Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Wisconsin
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Wisconsin has hundreds of miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan, and, right in the heart of it, is Green Bay. Perhaps best known for their football team, Green Bay is a quaint town with plenty of recreational areas along the bay. One of those areas, and one you’ll definitely want to visit in your rented RV, is Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
Lake Michigan (and much of the land near it) plays an important part in the lives of many animals—both birds and mammals. Inside such an urban atmosphere as the city, they found a need to help the wildlife rebound, especially when hurt or unable to live on their own in the wild. The wildlife sanctuary protects these animals and gives you an opportunity to get close to many of them even inside an urban setting like Green Bay.
The primary goal of Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is to provide a safe space to rehabilitate and nurse wild animals back to health, then return them to their environment. In some cases, this isn’t possible, and the animals have to stay at the sanctuary. The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary animals you’ll see around have been hurt or permanently injured, so their new, safe home is at the bay.
You can see many of these animals up close when you visit the sanctuary. There are numerous buildings that house the animals, with lots of areas for them to roam around. Expect to see coyotes, foxes, ducks, raptors (birds of prey), and more. In some cases, you can even feed some animals freshly shelled corn.
Fishing is allowed and encouraged inside the sanctuary, specifically in Manger Lagoon. Specifically, for youths and disabled people, there are no closed seasons—though ice fishing is not allowed. There’s also no size limit, and you can take fish home with you that you catch.
This program is to help teach people in an urban area about fishing, as well as about the responsibility that comes with it. For example, they teach anglers to pick up bobbers, hooks, and excess line and throw them away—otherwise, it becomes a hazard for other animals and geese and ducks.
The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary has six miles of walking and hiking trails throughout its 600 acres. During winter, these trails also double as cross-country skiing trails. They’re all easy hikes and easily accessible and give you an opportunity to see some woodland creatures scurrying all around you.
There are five total trails that intersect at different points, and each trail ranges from just under a quarter mile to nearly a mile and a half. Three trails are west of Danz Avenue, while two more are east of it. They ask that you stay on marked trails, don’t bring your pets, and don’t disturb any of the creatures or plants you come across—it’s a sanctuary, after all.
Animals that are brought here are usually hurt or injured in some way. The goal of the sanctuary is to rehabilitate them in order to return them back to their wild habitats. You’ll learn specifically about many waterfowl and raptors here, but you’ll also find other animals as well.
Especially popular are the baby animals in the nursery. Additionally, there are live exhibits of waterfowl and birds of prey, using animals who were unable to be returned to their homes. These “ambassadors” help teach visitors about conservation efforts and what they can do to change behaviors and make these areas safe for animals again.
The Nature Education Center is the place to get your hands dirty and learn more about wild animals and their habitats in a hands-on way. There are interactive exhibits, plus a gift shop where you can pick up a souvenir and help the sanctuary in the process.
There’s a library here where you can stop and enjoy a book about some of the animals and the habitat you’ll find in Green Bay. You’ll also find two exhibits about specific wildlife habitats: an estuary room (where water empties from a river or stream) and a hollow tree/burrow exhibit, where you’ll see animals that call these two places home. You’ll also find snacks and restrooms here.
Shady Acres is a small campground in Denmark, Wisconsin. They don’t advertise a lot of amenities, but what you get when you’re camping there are the basics: some sites with full hookups, some with electric and water, and some with none (for those who want to “rough it”). While there’s no fluff, sometimes that’s best when you’re camping.
This campground sits, appropriately enough, on the Devils River. That’s a big draw for this campground, with the river’s waterfalls and fishing opportunities for the taking. It’s located nearby in Maribel, Wisconsin, just about 30 minutes away from Bay Beach. There are historic buildings on site to explore, as well as short hiking trails.
Bay Shore Campground is in New Franken, Wisconsin and offers you a view that’s unparalleled. These wooded sites are tucked away and quiet, and there are 90 that offer water and electricity (and others for those who want to rough it). You’ll find a fire ring at every site, and the park has firewood, ice, laundry, a boat launch, plus shower facilities and a playground.
Quietwoods South Camping Resort is part of Kampgrounds of America (KOA) which has an incredible reputation among RVers. It’s on 58 acres on the peninsula between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. You’ll find a wide variety of amenities at this resort, starting with full utility hookups for your RV. A pool and mini golf are both on site, plus bike rentals and fishing. It’s the perfect place to relax and take full advantage of everything your RV has to offer.
Near Copper Culture State Park, Holtwood Campground is a small spot near Highway 41. It’s a shady area and has full utility hookups. There are also bathrooms and showers, and it’s in close proximity to the city pool. There’s also the nearby Oconto River—a shallow area that’s great for supervised swimming and even a little fishing if you like.
There’s no proper dining at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. There are vending machines inside the Nature Education Center, but otherwise, no hot or prepared foods are available. You can bring sandwiches or a picnic lunch to enjoy while you’re walking around the sanctuary—and you can prepare them in your RV’s kitchen. It’s always a good idea to keep your RV’s refrigerator stocked up.
There’s no shortage of good food in Green Bay. Anything you can imagine, from diners to fine dining, are all available. Looking for a family-friendly pizza place? You’ll find it. A place that serves a dozen burgers prepared different ways? They’ve got those too. Of course, one of the main ways to enjoy Wisconsin is by trying out their cheese, which they're particularly well-known for. In particular, give the cheese curds a try—you won’t have any trouble finding them around town.
Green Bay is a perfect little foodie town, and you’ll definitely find a good meal or two there. Enjoy Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and work up a hunger. Then enjoy the city for a while before you head back to your haven of an RV for a nice evening around a campfire.