Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area
Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area is a 958-acre property on the Mississippi River in Pierce County. The acquisition of the property started with Pierce County donating land to the state in 1968. Additional acreage was purchased around the original land, including a 20-acre donation from the William Murray family, to bring the total acreage to what it is today. This unique property includes numerous islands and wetland habitats of the Mississippi River and includes a no-entry waterfowl refuge.
The property is located on the Mississippi River outside of Bay City. Access to the islands is restricted to boat traffic, with a boat landing available in Bay City.
Management Objectives
The property is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping, wildlife observation and other nature-based outdoor recreation. Management objectives aim to maintain the floodplain forests associated with the islands. Populations of invasive species are controlled by cutting, pulling, burning, herbicide treatment and/or bio-control.
Recreation
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The Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Birding;
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail);
- Falconry (by permit);
- Hiking;
- Hunting;
- Snowshoeing;
- Trapping;
- Wild edible/gathering; and
- Wildlife viewing.
Maps
Download [PDF] a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
Find out more about how to adopt this wildlife area.