Recreation : Bird-Watching & Wildlife

St. Germain is a favorite destination for those seeking to watch birds and view wildlife. One of the reasons is that St. Germain is nestled in a vast area of wild, undeveloped lands with a huge abundance of water, top-quality habitat and other resources. The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest provides a huge variety of habitat and gives wildlife enthusiasts some awesome opportunities.

Common sightings throughout the year include white-tailed deer, black bear, porcupines, ravens, bald eagles, common loons and the great blue heron. But at certain times of the year, you'll also have an excellent chance of seeing some more elusive species, such as osprey, beaver, pileated woodpecker, hummingbirds, wood ducks and the elusive gray jay. There’s even a chance to see such elusive mammals such as marten, fisher and otter.

The most important thing you can do when looking for Northwoods birds and wildlife is to be extremely quiet and move slowly. The best times for viewing wildlife are generally around sunrise and sunset.

Click here to view the Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail-Northwoods Region online publication.

Click here to view the Wisconsin Wildlife Primer-Wildlife Habits & Habitat online publication.

Useful Links:

Animals, Plants & Natural Communities - Links to information, including factsheets.

EEK! Environmental Education for Kids - Electronic magazine for kids. Learn about the great outdoors!

Things to See & Do in Vilas County - Fun spots to visit in Vilas County.

Wisconsin Important Bird Areas - Information & maps about important bird habitat areas in Wisconsin.