Big Island SNA
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210 Acres Located In Pelican Lake near Orr. Park at public access on E side of lake, just off US Hwy 53 in Orr. Island is accessible by boat. St. Louis County Twp 65N Rng 20W Sec 32 & 33 Type: Coniferous Forest ECS Subsection: Border Lakes |
Description:
Big Island has escaped significant disturbance by fire or humans for over 150 years. As a result, here one can see a collection of old-growth communities, including hardwood-conifer forest and aspen-birch forest, that seldom attain old-growth status. Forest communities here resemble those on the shore of Lake Michigan, over 300 miles to the south and east. Basswood makes up a large portion of the canopy, along with bur oak and old-growth white spruce and white pine. Balsam fir thrives in recent blow-downs. A lowland conifer swamp of black spruce, tamarack, and white cedar, forms a "waistline" across the island. Upland topography on either side of the swamp is molded of dry, rocky outcrops and rich mesic soil with a woodsy understory of ferns, bishop's cap, sarsaparilla, buttercup, bedstraw, sweet cicely, and violets. Pileated woodpeckers drum and call as they work the many snags. Ruffed grouse overwinter here, and bald eagle and osprey nest in spring. At least 40 bird species are summer residents on the island.
