Wildlife In The Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula is crawling with wildlife, and you don’t have to look far to find a furry animal or flying bird that catches your eye. While seeing the fall colors in Upper Peninsula towns is a popular pastime, visitors to the area also tend to discover that spotting wildlife is another exciting surprise. Whether you are eager to spot a bald eagle soaring majestically throughout the sky or love the idea of spotting a rare towering moose, you’ll find that knowing where to go makes all the difference in how many wildlife sightings you’ll achieve.
Types of Wildlife You’ll See Near Upper Peninsula Towns
There is no shortage of wildlife in the Upper Peninsula. In fact, bird watching is one of the top things to do in Ironwood, MI. You’ll likely spot squirrels and the occasional opossum, raccoon, and fox in town. You’ll also be able to enjoy an array of birds that visit the area as you enjoy dining outside or relaxing in the parks.
Towns in the Upper Peninsula are also surrounded by vast expanses of state and national land that offer you the opportunity to see wildlife in their natural surroundings. Along the water, you might see beavers, otters, badgers, and an abundance of different fish species. You might also catch the sight of a moose enjoying a sip of water from a stream or pond, and there are also quite a few black bears out in the wilderness. Wolves, whitetail deer, and wild turkeys are a few more types of wildlife that people get excited about seeing.
Tips for Bird Watching and Listening
The Upper Peninsula has the benefit of being right in the migratory path for birds that fly back and forth throughout the changing seasons. There are 400 different species of birds in this part of the state that include rare sightings such as boreal owls and jaegers. If bird watching is on your itinerary, you can see many species along the same routes you’ll want to take for seeing fall colors in Upper Peninsula areas. You can also stop by the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, which is a natural bird migration corridor that brings thousands of winged beauties flying through the area each spring and fall.
Keweenaw Peninsula is another fun spot to visit, and bird watchers have spotted many different types of falcons, hawks, owls, and eagles there over the years. The wetlands in the area also tend to bring additional types of wildlife, including reptiles such as turtles, to give you wildlife to view on both land and in the air. If a bald eagle is on your must-see list, consider visiting the Porcupine Mountains, where they are frequently found flying near the Lake of the Clouds.
How to Plan a Hunting, Fishing, or Trapping Expedition
The abundance of wildlife here naturally brings hunters and fishermen to the area that are all eager to bring home their preferred type of game. With over 1 Million acres of National Forest, there is no shortage of accessible public hunting land available here. Still, you will want to keep in mind that you are hunting within the appropriate season and following all applicable laws and regulations. For those who love big game, bear licenses are limited and only given out according to drawing results. You can find up-to-date information regarding hunting and tapping by checking with the state’s department of natural resources.
Top Places to Find Wildlife In the Upper Peninsula
When you stay in Ironwood, MI, you gain the advantage of being in close proximity to the Porcupine Mountains. The pristine forests here provide animals with a natural sanctuary where they can carry out their activities unburdened by the hazards posed by urban living. On top of the usual little critters such as skunks and chipmunks, you might be able to spot black bears, and river otters and even enjoy the potential of seeing an elusive wolf. Keep in mind that mountain lions and wolves tend to stay far away from humans, but you never know if you might just see one in the distance.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is another wildlife viewing destination to consider adding to your bucket list. Similar to Porcupine Mountains, you’ll find the area teeming with small animals that you might not see in other places such as the American marten. Minks, red squirrels, and shrews are also frequently spotted along the natural trails. Aquatic animals are also easy to find here, and the lake environment even has tiny crustaceans for you to marvel at along the water’s edge.
Items to Bring Along On Your Adventure
Going on a wildlife viewing tour involves bringing along the same types of items that you’d take on a hiking trip. If you plan to spend time trekking around the wilderness, you’ll want to have a first aid kit and plenty of food and water to sustain you during your time outdoors. You’ll also want to pack with the seasonal weather in mind. During the winter months, you might want snowshoes to help you venture off the main road on your search for things to do in Ironwood, MI. In the summer months, planning to go kayak to a nearby island might be an option that helps you see more wildlife. No matter what time of year you go, a good pair of binoculars is a valuable resource for helping you to see more wild animals in their natural habitat.
Best Practices for Safe and Respectful Wildlife Viewing
The animals that flourish in the Upper Peninsula area do so because they are able to enjoy natural surroundings that contribute to their health and comfort. Visitors to the area are encouraged to avoid feeding wildlife, even if that squirrel seems like they’re begging for a nut. Allowing the animals to find their own food helps them to keep up their survival skills while avoiding coming too close to humans.
Spending time with wildlife does come with the potential of having a less-than-comfortable encounter. Although it is rare, there is a chance that you could come across a bear, moose, wolf, or cougar while looking at the fall colors in the Upper Peninsula. If you see one of these majestic beasts, then try to put as much distance between yourself and the animal as possible. Most animal attacks occur when someone invades a bear’s territory or gets too close to their cubs.
Finally, remember to honor the wildlife you see by keeping the area as pristine as possible. Packing out your trash and only driving and hiking along designated trails helps to keep the environment wildlife-friendly so that animals can thrive.
The wilderness and towns in the Upper Peninsula are known for being a wildlife paradise. Between the large expanses of untouched nature and the animal-friendly towns, you can bet that you’ll spend a large part of your trip being amused by the antics of the local squirrels and inspired by the prospect of sighting a bear the whole time you’re here. Now, all you have to do is start packing your binoculars and ensure your camera is ready to capture the amazing animals you find in nature.
Check out Travel Ironwood to see all of the things to do in the UP.