Kingston Pines State Natural Area

Within rolling, sandy moraine supporting boggy wetlands, Kingston Pines features a mature pine and oak forest of red pine, white pine, Hill’s oak, and black oak. The oldest pines occur on nearly flat ground between Big Lake and the Kingston Flowage. Both the pine and oak species are reproducing well in this Area. The shrub layer is variable and consists of huckleberry, American hazelnut, and prairie willow. Drier portions of the Area have typical central pine-oak ground layer species, whereas the wetter places contain botanical disjuncts such as long sedge and Massachusetts fern. Other ground layer species include early low blueberry, whorled yellow loosestrife, and bracken fern. Scattered around the Area are extensive patches of running prairie sedge and Pennsylvania sedge. Boggy areas have good populations of central poor fen indicators such as yellow screw-stem and clustered sedge.

Several Species of Greatest Conservation Need nest in the older pine and bog including least flycatcher, Canada warbler, and the state-threatened red-shouldered hawk. Many bird species are found at or near their southern range limit including northern raven, hermit thrush, black-throated green warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, and white-throated sparrow. Patches of old-growth white pine are evident within the site.

Kingston Pines is owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and leased by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It was designated a State Natural Area in 2008.

Source: WDNR