[mou] Crex Meadows festival Oct. 9

[Jim Williams]

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