Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Rice Lake State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in Barron County in northwestern Wisconsin, centered around the shallow, productive waters of Rice Lake and the surrounding marshes and wetland basins. Established to conserve critical habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species, the WMA encompasses extensive wetlands, open water, grasslands, and scattered woodlands. The area plays a vital role in supporting migratory birds along the Mississippi Flyway, offering resting, nesting, and feeding grounds for ducks, geese, swans, and a variety of shorebirds. The lake itself varies in depth but generally remains shallow, promoting abundant aquatic vegetation that sustains the rich biodiversity of the area. Historically, the wetlands provided important resources for Native American communities and later settlers who relied on wild rice harvesting and waterfowl hunting. Today, Rice Lake WMA is managed primarily for wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities, with seasonal public access for birdwatching, photography, and nature study. The environment supports species such as mallards, wood ducks, ring-necked ducks, and great blue herons, along with mammals like white-tailed deer and muskrat. Popular recreational activities include waterfowl hunting during designated seasons, hiking on informal trails, canoeing, and wildlife observation from several blinds and observation points. Visitors appreciate the quiet, natural setting and the chance to connect with waterfowl migration dynamics in a relatively undeveloped area. Rice Lake also coordinates with adjacent wildlife areas and private conservation lands to maintain habitat corridors critical for species conservation.
