The Sheriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected habitat for birds, mammals and reptiles. It is located at the edge of the city on Milliken Mine Road.

Features

This 182-hectare area features many different plant and animal species that are native to the Elliot Lake area. The sanctuary features water, wetland, forest, field, meadow and escarpment habitats. You can access the sanctuary by foot or park your vehicle in a convenient entrance spot. From the entrance, you can find trails that lead to many different environments.

Species of wildlife

You can find lots of different species at the Sheriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary throughout all four seasons. By hiking through the trails, you can catch glimpses of different animals and plants.

At the sanctuary, you may see:

• Birds, such as finches, woodpeckers, pine grosbeaks, woodcocks, waterfowl, wood ducks, mergansers, ring-necked ducks, sandhill cranes, sparrows, warblers, swallows, flycatchers, northern harriers, broad-winged hawks, eagles, Caspian terns and more
• Frogs and spring peepers
• Wolves
• Moose
• Fishers and beavers
• Snowshoe hares
• Painted turtles
• Butterflies and dragonflies
• Plants and flowers, such as wild orchids, nodding trilliums, water lilies, wild sarsaparilla, yellow loosestrife, milkweed, duck potato, tamarack and many more

For more information, come to the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists website