Natural History of the Bog

The Cedarburg Bog is one of the largest and most outstanding wetlands remaining in southeastern Wisconsin. With about 2,000 acres, the Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area is a conifer swamp, the largest example of the least abundant type of wetland in the Milwaukee River basin. It offers an ideal location for educating literally thousands of area residents, students and visitors about the vital role that wetlands play in preserving water quality and species diversity in the Milwaukee River Watershed. It contains the largest expanses of cedar-tamarack swamp forest, in addition to marshes, shrub carr, swamp hardwoods and both deep and shallow bog lakes. Its most unusual feature is the presence of a “String” or “Patterned” bog, which consists of stunted cedars and tamaracks alternating with flatter, water areas dominated by sedges. String bogs are typically found further north, and the Cedarburg Bog may be the southernmost string bog in all of North America.

 

Visiting the Bog

There is Public parking at the north end of the bog (on Highway 33 about 2 miles east of County Highway Y) A short trail system with board walks leads to a pier at Watts lake. A second access is on the south side of the Bog on Cedar Sauk Road (Appx. 1 mile west of County Highway Y) A board walk will take you to Mud Lake. Guided hikes begin at the UWM Field Station at 3095 Blue Goose Road, Saukville 53080. The UWM Field Station property is open for guided hikes or by permission. Please call the Friends 414-897-1739 for more information about the university-owned property or to request permission to access UWM properties or facilities.

We are currently not holding any in-person events due to Covid-19 safety precautions. Please visit our YouTube Channel and Social Media pages, Facebook and Instagram, to stay connected while being safe.

Please note, public access to the bog is located at
parking lots at the north and south ends of the bog.
The UWM field station is not open for public visits.

Plants & Animals

The Cedarburg Bog system is made up of about 2,200 acres that include seven or eight plant communities like conifer and hardwood swamps, sedge meadow, marsh, several lakes, fen, and upland forests. In addition, amphibians and reptiles such as the Blue spotted Salamander, eastern milk snake and snapping turtle can be found. Common mammals include the opossum, masked shrew, little and big brown bat, coyote and white tail deer. Birds that make their home in the Bog include northern cardinal, red-tailed hawk, wild turkey, common yellowthroat warbler and wood duck, among others that use it as a stopover during migration. There is public access at the north and south ends of the bog. The UWM Field Station trails are only open to the public for group use arranged in advance or at public events. Please do not harass or harm the birds, plants mammals or amphibians you encounter.

Animal Lists

Like all species lists, these lists are a work-in-progress. If you see a bird, amphibian, plant or mammal that is not on the list, please report it to Friends of the Cedarburg Bog, c/o UWM Field Station, fieldstn@uwm.edu.

BIRDS
Mammals
Frogs
Plants
Amphibians & Reptiles
Butterflies and Dragonflies