This site encompasses the final few miles of the Kickapoo River before its confluence with the Wisconsin, and includes the Kickapoo River Wildlife Area (Wauzeka and Bell Center Units), Hogback Prairie State Natural Area, and Wauzeka Bottoms State Natural Area.  A mosaic of Driftless Area communities is found here, including large, intact blocks of upland oak-hickory forest and floodplain forest, as well as prairie and savanna.

The forests in the southern portion of this site are among the largest and most intact in the whole Driftless Area and contain significant populations of forest interior birds such as red-shouldered hawk, Acadian flycatcher, wood thrush, cerulean warbler, and Kentucky warbler.  Prairie and savanna habitats host Bell’s vireo, brown thrasher, blue-winged warbler, field sparrow, bobolink, and Eastern meadowlark.  Thousands of migrants use the area, particularly in spring.

Photo Credit: WDNR