The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is a government agency of the U.S. state of Wisconsin charged with conserving and managing Wisconsin's natural resources. The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has the authority to set policy for the WDNR. The WDNR is led by the Secretary, who is appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin. The WDNR develops regulations and guidance in accordance with laws passed by the Wisconsin Legislature. It administers wildlife, fish, forests, endangered resources, air, water, waste, and other issues related to natural resources. The central office of the WDNR is located in downtown Madison, near the state capitol.
Chiwaukee Prairie is a 485-acre (1.96 km2) prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It is located on Lake Michigan at the Illinois state line and includes grassy wetlands, wooded areas, and the Kenosha Sand Dunes at its northern tip. It is home to an abundance of wildlife. It was designated a Wisconsin State Natural Area in 1967 and a National Natural Landmark in 1973.
Ableman's Gorge is a 127 acres (51 ha) Wisconsin State Natural Area located near Rock Springs, Wisconsin. This 200 to 400-foot wide and 200-foot high gorge is cut by about 1 mile (1.6 km) of the Baraboo River in an "L" shape. The Natural Area is named after George Ableman, who settled Rock Springs in 1851 and named the community after the gorge area.
The Leola Marsh Wildlife Area is a 1,875 acres (759 ha) tract of protected land located in Adams County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Wildlife Area was founded at the same time as the Buena Vista Wildlife Area and the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, located in Portage County, Wisconsin and Cumberland County, Maine respectively.
The Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area is a 1,180 acres (480 ha) tract of protected land located in Door County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Land to be used for the Wildlife Area was first acquired in 1958, and the master plan for the Wildlife Area was completed in 1980.
The Paradise Marsh Wildlife Area is a 1,588 acres (643 ha) tract of protected land located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the Wildlife Area was first acquired in 1962 with the hopes of improving the habitat conditions for various waterfowl. In addition to conservation of wildlife, plans for further draining the marsh were laid out, with the marsh previously being drained as early as the early 1900's.
The Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is a 4,850-acre (19.6 km2) tract of protected land located in Vilas and Iron counties, Wisconsin, owned and partially managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The wildlife area is bordered by the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and Manitowish Chain O Lakes to the north, east, and west and the Lac du Flambeau Reservation to the south.
The Swan Lake Wildlife Area is a 2,466 acres (998 ha) tract of protected land located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the wildlife area was first acquired in 1963 to provide for hunting and other outdoor recreational activities in the county. In addition to outdoor recreation activities, the wildlife area was established to protect the Fox River watershed.
The French Creek Wildlife Area is a 3,506 acres (1,419 ha) tract of protected land located in Columbia County and Marquette County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the wildlife area was first acquired in 1947 to provide for increased production of wildfowl and hunting opportunities. Prior to 1947, the area was used for the cultivation of wire grass which is used for the creation of grass rugs and mats.
The Big Beaver Creek Wildlife Area is a 572-acre (231 ha) tract of protected land located in Dunn County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the wildlife area was first acquired in 1959 to provide access to the Big Beaver Creek and Little Beaver Creek, along with the associated wetlands complex. The other major goal was to open up the area to state-sponsored timber harvesting, specifically that of tamarack.
The Augusta Wildlife Area is a tract of protected land located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The land to be used for the Wildlife Area was first acquired in 1942, and the land contained within it has grown from 2,020 acres (820 ha) to the 2,503 acres (1,013 ha) that it is now, with an ultimate goal of controlling 2,640 acres (1,070 ha). The Wildlife Area falls within the bounds of both the Western Coulee and Ridges Ecological Landscape and the Central Sand Plains Ecological Landscape.
The Vernon Wildlife Area is a 5,967-acre (2,415 ha) tract of protected land located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The first parcel of land to be used for the Wildlife Area was leased in 1946 to function as a public hunting ground, focusing primarily on small game and various game birds. The Vernon Wildlife Area is one of ten state protected areas included in the Southern Kettle Moraine Region Planning Group, a WDNR classified area.
The Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area is a 5,052-acre (2,044 ha) tract of protected land located in Burnett County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area is one of three such wildlife areas within the bounds of the Glacial Lake Grantsburg project, the others being Crex Meadows and Fish Lake.
The Fish Lake Wildlife Area(FLWA) is a 13,649 acres (5,524 ha) tract of protected land located in Burnett County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Lands to be included in the wildlife area were first purchased in 1945 with the goal of restoring the conditions of the general area to what was observed in 1850, right before the first human settlements reached the area. The FLWA is made up of three separate areas, the 13,609 acres (5,507 ha) Fish Lake Habitat Management Area, the 40 acres (16 ha) Fish Lake Pines State Natural Area and the Grettum Flowage Wildlife Refuge zone.
Blomberg Lake and Woods State Natural Area is a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-designated State Natural Area made up of 966 acres (391 ha) of land. The state natural area is named after the 68 acres (28 ha) bog lake in the center of the protected area. The area is rich in plant life such as; sphagnum moss, cranberry, tawny cottongrass, pod-grass, three-way sedge and multiple trees such as aspen, speckled alder, black spruce, and red maple.
The Albany Wildlife Area(AWA) is a 2,007 acres (812 ha) tract of protected land located in Green County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Lands to be included in the wildlife area were first purchased in 1945 with the intention of them being used for inclusion in a new public area dedicated to hunting opportunities and conservation of indigenous species. That wildlife area was activated in 1956 as a Federal Aid Fish and Wildlife Restoration Project.
The Amberg Wildlife Area (AWA) is a 1,190-acre (480 ha) tract of protected land located in Marinette County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The wildlife area is surrounded by other protected areas, operated by either the county or other WDNR lands. The property was established in 1948, primarily to protect rare swamp conifer land, made up of 90-100 year old white cedar. The wildlife area is split up into two land management areas, the 909-acre (368 ha) native community management area of the Amberg Swamp Conifers and the eponymous 299-acre (121 ha) habitat management area.
Ackley Wildlife Area is a tract of protected land located in southern Langlade County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
The Balsam Branch Wildlife Area is a 180 acres (73 ha) tract of protected land in central Polk County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The wildlife area is characterized by marshland, prairie fields, and a pond set in the center of the property.
The Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area is a tract of protected land located on the border of Illinois in Rock County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
