Hog Island (Wisconsin)

Hog Island is an uninhabited island located off the eastern shore of Washington Island in the town of Washington, Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The island has a land area of and an elevation of 10 feet or 20 feet above Lake Michigan.

History

Native American

In 1917, historian Hjalmar Holand recorded "indications of an aboriginal village site" at Sand Bay, on the shore directly opposite of Hog Island. This area had a half-mile of sandy beach, the only such beach on the east side of Washington Island. Holand cautioned that the extent of the village was still unknown. In 2012, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff noted that no cultural resources survey to look for artifacts had been made on Hog Island.Gravel Island, Green Bay, Harbor Island, Huron, and Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuges Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Land Protection Plan
by Steve Lenz, Mark Vaniman, and Steven F. Kahl, ''United States Fish and Wildlife Service'', approved January 30, 2013, page 25 (page 35 of the pdf) (Archived April 7, 2021)

Shipwreck

On August 7, 1871, while bound from Menominee, Michigan, for Chicago with a cargo of lumber, the ''General Winfield Scott'' encountered heavy seas off Spider Island and capsized without loss of life. Her capsized hull floated north until she ran aground on the shoal extending between Hog Island and Washington Island. Items worth salvaging were taken by residents of Washington Island, but remains from the shipwreck are visible today in the shallow water about deep.

Bird reservation

In 1908, A. C. Burrill of the State Entomologist's Office in Madison, Wisconsin, publicly advocated the creation of reservations for gulls or other birds in Wisconsin. He was able to interest many people, but his efforts failed.

In 1911, Charles E. Pidgeon surveyed the island for the General Land Office. He wrote a summary:
Survey of Hog Island in Lake Michigan in T 33 N R 30 E. Wisconsin.
' by Charles E. Pidgeon, General Land Office, page 6

The island seems to be of a hard lime stone formation with very little soil but covered with a heavy growth of fir, pine, and cedar. There is a reef extending from the North end of the island in a Northwesterly direction to the shore of Washington Island, in many places barely covered with water. There is much shoal water between Hog Island and Washington Island which makes navigation very difficult and dangerous. The maximum altitude of Hog Island is about 10 ft. above the water and it forms a roosting and breeding place for a large number of sea fowl, chiefly gulls. I saw no improvements on the island.

In 1912, Frank Bond, the chief of the Drafting DivisionSome Audubon Workers
part III: Frank Bond, in The Audubon Societies Executive Department, ''Bird-Lore'', Volume 13, Number 3, May–June 1911, page 175 of the General Land Office was responsible for getting Hog Island protected as the Green Bay Reservation in Executive Order 1487 by President William H. Taft in 1912 as the Green Bay Reserve. The island was the only one in the reserve. Bond's clerk position entailed locating and recommending action on all bird reservations and also preparing executive orders for the President's signature. He was a life-long bird lover and was also a member of the American Ornithologists' Union and his local Audubon Society. Prior to service in the General Land Office he had been a director of the National Association of Audubon Societies. At the time, few people in Wisconsin knew about Bond's work or the creation of the reserve.

The basis for creating the reservation and also three other new federal bird reserves during the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1912, included an ornithologists' report published in the 1890s on birds beneficial to agriculture. The list included game birds, insectivorous birds, and birds of prey. The report showed that the populations of beneficial birds altogether had declined over the previous 25 years.

In 1912 there were 56 federal bird reserves, which were all created by executive orders following the recommendation of the Department of the Interior to the President. They were "regarded as in all essential particulars reservations of public lands for public use or other purposes" and were created under the authority of the 1906 law introduced by John F. Lacey, which followed his earlier Lacey Act of 1900. The 1906 act forbade anyone to kill birds, take eggs, or to "willfully disturb" birds upon the reservations, "except under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Agriculture may from time to time prescribe". The reservations were administered under the direction of the Bureau of Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture.

Another similar effort similar to the 1908 attempt was made in the autumn of 1912 by Dean H. L. Russell and C. R. Van Hise, the chairman of the Conservation Commission of Wisconsin. Their effort focused on locating and protecting the breeding grounds of the American herring gull. They gathered signatures and affidavits from Door County landowners near gull nesting areas, using federal forms provided by the General Land Office. The Conservation Commission forwarded their paperwork along with its own urging to the U.S. Biological Survey officials. Their efforts secured Executive Order 1678 on January 9, 1913, which set aside Spider Island and Gravel Island as the Gravel Island Reserve.

