Door County Land Trust
Daily Nature
Three Springs Nature Preserve Expands 40 Acres For A Total of 555 Acres!
Groundwater-fed creek on the newly-purchased property Door County Land Trust is celebrating the protection of an additional 40 acres at Three Springs Nature Preserve! DCLT closed on the purchase last week, bringing the preserve’s total protected acreage to 555 and DCLT’s overall protected acreage to 9,943! This wetland tract falls within the Three Springs…
Read MoreLand Trust Addition to Grand View Park is More than Meets the Eye
The majestic, panoramic view from atop the hill of Grand View Scenic Overlook and Park in Ellison Bay takes in Washington Island, two county parks, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. What isn’t visible are the efforts the Land Trust, the Town of Liberty Grove, and private citizens have taken to protect the property’s iconic scenery…
Read MoreLand Trust Adds Newly Protected Property Within Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp
The value of property is often summed up in the words “location, location, location”. That saying holds true for the ecological value of the location of Door County Land Trust’s recent land purchase within Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp Natural Area. The land is prized for its proximity to a migratory bird route and its coastal wetlands. “Gibraltar-Ephraim…
Read MoreDoor County Land Trust Aims to Purchase Camp Cuesta from the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes
Joint Press Release: Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL) proudly announce they have reached an agreement to sell Camp Cuesta in Baileys Harbor to the Door County Land Trust. This strategic partnership would ensure the continued availability of Camp Cuesta for local Girl Scouts and the preservation of this cherished property. Located…
Read MoreCamp Cuesta: Protecting Land, Preserving Tradition
Local Girl Scout Troop Co-leaders Sarah Martin and Anna Knapp call Camp Cuesta, a Girl Scout camp in Baileys Harbor, their “happy place,” a place to take in the calm and wonder of nature. This feeling is deeply rooted in the Door County community, through decades of Girl Scouting and an appreciation of the ecological…
Read MoreSuccessful Bird Migration: Timing IS Everything
The success of each year’s spring migration comes down to timing—and climate change is tampering with the clock. Climate change is having a direct effect on the availability of food sources (predominantly insects) from the beginning to the end of the migration route. This nourishment is necessary to fuel the flight of…
Read MoreNew Property Protects Nature and Memories at Three Springs
Many times when land transfers from private ownership to the Door County Land Trust more than the land itself is exchanged. For Ingrid Nelson Lawrenz, the Sister Bay property she recently sold to the Land Trust holds memories of a lifetime spent indulging in the joys of the wild places just outside her girlhood home. …
Read MoreShoreline Property Becomes Land Trust Conservation Easement
The Schmitz conservation easement. Kay McKinley photo Shoreline property on the bay of Green Bay owned by Michael Schmitz, of Ellison Bay, was recently protected by a conservation easement with Door County Land Trust. The agreement ensures that the four-acre property, which includes 589 feet of rocky shoreline, will remain undeveloped forever. The easement’s size…
Read MoreOak Bluff Natural Area: Land Protection by the Bay
Door County Land Trust’s portfolio of protected properties includes a variety of ecologically sensitive lands protected for the plant and animal inhabitants. The latest land protection project, completed on December 6, 2023, is a perfect example of why some lands are best protected for wildlife. When it comes to the Land Trust’s recent creation…
Read MoreHibbard Creek: Extending an Important Wildlife Corridor
Hibbard Creek. Photo by Julie Schartner The recent purchase of 77 acres near the Hibbard Creek Natural Area aligns with the Land Trust’s goal to extend protection in wildlife corridors that provide for movement across the landscape. These corridors are crucial for the survival of animal species as they provide new home territories for…
Read MoreSouthern Door Ecological Gem to Become 15th Land Trust Preserve
An exceptionally scenic and ecologically significant 75 acres in the Town of Clay Banks has recently been added to Door County Land Trust’s roster of protected properties. The former dairy farm features a half-mile of Bear Creek that flows into Lake Michigan that supports coldwater fish. Within its eye-catching landscape of open fields, wetlands, native…
Read MoreKellner Fen Natural Area Addition Expands Land Protection
Sand Hill Cranes are one of many species that will be protected on the new acreage. The success of Door County Land Trust’s (DCLT) most recent land purchase is the direct result of the generosity of the Fischer family. The new addition of 63 acres extends the protection of water quality and wildlife surrounding the…
Read MoreFond du Lac has returned!
Fond du Lac has returned! Fond du Lac, the snowy owl who visited Door County in 2020, has returned after an absence of 18 months! Fond du Lac, a fourth-year female, was trapped and tagged by Project SNOWstorm on Feb. 23, 2020, near Waupun, WI. She was fitted with a cell phone transmitter that…
Read MoreSpringtime Emerges at Erskine Woods
Wanted to share some photos of my walk at Erskine Woods! – Amy Watts Dwyer
Read MoreDoor County Ecology: Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
Door County Ecology at Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve. Learn how to spot signs of a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker! – Mary and Dale Goodner
Read MoreDoor County Ecology: Difference Between Red Pine and White Pine
Door County Ecology at Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve. Learn the difference between Red Pine and White Pine! – Mary and Dale Goodner
Read MoreHappy Earth Day!
In celebration of the 50th Earth Day, enjoy these scientific, fun, and free downloads for you! Simply enter your email to download the Door County coloring pages and phenology calendar for April & May.
Read MoreFinding Sanctuary at Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve
“We are very privileged to have this outdoor space to safely go to,” says photographer Miora Rajaonary. “It is more than a playground. It has become our sanctuary, an invitation for us to look closer and longer and contemplate.” Video from Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, by Jim Perry.
Read MoreSigns of Spring: Hazelnut Flowers in Bloom
Signs of Spring at Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, hazelnut flowers in bloom! – Mary and Dale Goodner
Read MoreLongnose Suckers at Heins Creek Nature Preserve
Watch the Longnose Suckers at Heins Creek Nature Preserve, monitoring and video by Joe Taylor.
Read MoreEnjoying Ephraim Nature Preserve at Anderson Pond
Wanted to share some photos of my walk at Ephraim Nature Preserve at Anderson Pond! – Amy Watts Dwyer
Read MoreSigns of Spring: Club Moss
Signs of Spring at Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, club moss! – Mary and Dale Goodner
Read MoreSunrise at Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks
Enjoy the beautiful sunrise from Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks – Jim Perry
Read MoreSigns of Spring: Wood Frogs Mating
Signs of Spring at Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, wood frogs mating! – Mary and Dale Goodner
Read MoreSigns of Spring: Balsam Poplar
Signs of Spring at Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Balsam Poplar! – Mary and Dale Goodner
Read MoreSigns of Spring: Skunk Cabbage
Signs of Spring at Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Skunk Cabbage! – Mary and Dale Goodner
Read MoreIntrigued by Heins Creek
I’ve always been intrigued by Heins Creek. From the babbling waters to the rippled sandy bottom and crystal clear waters, it is just beautiful. And it’s teeming with life! Birds flit in and out of the waters on the edge of the stream. If you stand still enough, you’ll see fish of all sizes moving…
Read MoreGolden-crowned kinglets, Spring Peepers, and Wood Frogs – Oh My!
Tom Clay and I spent a beautiful “signs of spring” morning at Three Springs Nature Preserve. This is a perfect time to visit, there are so many spring activities taking place, from birds migrating overhead, to northern pike in Three Springs Pond visible from deck if you are lucky (I was). We saw lots of …
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