Leola Marsh Wildlife Area
Leola Marsh Wildlife Area is an 1,860-acre property located 15 miles southeast of Wisconsin Rapids. It can be accessed from County Highways D and W. The wildlife area is predominately non-native cool season grassland that was formerly marsh, drained with the many drainage ditches dug in the first part of the 1900s.
Management Objectives
The Leola Marsh Wildlife Area sits in the heart of the area first studied by Frances and Frederick Hamerstrom on habitat needs of the greater prairie chicken. The marsh is part of the southern portion of Wisconsin's prairie chicken range and was purchased to protect their grassland habitat.
To maintain the open grassland landscape needed by prairie chickens and other grassland wildlife, management techniques like prescribed burns, pasturing and mowing are used.
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 Leola Marsh Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Birding;
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail);
- Hiking (no designated trail);
- Hunting;
- 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.