Bakken's Pond

 

Bakken’s Pond features open water most of the year, due to many springs. A diverse invertebrate and fish fauna provides a sigificant forage base for birds. The springs are quite small and scattered, but they influnce how fast the ice melts, making it very attractive to early waterfowl migrants. Bordering water are extensive wet meadows consisting predominantly of bluejoint grass, and sedges. Scattered woody vegetation interrupts the extensive sedge meadow with willows and alders.

 

Records from bird watchers indicate Bakken's Pond has attracted nearly every species of duck and goose known from the state. The surrounding wetlands and shrub swamps likewise attract early migrants, for the same reason - the place opens first with an abundace of plant and insect life, on which they can feast. Bakken’s Pond is also home to a diverse amphibian and reptile community including cricket, green, chorus, and leopard frogs, tiger salamanders and eastern newts, northern water snake, and eastern painted turtles. Also, present are vast colonies of pickerel-weed and other emergent pond vegetation.

 

From the intersection of U.S. Highway 14 and State Highway 23 north of Spring Green, go west on Highway 14 3.0 miles, then south on Dyke Road 0.6 mile, then west on Kennedy Road 0.6 mile. Park along the road and walk south into the natural area.