Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map
Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map
Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map
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Ellison Bluff State Natural Area<br />
Description: Ellison Bluff features 170-acres of densely wooded two-tiered rock terrace – part of the<br />
larger Niagara Escarpment rock formation that stretches and winds though the site providing spectacular<br />
views from the bluff <strong>to</strong>ps. Extending from New York, in<strong>to</strong> Wisconsin and forming the <strong>Door</strong> Peninsula,<br />
the limes<strong>to</strong>ne-capped Niagara Escarpment was formed through sediment deposition of inland seas more<br />
than 425 million years ago and contains fossil-rich sedimentary bedrock. Over time, the soft rocks under<br />
a more resistant limes<strong>to</strong>ne cap wear away leaving bluffs, which rise 200 feet above the Bay’s shore. The<br />
cliffs, free face and sheer in places, contain sufficient ledges and fractures <strong>to</strong> support a vertical, talus slope<br />
forest of white cedar with Canada yew, mountain maple, red pine, basswood, and red elderberry. One<br />
cedar was determined <strong>to</strong> be 250 years old. The talus slope also supports 26 species of land snail including<br />
five rare species and two glacial relict species. The forested bluff <strong>to</strong>p contains a northern mesic forest<br />
dominated by sugar maple, white ash, red oak, and beech. Also present are paper birch, big-<strong>to</strong>oth aspen,<br />
and hemlock. The unders<strong>to</strong>ry is composed of wild sarsaparilla, big-leaved aster, Canada mayflower,<br />
large-flowered trillium, wood-be<strong>to</strong>ny, and bracken fern. At least two rare plants are also present: rock<br />
whitlow-grass (Draba arabisans) and broad-leaf sedge (Carex platyphylla). Birds include Great-crested<br />
Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Winter Wren, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Blackburnian Warbler.<br />
Ellison Bluff is owned by the <strong>County</strong> of <strong>Door</strong> and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.<br />
Access: From the intersection of Highway 42 and Garrett Bay Road in Ellison Bay, go southwest on 42<br />
1.9 miles, then west on Porcupine Bay Road 0.7 mile, then north on Ellison Bluff Park Road 0.7 mile and<br />
then head west about 0.2 mile <strong>to</strong> an observation deck and parking lot. Hiking trails provide access <strong>to</strong> the<br />
natural area.<br />
Bayshore Blufflands State Natural Area<br />
Description: Located along more than three miles of the Niagara Escarpment, Bayshore Blufflands is an<br />
ecologically complex site of 124-acres, with a diversity of plant communities both above and below the<br />
escarpment and a series of seeps and springs at the base of the bluff’s talus slopes. Rising 150-200 feet<br />
above the low terrace of Green Bay, the steep carbonate cliffs and outcrops support numerous rare land<br />
snails including the cherrys<strong>to</strong>ne drop snail (Hendersonia occulta), a state-threatened species. Aspen,<br />
sugar maple, red oak, hemlock, and white cedar grow out of the talus affording complete shade <strong>to</strong> the<br />
escarpment maintaining the cool and damp conditions, which support a lush growth of mosses. The<br />
unique site conditions also support such uncommon species as climbing fumi<strong>to</strong>ry, mountain maple, bulbet<br />
fern, common polypody, and fragile fern. Above the escarpment is a dry-mesic forest of red and white<br />
pine with red oak. The ground layer is dense dominated by round-leaved dogwood with northern bush<br />
honeysuckle, zig-zag goldenrod, big-leaved aster, and bracken fern. The site slowly grades in<strong>to</strong> a richer,<br />
more mesic forest containing sugar maple, beech, and red oak with hemlock, and white pine. Also<br />
present is a wet-mesic forest of white cedar, big-<strong>to</strong>oth aspen, and black ash. Several white cedars reach<br />
impressive sizes here. Below the escarpment are seasonally flooded forests dominated by silver maple,<br />
and green ash with swamp white oak, American bladdernut, and great water-leaf. The site contains many<br />
rare plants including the federally threatened dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris). Other species are variegated<br />
horsetail (Equisetum variegatum), Hooker’s orchid (Platanthera hookeri), long-spurred violet (Viola<br />
rostrata), and large-flowered ground-cherry (Leucophysalis grandiflora). Rare animals include Redshouldered<br />
Hawk (Buteo linneatus), Midwest Pleis<strong>to</strong>cene vertigo (Vertigo hubrichti), and Iowa<br />
Pleis<strong>to</strong>cene vertigo (V. iowaensis). Bayshore Blufflands is owned by The <strong>Door</strong> <strong>County</strong> Land Trust and<br />
The Nature Conservancy and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.<br />
Access: From the intersection of Highways G and 42 in Egg Harbor, go south on 42 7.5 miles, then west<br />
on W. Carlsville Road 1.4 miles, then south on Reynolds Road 0.25 mile <strong>to</strong> a small parking area and <strong>Door</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> Land Trust kiosk.<br />
Appendix D – Natural Areas: A Definition &Status Report 193