With a stream flowing from woods into a meadow, the 3.11-acre property in Leelanau County, Michigan, donated to the Trust by Joyce and Thomas Janicki, offers a small but important gem for wildlife. A peninsula county, Leelanau is bounded by Lake Michigan on the west and by Grand Traverse Bay on the east, making the area a haven for birds and other wildlife. Many species are drawn to the stream on the property, and the wetland area harbors numerous turtles, frogs, and dragonflies. Ruffed grouse and wild turkeys have been seen in the woods, as well as deer and raccoons, and the meadow attracts several species of butterfly.

The Janickis sought the Trust’s help in ensuring that their sanctuary would forever remain completely undeveloped and protected. They plan to continue removing invasive plant species under the Trust’s supervision, replacing them with native species. Such habitat restoration efforts are particularly helpful where open space is rapidly disappearing, as native vegetation makes those remaining natural areas more useful to local wildlife.