years of compaction of sediments. The islands have been eroded and re-shaped over many years by changing water levels, specifically by the drop in water level of oceans and glacier movement.
Vegetation
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge contains a variety of plants native to the area. Hog Island has an abundance of Canada yew. This plant is greatly decreasing in number on the island because of the increase in white-tailed deerWhite-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
and their appetite for this shrub. Other vegetation common to the wildlife refuge, specifically Hog Island, includes: red-berried elder and red raspberry plants.
Plum Island is most well known for having large forests of basswood trees and sugar maple
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas...
trees, which are local to the island. Also, the coast of the island is mainly covered with white cedar
White Cedar
White Cedar may refer to several different trees:* Cupressaceae:** Chamaecyparis thyoides – Atlantic White Cypress** Cupressus lusitanica – Mexican White Cedar** Thuja occidentalis – Eastern Arborvitae* Meliaceae:...
trees. These trees are most commonly found in areas with an abundance of dolomite located just under the ground surface. Another plant native to the area of Plum Island is the endangered Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris Iacustris). Dwarf Lake Iris is mainly found along or near the shoreline of Plum Island.
Wildlife
The Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge is also a safe haven for multiple species of wildlife, specifically birds. This refuge was set aside with the primary goal of protecting the native birds and other endangered species found in the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. Great blue herons and red-breasted merganserRed-breasted Merganser
The Red-breasted Merganser is a diving duck.-Taxonomy:The Red-breasted Merganser was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th-century work, Systema Naturae.-Description:...
s are commonly found building nests and breeding at Hog Island. Large colonies of herring gulls
American Herring Gull
The American Herring Gull or Smithsonian Gull is a large gull which breeds in North America. It is often treated as a subspecies of the European Herring Gull but is now regarded as a separate species by some authorities.Adults are white with gray back and wings, black wingtips with white spots,...
are common, as well. These birds are able to migrate to the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge every year due to the lack of human presence on the island. No development has occurred on Hog Island due to its small size, remoteness, and landing difficulties.
Plum Island may offer public use opportunities in the future provided they are compatible with the refuge’s purpose and mission. But because no humans are currently allowed on Plum Island, the area has numerous qualities not found in the other mainland areas. One of these qualities would be the abundance of vegetation that is normally destroyed by humans. These qualities of Plum Island have resulted in the formation of a small ecosystem on the island, which has become home to many native species of birds. Pilot Island provides a safe haven for approximately 3,600 double-crested cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
The Double-crested Cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas, and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico...
nests and almost 650 herring gull nests. Black-crowned night heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
The Black-crowned Night Heron commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia .-Description:Adults are...
s also nest on Pilot Island. Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
, lake trout
Lake trout
Lake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
, lake sturgeon
Lake sturgeon
The lake sturgeon is a North American temperate freshwater fish, one of about 20 species of sturgeon. Like other sturgeons, this species is an evolutionarily ancient bottomfeeder with a partly cartilaginous skeleton and skin bearing rows of bony plates...
, and lake whitefish
Lake whitefish
The lake whitefish , also called the Sault whitefish or gizzard fish, is a species of freshwater whitefish from North America. Lake whitefish are found throughout much of Canada and parts of the northern United States, including all of the Great Lakes. A valuable commercial fish, they are also...
are commonly found in the waters northwest of Plum and Pilot Islands.
Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area
In 1964, the United States CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed the Wilderness Act of 1964, which created the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
. This bill declared almost 9 million acres (36,421.7 km²) of land across the United States federal wilderness and protected it from being overrun and destroyed by the human population. In 1970, Hog Island and Gravel Island became one of the smallest areas of land protected by the Wilderness Act, and thus became known as the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area.