Newly "Discovered" Place to Visit

Newly "Discovered" Place to Visit

Topic Author: Dana Brueck

Posted: 6:08 PM Apr 12, 2009

Replies Posted: 3 comments

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Hello, everyone.

I hope those of you who celebrate Easter enjoyed the day. It was breezy but beautiful outdoors. I love this time of year!

Driving home from work Saturday night, I was using my brights on my car to travel down a road that has very little light, and I spotted off in the ditch a number of baby animals and a slightly bigger critter! It was a such a brief glimpse of their eyes, though, that I couldn't tell what they were!

Anyway... it got me thinking about a story I did this past week. The DNR out of Poynette is investigating the thrill killings of animals in the area. Investigators say the suspects would use spotlights to find and then use bats to club small animals to death, then take pictures as proof of the kill as part of some sort of competition or "game."

While we were covering the story, we stopped to talk with the DNR warden supervisor at the DNR's facility in Poynette.

Naturally, we did the interview and learned there was a wildlife exhibit on the property. We went to check it out to get video for our story. Well, what a surprise!! The facility has an area for orphaned or injured wildlife that cannot be returned to the wild. I saw a raccoon - which we got video of, and there was at least one wolf...(maybe more) and a coyote... big cats... I think an eagle and I believe other raptors as well. (Remember, we were there to work - not to sightsee!)

As you enter the property, there also are bison.

Anyway, there were a few families there, but I remember thinking what a fantastic place for people to come and appreciate wild animals that you rarely see up close. In news, we certainly get to a lot of places, but I never knew the facility existed and I imagine, others don't know about it either. I don't know, do you? But I do know it's somewhere I'd like to spend more time.

The place is called the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, and it's apparently 250 acres. Again, we just caught a glimpse of it, but I think it's a place worth checking out. You can learn more about what it has to offer... trails and other things at the websites below.

http://dnr.wi.gov/education/Mackenzie/

http://www.wiwf.org/education/facility.php

That's my suggestion for a new place to visit - just leave the ipod at home!! If you've got an idea of a place to go this Spring or Summer, feel free to share.

Thanks again for reading. Take care.

Dana

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

by Mike Location: Madison on Apr 14, 2009 at 06:33 PM

I have always loved the "game farm"! We went as kids for school trips, then as teenagers, and young adults, and adults with kids, we made it a "road trip"... go see the animals, then go back road cruising to find bars, taverns, mom & pop restaurants... some of the best burgers in Wisconsin can be had on these little back road trips in some of the most unadvertised spots! What a great way to see "wild critters, wisconsin countryside, and people who make Wisconsin the friendliest place on the ground".

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by Deb Location: Wisconsin on Apr 13, 2009 at 07:44 PM

Dana, The Poynette Game Farm, which we always have called it is an awesome place to explore for a day. Since I was a little girl I have gone there every year, I am now 45. It was usually a class trip in my younger days. The best part is it it FREE. When you are done there, go take the FREE trip across the Merrimac Ferry.

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by Jim Location: Portage on Apr 13, 2009 at 02:58 PM

Dana - I'm glad to hear you took advantage of the opportunity to see what the Mackenzie center has to offer. I grewup in Poynette and from the 3rd thru the 7th grade our "end-of-the-year" class trip invloved a trip (and picnic) to the "Poynette Game Farm" which is what it was called back then. It has always been a really neat place to visit, especially if you have small children or grand children. The kids seem to really enjoy the animals. The center has changed a lot from the years when I used to visit. Changes, I think, for the better. It is more focused on education than just an animal exhibit. I would certainly recommend it to everyone, but particularily to families with small children.

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