Waters from the Mink River and Lake Michigan combine to form a freshwater estuary, or an area where river water mixes with the water from a large lake or an ocean. Productive estuaries, like Mink River Preserve, are vital to the Lake Michigan ecosystem, providing fish-spawning habitats and organic material.
Various Lake Michigan fish species use the estuary during different seasons, including steelhead, brown trout, bass and northern pike. But these habitats are fragile. Most estuaries along the Great Lakes have been destroyed because they cannot easily share precious shoreline with commercial and residential development.
In the spring months, you’re likely to find early ephemeral wildflowers such as sharp-lobed hepatica, bloodroot, spring beauty and dwarf lake iris.
You might also spot migratory birds passing through on their way to summer breeding grounds further north. The preserve is a critical migration site for birds, with more than 200 species passing through annually. These include a wide variety of ducks, herons, gulls, bitterns, cormorants and loons.
Birds that breed in these wetlands include osprey, American bittern, Virginia rail, sedge wren and the state-threatened yellow rail. Other rare and uncommon birds documented at the site include black duck, black tern, black-crowned night heron and northern harrier.
During the summer growing season, Mink River is home to many beautiful and interesting plants. Some of these include sedges, willow, dogwood and alder bordering the river. Other plants include bulrushes, American white water lily, large white trillium, nodding trillium, partridgeberry, thimbleberry, bunchberry, red and white baneberry, Jack-in-the-pulpit and wild rice. Wildlife such as American beaver, porcupine and the endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly can be found at the preserve.
As fall approaches, the summer colors fade to red, orange and gold. Migratory birds such as tundra swan and meadowlark are on the move, and you’re likely to spot raptors such as turkey vultures, broad-winged hawks and osprey.
When winter arrives, snow and ice blanket the area, making it a welcome respite for visitors seeking the peace and quiet of the season. But winter is still a busy time in nature; watch for bald eagles, red fox and, on occasion, snowy owls.
Many of our preserves allow deer hunting from October through the first week of January, so wearing blaze orange is suggested when hiking in these areas during hunting season.
