Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map

Hog Island
Hog Island is a small, low, and brushy island located approximately 0.4 miles from the eastern
shore of Washington Island. The Island is a National Wildlife Refuge, owned by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, and is a natural area for nesting waterfowl.
• Soils are nearly level to sloping on old glacial lake beach ridges. Dolostone bedrock is at a depth of
40 or more inches (USDA SCS 1978).
• No surface water resources are present on the island.
• Vegetation was documented in the 1970’s and included Canada yew, red-osier dogwood, red-berried
elder, red raspberry, and wild black currant formed a dense brush layer. White cedar, white birch and
aspen were also present.
• The island was surveyed in 1999 and consisted of red-berried elder, red raspberry, among other
weedy shrubs. A few balsam fir and Canada yew trees are still standing (Judziewicz and Kopitzke
1999).
• Bird species known to breed on the island include Red-breasted Mergansers, Herring Gulls, Blackcrowned
Night-Herons, and Great Blue Herons. When the island was surveyed in 1999, Herring
Gulls were abundant, however Cormorants were not found (Judziewicz and Kopitzke 1999).
• No known rare plant or animal species have been documented on the island.
Fish Island and Fisherman’s Shoal
These tiny 1.2-acre gravel bars are the farthest points of land in eastern Wisconsin.
When visited in 1999 neither islet had evidence of vascular plants (Judziewicz and Kopitzke 1999).
• Fish Island and Fisherman’s Shoal are in the Town of Washington. The town has adopted the
county’s zoning ordinance.
• Land use is maintained as a natural area for wildlife.
• Soils are of gravel and sand (Judziewicz and Kopitzke 1999).
• No surface water resources are present on the island and no vegetation was documented when last
surveyed.
• The only breeding bird present is a small number of Herring Gulls. No known rare plant or animal
species are found on Fish Island and Fisherman’s Shoal.
CONSERVATION GOALS:
• Protect rare species and natural communities among the Grand Traverse Islands as identified in recent
Natural Heritage Inventories.
• Maintain second growth mixed forest types on Chambers, Plum, Detroit, and Rock Islands to
discourage invasion of parasitic and predatory birds.
• Encourage increased management and control of deer populations and logging practices to help
promote tree regeneration.
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Grand Traverse Islands