CREX MEADOWS WILDLIFE FESTIVAL FEATURES GUIDED BUS TOURS AND WILDLIFE=20 PROGRAMS--=A0Wildlife viewing tours and programs on Wisconsin wildlife=20=
highlight the 23rd annual Wildlife Festival at the Crex Meadows=20 Wildlife Area on Sunday, October 9, starting at 10 am.=A0Hosted by the=20= Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Friends of Crex, the=20= event is designed to better acquaint the public with wildlife and=20 wildlife management activities in the area.=A0The event is free and open=20= to the public. =93The open house is an opportunity to learn about this unique=20 prairie-wetland environment,=94 says Jim Hoefler, the area=92s = interpretive=20 wildlife biologist,=A0=93and the vistas afforded by the vast wetlands = and=20 prairies, provide excellent wildlife viewing.=94=A0He encourages outdoor=20= enthusiasts to grab family and friends, cameras and binoculars, to join=20= in on the event. Crex Meadows, a 30,000 acre wildlife area located just north of=20 Grantsburg, Wisconsin, is managed for prairie and wetland wildlife.=A0The=20= open house coincides with the peak of fall migration when thousands of=20= sandhill cranes, ducks, and geese are in the area.=A0Eagles, hawks, = deer,=20 shorebirds, and many other kinds of wildlife will also be seen. The activities take place at the Crex Meadows Wildlife Education and=20 Visitor Center located on the north side of Grantsburg, just east of=20 the intersection of County Roads =93D=94 and =93F=94.=A0=A0=46rom the = stoplights on=20 Highway 70 in Grantsburg, just follow the geese (painted on the road)=20 to the entrance of the Education and Visitor Center.=A0A variety of=20 wildlife programs and demonstrations will be held from 10 am to 5=20 pm.=A0This year=92s programs include; retriever dogs, bird/bat house=20 building, early Wisconsin logging, tomahawk throwing, Wisconsin=92s=20 Important Bird Area Program, a voyageur presentation, pond =93mucking=94,=20= furbearers, raptors (with live birds), and archery.=A0=A0Dedications = will=20 be held for the new boardwalk and for the inclusion of Crex Meadows and=20= Fish Lake Wildlife Areas in the Wisconsin Important Bird Areas Program. Make sure to take a guided bus tour of Crex Meadows.=A0Tour buses leave=20= the Education Center parking lot at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5pm for a=20 ninety-minute tour.=A0While viewing the birds and mammals from the tour=20= bus, Crex staff will explain the history and management of the wildlife=20= area.=A0Tour participants can expect to see many kinds of birds and = other=20 wildlife. Take time to visit the food stand where the The Friends of Crex offer=20 brats, burgers, and a variety of snacks.=A0Also, check out The Bog Shoe=20= store for a wide assortment of wildlife related books, gifts, and=20 souvenirs. For more information, contact: Jim Hoefler=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Crex Meadows Wildlife Area=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Grantsburg, WI 54840=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 (715) 463-CREX (2739)=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 website: crexmeadows.org forward by Jim Williams Wayzata, Minnesota
