Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area, Protected natural area in northern Lake Michigan, United States
Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area is a protected natural area comprising over 23,000 acres spread across six islands in northern Lake Michigan. The research area includes parts of Beaver Island, Garden Island, High Island, and Hog Island, forming an interconnected island network.
The islands were originally logged and later abandoned when property owners failed to pay taxes, allowing the state to acquire the land. Michigan then established these recovered territories as a protected research area.
Field researchers conduct regular studies on shoreline animals, birds, and plant species across the interconnected island network in Lake Michigan.
Visitors can enjoy hunting, fishing, boating, and camping while following all Michigan state regulations for the islands. Planning ahead and checking current conditions is important since the islands are remote and exposed to weather.
The area operates under a split management system where northern islands are overseen from Gaylord while the southern Fox Islands are administered from Cadillac. This divided oversight is unusual for a connected protected area.
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