10 Davidson
Lakes 
wildlife viewing | directions and facility information
Photo: Joanne Thurber, US Forest
Service
This site is less than a mile west of the Ontonagon River
and contains a rich diversity of habitats and an inviting maze of hiking
trails. Habitat types on the sandy to loamy soils include mixed
hardwood/conifer, aspen, red, jack and white pine, upland grassy
openings, tamarack, black spruce and wetlands with sedge meadows.
Occasional logging operations such as selection cuts and clear cuts have
added to the age diversity of forest types and wildlife habitats. In mid
to late summer sugar plums, wild cherries, raspberries, and blueberries
are scattered along the trail or semi-open areas. The hiking trails
include a 6.1-mile loop trail with two shorter cut-offs and many short
side trails that make the area easy to explore. All trails are easy
hiking but seasonally may have wet areas. Maps are posted at the site, or
are available at the Forest Service ranger station in Kenton (which
manages the area) or the Forest Supervisor's office in Ironwood.
 Wildlife
Viewing
Photo: Joanne Thurber, US Forest
Service
For mammal viewing, the open or brushy areas are good places
to look for deer, fox, coyotes, badger, or black bear. Look for wolf
tracks on the sandy trails. Although resident in the area, wolves travel
widely and likely will not be seen close up. Fishers and martens, Michigan's larger
members of the weasel family, are both residents of this area. These
secretive predators, like wolves, are rarely seen by humans. Beavers,
river otters, and mink may be seen in the wetlands of this area and on
the nearby Ontonagon
River. These
aquatic mammals are best seen at dawn and dusk by quiet, stealthy
observers.
Photo: Joanne Thurber, US Forest
Service
In wetland and sedge areas bats are common, along with many
birds, including sandhill cranes, geese, a
variety of ducks, and marsh birds such as the sedge wren, American
bittern, sora, and swamp sparrow. In the more
open upland sites woodcock, ruffed grouse, chestnut-sided and yellow
warblers, vesper and white-throated sparrows, and an occasional Lincoln's sparrow
may be seen. In the deeper hardwood/conifer forests listen for
black-throated blue and black-throated green warblers, ovenbirds, vireos,
scarlet tanagers, hermit thrushes, brown creepers, winter wrens, and the
occasional pileated woodpecker. Keep your eyes
open for large raptors such as the bald eagle, red-shouldered hawk, or
broad-winged hawk; all residents of the area.
The diversity of habitats, particularly wetland types, are home to many reptiles and amphibians. These may
include the wood, painted and snapping turtles, garter snakes, American
toads, green frogs, gray tree frogs, spring peepers, and mink frogs. In
the spring and early summer, try your hand at identifying frogs and toads
by their own very distinctive call after dark.
This area is
closed to motor vehicles, but open to walk-in public hunting. Contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for
hunting seasons and regulations.
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