Habitats

Cabins | Habitats | Main Campus | Grounds | Trails

One of the reasons Hunt Hill is so unique is that we possess almost every type of habitat found in Wisconsin. AND, none of the habitats are more than ½ mile from the main campus!!

Bogs

bogs-1Hunt Hill has two sphagnum bogs on-site. One bog is located directly on site and features a ‘bog walk’ that visitors can use to walk out into the bog for closer examination of the unique plants.  Some of these unique plants include: rose pagonia, grass pink, arethusa, and pink lady’s slipper orchids, the pitcher and sundew insectivorous plants, wild cranberries, tamaracks; and, of course, sphagnum moss!

The second bog, located about 2 miles up the road, is Dory’s Bog.  A little history:

bogs-2“Dory” is Dory Kummer Vallier, from the Milwaukee area, who came to the Audubon Camp of Wisconsin at Hunt Hill many years ago – probably in the 1960’s.  The story goes that while at Hunt Hill she met, fell in love with, and later married Jacque Vallier who at that time was the director of the Audubon Camp of Wisconsin.

bogs-3Dory later (in 1963) gifted the 35 acre area now known as Dory’s bog to the National Audubon Society as part of the Hunt Hill property.  In 1974 it was dedicated by the Wisconsin Scientific Areas Preservation Council as State Scientific Area #116.  The original acreage did not provide complete protection of the entire bog, so efforts were made to acquire approximately 40 additional acres surrounding the entire bog: and that has since been accomplished through efforts of the Friends of Hunt Hill. Dory’s Bog has been the subject of several research projects (plant survey, bird survey, and a master’s degree study of nutrient use by black spruce and tamarack), as well as various group visits.

Neat Facts about Bogs:

  • They are NOT swamps.
  • They do not stink due to the high acidity of the water
  • Bog can be made up of anywhere between 85% – 98% water
  • Any night of the year, frosts can occur – due to the insulation of the mat
  • Sphagnum moss absorbs 3 times as fast as cotton and is naturally sterile due to acidity and absence of bacteria

Lake

lakes-1Hunt Hill’s property surrounds two glacial lakes, Upper and Lower Twin Lakes. These lakes were originally created when a large chunk of glacier broke off and sediment was deposited around it. This formed our lakes and created a large ridge (where camp now stands). Today, we find that Upper Twin Lake has spots as deep as 53ft and Lower with spots at 30ft deep!  There is also a very shallow and narrow channel (canoe accessible) through which we have access to Big and Little Devil’s Lakes.

beach-front-dark-trees-aroundThere are two footbridges on our property. The newest bridge is located along the edge of Big Devil’s Lake and our channel. It offers beautiful views and can be accessed by walking along the Bear Trail.  Our second footbridge is also found on the Bear Trail but on the very opposite end of the Twin lakes chain.

We have a waterfront area that serves many purposes. In addition to our swimming area, it is also our canoe launch site, ponding and lake laboratory (pontoon) area.  Cabin renters are allowed access to canoes and if a group of people are interested in swimming we can arrange for a lifeguard to be onsite.

Meadow

prairie - good-w400-h400While Hunt Hill is located too far north to appropriately be called a ‘prairie,’ the old 40 acre hay meadow of the original farmstead is being allowed and encouraged to revert to native flora and fauna. Prairie burns are conducted periodically, as weather allows, to encourage the native perennial plants while discouraging succession to a forest habitat.

Several miles of rolling mown-grass trails follow the outside perimeter and cut through the center of the meadow, allowing excellent access for hikers of all ability levels. Along the way are nature trail pedestals, made possible in part by a grant from WEEB, which highlight some of the area attractions.

We also host a bluebird trail which has over 25 nest boxes and is managed with the help of BRAW and Hunt Hill staff and volunteers. In 2008 over 80 young bluebirds successfully fledged from this trail. The birch tree posts installed along the mown paths are essential hunting and perching posts for bluebirds.

hunt-hill-bench-at-high-point-of-prairieIn addition to bluebirds, many other birds, butterflies, dragonflies, wildlfowers and lots of other wildlife can also be observed “…up close and personal.” A gas-powered golf cart for touring the prairie can be reserved for the elderly or disabled.

Photographers frequently walk the edges between prairie and woods, or go to Heron Point on Lower Twin Lake for spectacular sunsets and glimpses of some of our more reclusive inhabitatnts – indigo buntings, golden-winged warblers, otter, sandhill cranes, green herons, basking turtles and beaver. More frequent and favorable sightings occur at dawn and dusk.

Forest

Our forest compromises approximately 80% of our on-camp acreage and includes dry-mesic forest and upland hardwoods.  Much of the adjoining uplands are also second-growth hardwoods.

forest-1Hunt Hill itself is the location of one of the oldest forestry studies still being conducted in the state of Wisconsin.  The thirty original forest study plats were set out in 1933 by University of Minnesota graduate student, Willis Eggler, through the assistance of Aldo Leopold.  Randomly scattered through the forest, you’ll spot their current locations (yellow-topped steel fence posts) as re-established by former Hunt Hill staff member Dr. Lucy Tyrrell, currently Research Administrator of Denali National Park. Eggler’s study will take hundreds of years to complete as researchers watch, survey, and analyze the probable transformation into a climax basswood/sugar maple forest.

forest-2Watch along the hiking trails for old charcoal remnants of trees caught by forest fires – the most recent was in the early 1930’s.  Old pine stumps often bear the black scars.  Along the Red Oak West Trail a large old white pine shows charcoal inside the tree in a hollow on the north side base of the trunk.

Across the hills one will find dozens of large old white pines – too small to be harvested back in the 1800’s – now so big that two grown adults can’t touch their fingertips around the base of the trees.  They tower far above surrounding deciduous old-timers, and are readily visible from surrounding lakes.  Some are nest sites for bald eagles and owls.  At the switchback on the Red Oak West Trail, you will find the best examples in a grove forgotten – right next to the glacial kettle.