The intention for the islands was that they would eventually become nesting areas for Caspian terns, shore birds, and herons in addition to gulls. Another purpose of the reserves was to please the many bird-lovers in the state and to aid farmers, since these birds eat insect pests and rodents. An additional purpose was to improve the human public health of the lake and shore communities where the birds would act as beneficial scavengers.Progress of Bird Conservation in Wisconsin
by A. C. Burrill, in Wisconsin Arbor and Bird Day Annual 1913, compiled by O. S. Rice and issued by C. P. Cary Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer pages 43–45 Additional efforts in favor of the reservation were made by T. S. Palmer of the U.S. Biological Survey and by people in a variety of Wisconsin communities who recorded bird observations in 1912.

In 1926, volunteers William I. Lyon of Waukegan, Illinois, George Lyon, and Clark Miller banded birds at Hog Island and other islands in the county. They recorded data and sent it to the U.S. Biological Survey. In 1930, volunteers William I. Lyon and Clark Miller of Racine visited "the many small islands surrounding Washington island" and altogether banded around 1,000 gulls and Caspian terns. The two men were part of a large bird banding project coordinated by the U.S. Biological Survey involving 1,800 people. Birds on islands along the peninsula were banded by Ephraim residents.

Wildlife refuge

In 1940, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt changed the name to Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge by issuing Proclamation 2416. The proclamation renamed federal bird reservations in order to easily distinguish them from state-owned and managed bird reserves.

Wilderness area

County hearing

On February 15, 1967, a hearing on a proposed Wisconsin Islands Wilderness concerning Hog, Spider, and Gravel islands was held at the Door County courthouse. It was noted that prior visitation to the three islands had been limited to a few bird enthusiasts who expected the repulsive smells and discomforts associated with nesting colonies of gulls and herons. It was proposed that "Public access would need to be prudently limited in numbers and restricted to late summer and early fall when Lake Michigan travel is often difficult."Nesting islands would make Up Wis. islands Wilderness
''Door County Advocate'', Volume 105, Number 87, January 1, 1967, page 3 No one was opposed to the proposal.Island Wilderness meets No opposition at hearing
''Door County Advocate'', Volume 105, Number 96, February 16, 1967, page 1

Department of the Interior recommendation

On March 13, 1968, Stewart Udall, the Secretary of the Department of the Interior recommended the addition of the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness along with the Michigan Islands Wilderness to the National Wilderness Preservation System to President Lyndon B. Johnson, noting of the islands in both proposed wilderness areas:

They are all relatively isolated and seldom visited because of difficult access. The islands are considered extremely important breeding and nesting areas for herring and ring-billed gulls. Other birds of lesser importance are black-crowned night herons, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, common and Caspian terns, and several species of waterfowl. Though small and isolated, the quiet and solitude of these rugged, wind-swept and wave battered islands offer an excellent wilderness experience to those willing to visit them. The fragile island ecology, abundant bird populations, and picturesque terrain features have unique beauty and are of great interest to the scientist, the student, and nature lover.

Initial bill

On May 7, 1968, Congressman John W. Byrnes introduced a bill in the United States House of Representatives to designate the three islands as the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness. He justified his intentions on the basis that the islands "are extremely important nesting and resting grounds for thousands of native birds, and while seldom visited because of difficult accessibility and landing conditions, they offer a unique wilderness opportunity to the serious student of nature."

Senate hearing

In 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson and three other senators introduced Senate Bill 826, which included the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness proposed earlier in the House by Byrnes. Following the introduction of the bill, the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs held a hearing concerning the proposed wilderness designation, which was filmed and shown by a Green Bay television station. A total of 27 people were present at the hearing, with statements presented by eight as individuals and seven who represented organizations. All 15 statements favored the proposal. Communications about the proposal were submitted by 159 individual citizens, and all were in favor of the proposal. The main argument submitted was that wilderness status would protect the islands from undesirable developments. Following the hearing, an additional 32 individuals submitted communications, and all also in favor of designating the islands as wilderness. The main argument from 17 total organizations, all of which supported the proposal, was that wilderness status would preserve the islands in their existing state. In addition, a county supervisor commended the past protection given to the islands, and also supported the proposal. The Wisconsin State Conservation Department likewise submitted a favorable statement concerning the proposal.

The synopsis of the Senate hearing noted that "Some of the tree and shrub cover of the islands has been lost due to avian life such as the great blue and black-crowned night herons." The report noted that nesting conditions on the island were especially ideal during low water conditions, which created additional habitat. It concluded that:Synopsis of Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Proposal
pages 11–12

Little social or economic impact in the vicinity would result from the island being added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Many areas in the vicinity are available for a variety of recreational uses and designation of the islands as wilderness would not interfere with such uses. Few visitors would find the small, smelly islands attractive, and visitors could easily erase the prime requisite for bird use—solitude. Travel to the islands is difficult and landing conditions on the island must be perfect before any visits are possible. All visitor use must therefore continue only by special permit in order to protect bird nesting colonies and to provide public safety.

