60 Fletcher Plains 
wildlife viewing | directions and facility information
Photo: © Phil Seng
This open, grassy site is the last known sharptail
grouse area in the Lower Peninsula. It
is actively managed by using prescribed burning and mowing to maintain
the open, brushy habitat required by grassland wildlife species. There
are numerous unmarked trails that run throughout the area. The site has
no other developments, so come prepared. Visitors are permitted to range
freely throughout this unique habitat.
 Wildlife
Viewing
Photo: © Phil Seng
Sharptail grouse have inhabited
this site, but there have been no confirmed sightings in recent years.
However, other kinds of wildlife are easily viewed. Red-tailed hawks and
northern harriers (also called marsh hawks) are frequently seen hunting
small rodents in the open, grassy portions of the site. Meadowlarks,
horned larks, and upland sandpipers may be viewed from late spring
through early fall, and vesper sparrows are extremely common. Large
numbers of deer may be seen here in the spring during “green up.” Nearby Grass Lake is used by a variety of
waterfowl, (usually) nesting loons. Early summer brings an incredible
grasshopper hatch. During the wintry days of January and February, a trip
to Fletcher Plains may be rewarded with sightings of snow buntings,
rough-legged hawks, and snowy owls.
Jack pine management area
Photo: Bob Hess
Sharptail grouse
Photo: David Kenyon, MI DNR
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is managing an
area nearby for the endangered Kirtland's warbler and related wildlife.
This special 1,400-acre jack pine ecosystem management area occupies both
sides of Fletcher Road,
just east of the Fletcher Plains site. It was the location of a forest
fire in the late 1960s. The thick, stunted jack pine trees on this old
burn site have been recently harvested by clearcutting.
The area will be re-seeded and replanted to jack pine. The Kirtland's
warbler and many of the open land species found on the Fletcher Plains
site are expected to re-colonize this area, providing additional wildlife
viewing opportunities.
This area is open to
public hunting. Contact the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources for hunting seasons and locations.
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