For information on access to our sanctuaries, please see our MAS Sanctuaries Public Use Policy

Madison Audubon Sanctuaries

Map of Goose Pond Area Goose Pond Sanctuaries   Sue Ames Prairie   Kampen Prairie   Ankenbrandt Prairie   Western Pairie Addition Erstad Prairie Otsego Marsh   Faville Grove Sanctuaries   Brandt   Rehm   Charlies Prairie   Tillotson Prairie Rose Lake Zeloski Marsh Hope Lake Bog

Faville Grove Sanctuary – Jefferson County

Aldo Leopold conducted research and worked on saving rare orchids along the Crawfish River north of Lake Mills. Leopold was successful in preserving 50 acres and later an additional 40 acres were acquired at the University of Wisconsin Faville Prairie State Natural Area.

Madison Audubon is working to restore wetlands and prairie on land adjacent to and in the local area to help restore the hydrology and benefit wetland and grassland wildlife. Two hundred sixty five acres have been acquired as of 2004. Prairie is being restored on about 185 acres along with 12 acres of oak savanna on a quartzite outcrop. The remaining acreage is mostly restored wetland habitat. Several miles of ditches are being filled. Over 100 species are planted in the restoration. Rare plants that are being restored include prairie white-fringed orchid (correct name?) small white-lady’s slipper orchid, prairie milkweed, and prairie Indian plantain.

Madison Audubon holds easements on 125 acres of land donated by David Musolf and Roger Packard. The easement land is about two miles southwest of Faville Prairie and features a tamarack bog, sedge meadow, restored prairie, and oak/hickory woods that is being restored to oak savanna. A wide variety of grassland and wetland birds can be found including a great-blue heron rookery, nesting wood ducks, hooded mergansers, sandhill cranes, and bobolinks.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) owns the 30-acre Snapper Prairie State Natural Area a short distance north of Faville Prairie. Madison Audubon Society has entered into a management agreement with TNC for Snapper Prairie and is removing invasive species and conducting prescribed burns

Zeloski Marsh – Hope Lake Bog – Jefferson County

At 1,496 acres, this is Madison Audubon Society’s largest purchase to date. It is located about one mile west of Lake Mills. The majority of the property (1,300 acres) was farmed wetland that was restored to wetland habitat in Fall 2006. Ditches were filled and drain tiles disabled. 286 acres of tall grass prairie and 270 acres of sedge meadow were planted. Emergent wetland and shorebird habitat were developed. Fully restored, the area provides excellent habitat for wetland and grassland wildlife. More than 140 species of birds have been tallied. Highlights included hundreds of waterfowl and shorebirds on spring migration, nesting Dickcissels and Brewer’s Blackbirds, and a short visit by two Whooping Cranes.

In 2006, Madison Audubon Society transferred 1,461 acres to the Department of Natural Resources, which added the land to its Lake Mills Wildlife Area. The Glacial Drumlin State Trail runs through the area.

Madison Audubon Society retains ownership of the 35-acre Hope Lake Bog, a botanical gem known to generations of Wisconsin conservationists. This small floating tamarack and sphagnum bog is a long, narrow 35-acre tract separated from the main part of Zeloski Marsh. Two wooded glacial moraines drop steeply toward a narrow wetland that runs most of the length of the property. Common plants include poison sumac, pitcher plants cotton grass, leatherleaf, bog rosemary, bog birch, and cranberry. This is being preserved as an undisturbed sanctuary. There is no public access to Hope Lake Bog.

The June 14, 2007 dedication program, aerial photo, and habitat map can be viewed at ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WI/wrp/ZeloskiMarshprogram.pdf

Directions: Zeloski Marsh is west of Lake Mills and Rock Lake (see p. 37 of the Wisconsin Atlas & Gazetteer). There are four parking lots (including the one for the Glacial Drumlin State Trail in London about 1 mile west of the marsh). Access is by foot-travel ONLY except for the Trail, which can be accessed by bicycle as well.

East side (Glacial Drumlin State Trail): from Cty B, go south on Cty S to Finch Bros. Rd. A DNR parking lot for the Trail is a short way down the road. Walk or bicycle west on the Trail for 5-10 minutes to reach the marsh and a long trestle that crosses a remnant tamarack bog. Most of the shorebirds and waterfowl can be found in the ponds past the trestle. A second DNR parking lot is farther south on Cty S at the west end of Alley Rd.

South side (London Rd): Continue south on Cty S to Cty A. Turn right and drive less than 1/2 mile. Turn right on London Rd. Drive about 1 mile to the DNR parking lot on the right (north side). This parking lot is on higher ground, so you can get a good view of the entire marsh.

Rose Lake – Jefferson County

Rose Lake is a 175-acre deepwater marsh located two miles north of Fort Atkinson. This prairie pothole contains scattered emergent vegetation such as soft-stemmed bulrush and cattails and several mats of wiregrass sedge. The wetland contains a wide variety of breeding marsh birds such as pied-billed grebes, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, blue-winged teal, black terns, Virginia and sora rails, common moorhens, American coots, sandhill cranes, marsh wrens and yellow-headed blackbirds. Also present are freshwater sponges. Over 800 white pelicans have been sighted in spring migration.

Madison Audubon Society is helping Jefferson County to preserve uplands around Dorothy Carnes Park at Rose Lake, near Fort Atkinson. Since 2001, MAS has acquired or helped acquire all land at the park which totalled 394 acres as of 2008. Rose Lake was designated as the Rose Lake State Natural Area in 2006. Madison Audubon also assists with prairie and savanna restoration and is participating in the park's master plan update.