Volunteers help maintain Wisconsin Point Wildlife Sanctuary for Piping Plover

SUPERIOR, Wis. (Northern News Now) - For the past five years, The Saint Louis River Alliance has been working to help the piping plover bird species, which is an endangered shoreline bird in the Great Lakes region.

The group has been monitoring shoreline birds since 2012, but officially established a site on the west side of Wisconsin Point.

On Sunday, a volunteer work day was held as they focused on preparing the land for Piping Plovers by removing invasive species such as tansy and soapwort while also removing woody debris from the shoreline.

Project Lead Mikayla Erickson says her passion to help the species began when she saw her first piping plover in 2019, and now she can see more.

“We’re seeing the numbers rise,” said Erickson. “In the past five years, we’ve been able to create this site here with basic needs for the piping plover: cobble, shoreline distance, and making sure their food requirements are here. Just to help the future succession as they nest here in the future.”

Erickson also shared that people are stewards, and the Wisconsin Point Wildlife Sanctuary allows the species to thrive while we stand by the wayside.

For more information on the Piping Plover Project, click here.

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