18 Wetmore Pond 
wildlife viewing
| directions and facility information
Photo: © Dave Case
The hiking trail at Wetmore Pond offers scenic views of
unique bog habitat. At this site you can hike an undeveloped trail
through old-growth forest and around rugged rock outcroppings to a
pristine bog habitat at Wetmore Pond. The site is located on 480 acres of
MeadWestvaco land, which borders a 2,500-acre tract of the Escanaba River State
forest. The trail is rough and uneven, but the viewing opportunities from
the wooden bog observation platform are well worth the effort.
 Wildlife
Viewing
A bog is a unique wetland habitat that
receives very little influx of fresh water. Decaying vegetation causes
the water to become acidic, which supports a fragile community of
specially adapted plants and animals.
The carnivorous pitcher plant
grows in bog environments.
Insects fall into the specially
adapted leaves and are digested
by the plant.
Photo: © Ray Rustem
Sphagnum moss grows in thick, floating mats
on the water’s surface and is often mistaken for solid ground.
Carnivorous (meat eating) pitcher plants are also common in this habitat.
They digest insects to supplement the scarce nutrients available in this
acidic environment. During the spring and fall migrations, ducks and
geese congregate on the bog, providing excellent viewing opportunities.
White-throated sparrows and ovenbirds are also quite common here.
Portions of this
area are open to public hunting.
Contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for affected seasons
and locations.
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