Take a Wild Summer Vacation

Here's an interesting idea for your summer vacation. How about spending some time viewing waterfowl, herons, deer, eagles, loons and maybe even an elk or moose. Michigan has designated over 120 wildlife viewing areas throughout the state that provide excellent opportunities to view different wildlife species. In most areas in Michigan several excellent opportunities exist within a short drive.

Most of the sites also provide excellent hiking opportunities through a variety of different kinds of Michigan habitats. Take a hike along a northern Michigan stream, or through a black spruce swamp or even spend some time on a platform which sits on a floating bog mat. All of these opportunities await those willing to spend a little time in our state's outdoors.

To help you plan your watchable wildlife vacation the Wildlife Division's Natural Heritage Program has available the Michigan Wildlife Viewing Guide. The full color guide provides information on all 121 designated sites as well as tips on how and when to view wildlife. A species index in the back makes is easy to select sites based on which kinds of wildlife you would like to see.