Potato Creek Wildlife Area
Potato Creek Wildlife Area is a 1,000-acre property in the southwest corner of Rusk County at the outlet of Potato Lake. Access points exist on the north end at Kent Road, from the east at Dzimiela Road and south via Rose's Resort Road (public boat landing) at the lake outlet.
The wildlife area is bisected by a shallow, warm water creek which is flanked by wetlands of cattail, sedges, alder and floating bog. The adjacent uplands contain substantial areas of mixed forest and grassland interspersed with scattered ponds to the south and east and upland hardwood forest to the north and west. A small, but high-quality stand of white cedar occurs on the northeast corner of the property. Vegetation consists of approximately 300 acres of wetlands, 400 acres of forested upland and 300 acres of grassland.
Management Objectives
Established in the early 1950s, the property was developed as a waterfowl production and hunting area. Extensive acreage was inundated with the construction of a low-level dam, but after eight years of washouts and marsh deterioration, the structure and dike were removed. Wild rice has responded favorably to this action. Several runoff ponds have been constructed and extensive upland grassland habitat (including nest cover for waterfowl) is managed through periodic rotations of prescribed burning.
For more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state, visit the property planning page.
Recreation
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The Potato Creek Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- ATV trail (limited, marked trail);
- Birding;
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail);
- Canoeing;
- Fishing (limited potential);
- Hiking;
- Hunting;
- Snowmobiling trail (marked trail);
- Trapping;
- Wild edibles/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.