The bill passed the Senate without dissenting votes on May 26, 1969.

House hearing

Subsequently, a hearing was held before several subcommittees of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 205 an
Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 217Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 429 Nelson repeated statements used earlier by Udall in his letter, and urged that the areas be "forever protected from the intrusions of man".Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 228–229

Congressman Robert Kastenmeier, who had introduced House Resolution 4275 as an identical measure to Senate Bill 826 in the House, also attended this hearing. He also repeated the same statements used by Udall, and added that "the lands are all Federally owned and no cost will be incurred by designating them as wilderness. It is to secure the perpetuation of these treasured areas that I urge favorable support of this legislation."Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 230 He also cited in support that "A hearing on the Wisconsin islands wilderness proposal at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., in 1967 produced unanimous support from local and State conservation groups, as well as a favorable statement from the State of Wisconsin."Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 231

Byrnes noted that the islands were "seldom visited except by dedicated bird enthusiasts" and pointed out that earlier the three islands had only been protected by executive orders rather than by legislation. He advised that "Such legislation will secure additional, statutory protection for these islands, which are valuable only because they have been kept wild and undisturbed, and because they remain so to this day."Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, pages 297–298 In addition, he knew of no opposition to the proposal in his congressional district.

During the hearing, Congressman Sam Steiger challenged John S. Gottschalk, the director of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife over how the islands would be managed. Gottschalk noted that the islands were "primarily valuable from the standpoint of nesting habitat which they provide for Colonial birds" but "are virtually inaccessible because of the shallow water surrounding them. It is hazardous, and sticky to get out to these islands and very few people do have a chance to get out to these islands."Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 235 When Steiger asked about staffing, he replied that, designated as wilderness, the islands would require less personnel for staffing than otherwise.Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 242

Steiger responded,Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 243

I think you will agree that we will be stretching a point if we said that the solitude and the opportunity for observing ecology, et cetera, are outstanding for people. What they are outstanding for are birds. Now, I have no particular antipathy to birds, but here again we are in a position of, if you will, stretching at best and perhaps violating the particular language of the act.

Gottschalk replied,

I don't think so, of course, but this depends on how we interpret that particular section of the act. What the act says is that it should have outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation. Now, we have to start analyzing sentences. Does "outstanding" modify the word "opportunities" or does it modify the "solitude" or the "primitive and unconfined type of recreation?" I think this is a legitimate question, because even if you take a little Gravel Island or Shoe Island or one of those other islands, it certainly has outstanding opportunities for solitude. You can go there most of the year and you wouldn't see another person except perhaps on the bridge of a Great Lakes freighter.

Steiger responded,

Excuse me, but of course-- I am not going to belabor this, but, as a matter of fact, you are going to prohibit people from going there. You are not going to let them go; isn't that correct?

Gottschalk replied,

People will be permitted when their presence is not unduly disturbing to the wildlife.

Steiger replied,

They will have to be qualified people. The general run — am I misinterpreting your remarks earlier?

Gottschalk responded with a "Yes".

Steiger asked,

I thought it was only going to be qualified students?

Gottschalk admitted,

Well, on one of these islands this is basically correct. Although in our regular refuge program we do make it possible for the general public to enjoy the refuge.

Steiger responded,Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 244

All right... but here, noteworthy of record, the description of Hog Island, and as you can see n a photographthe birds flying around and it says: 'When approaching these islands gulls fill the air with form and sound.' I think he will have to admit that is a lot more imaginative than birds fly away or something which will be a little more accurate. Now, possibly under the aegis of filling the air we could qualify the area more readily under the Wilderness Act, but the point is that all of this is a conflict or accommodation of the actual condition with the language of the Wilderness Act and might be remedied...Their basic aim is to preserve wildlife and not ecologize it.

The National Wildlife Federation and its state affiliate endorsed the proposed wilderness designation on the basis of the islands' "values to waterfowl, herring gulls, and ring-billed gulls. Travel to the islands is difficult and visitor use is limited to special permittees for scientific and educational purposes."Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
1970, page 215

Passage

The content concerning the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness was incorporated into subsequent legislation and eventually became part of the 1970 Omnibus Wilderness Act, which passed the House with a 91-504 vote. The Act was signed by President Richard Nixon on October 23, 1970, designating the three islands as the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness.

La Salle: Expedition II

On November 4, 1976, 23 members participating in the La Salle: Expedition II reenactment took off from East Side Park along Jackson Harbor on Washington Island at 5:30 am. Their plan was to go around Washington Island and reach Gislason beach, and then later on cross the Porte des Mortes passage to the Door Peninsula.Two voyageur canoes capsize in heavy weather off Island
''Door County Advocate'', Volume 115, Number 66, November 4, 1976, page 1 They encountered high waves and gale

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