Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map

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The fourth rare orchid, the ram’s-head lady-slipper orchid (Cypripedium arietinum), is listed as
threatened in the state. A diversity of warbler species has been observed in this forest type, which
include Northern Parula (Parula americana), Black-and-white (Mniotilta varia), Nashville
(Vermivora ruficapilla), Canada , and Blackburnian (Dendroica fusca) Warblers, and Ovenbird as
well as the Northern Waterthrush.
• Surrounding the wetland communities along the river are upland forests of hemlock, sugar maple,
white birch, and beech with lesser numbers of yellow birch and white pine. Younger stands hold
earlier succession species like quaking and big-tooth aspen. These upland forest stands occur on
relatively deep soils, which for Door County may only extend a couple feet at most but are
nevertheless usually quite rich in humus. The moist, rich environment is very favorable for fleshy
fungi and saprophytic seed plants. Preliminary study of the fungi of the Mink River forest reveals
over 35 species of mushrooms present during late summer. These upland forests contain the habitats
of many northern songbirds. The Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica), Nashville
Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler are common in the mesic stands. The Blackburnian
Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus) may be found on the drier sites with
pines in the forest canopy. Most recently 69 species of birds have been confirmed using the area for
breeding habitat.
• Edging the shore of Rowley’s Bay north and east of the mouth of the Mink River, the beach and the
adjacent series of sand ridges and swales support a number of rare or uncommon plants and natural
community types. Along the shore, fractures in the exposed bedrock allow pockets of soil to collect
and support a number of plant species adapted to the extremes of moisture and heat created by a
dynamic system of periodic flooding. The small grass, parnassus (Parnassia parviflora), the lesser
fringed gentian (Gentianopsis procera), and (Satureja sp.) are uncommon species which occur here.
• The rare Crawe’sedge, (Carex crawei), has been found along the sandy shoreline and western fescue
(Festuca occidentalis), and the federal and state threatened dune thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), inhabit the
open sandy fore dunes. On the ridges behind the beach, the federally threatened dwarf lake iris (Iris
lacustris), is found in small scattered patches in openings between the white cedars.
CONSERVATION GOALS:
• Maintain the existing forest of the site and reforest abandoned agricultural land adjacent to the
existing forest to increase the overall size of the forest.
• Enhance the natural forested connections and corridors that link the major blocks of forest and
wetlands within this area to adjacent natural areas (i.e., Door Bluff County Park to the north, Newport
State Park to the east, and the North Bay area to the south).
• Prevent impairment to water quality and flow regime of the springs and upper reaches of the Mink
River that feed the marsh and open water of the Mink River estuary.
• Monitor and control, as necessary, exotic aggressive species, particularly Japanese knotweed, glossy
buckthorn and garlic mustard in the forests adjoining the Mink River.
• Maintain or enhance the ecological composition, structure and functions of the core natural areas of
the site (i.e., the open marsh and adjoining lowland and upland forests of the Mink River, the
undeveloped shoreline of Rowley’s Bay, and the riparian forest of the Mink River north of Hwy 42).
Mink River / Rowley’s Bay System