What to see and do during the spring

The Reclaimed Flambeau Mine is mostly prairie grassland – about 125 acres. Prairies, while not so common in Rusk County, were once a major ecosystem in Wisconsin. Farming and other development has significantly reduced natural grasslands. Also, prairie can be lost with the invasion of woody species. Prescribed burns are routinely conducted on prairies to enhance the development of the native plants species and to reduce the invasion of woody species. As part of the prairie management, Flambeau hires qualified professionals to burn a third of the grassland each year. To learn more about prairies and prescribed burns, download this report (255 kb pdf).

Spring is a great time for birding on the Reclaimed Flambeau Mine site. Bird surveys have shown that the site is well populated by many species of birds. During 2005 a total of 45 species of birds were recorded as using and visiting the site. The dominant species were tree swallows, red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, bobolinks and savanna sparrows. The Reclaimed Flambeau Mine is listed in the Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail Guide – Lake Superior Northwoods Region as an ideal spot for birding.

The wetlands and biofilters are teeming with wildlife including amphibians. You can hear a number of frog and toad species singing their mating calls in the spring. While toads spend most of their adult lives on land, water is necessary for their reproduction. The American Toad, the toad that we commonly see in our gardens, uses the biofilters and wetlands on the reclaimed mine site for reproduction. The male calls to the females by puffing out his dewlap and making a pleasant, trilling sound. The toad call is often mistaken for a cricket. Each toad and frog call is unique and each species can be identified by its call. Learn more about amphibians.

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