| Goose Creek Grasslands Nature Sanctuary | |
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IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
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| Location | Lower Peninsula, Lenawee County, Michigan USA |
| Nearest city | Jackson, Michigan |
| Area | 70-acre (28 ha) |
| Governing body | Michigan Nature Association, non-profit |
Goose Creek Grasslands Nature Sanctuary, commonly referred to as Goose Creek, is a 70-acre (28 ha) nature sanctuary located in Lenawee County, Michigan. It is maintained and preserved by the Michigan Nature Association, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Michigan's natural habitats, plants and animals.
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Goose Creek is home to the prairie fen habitat, which is a unique wetland that is found only in the glaciated Midwest.[1] More than 200 plant species have been recorded here, including native orchids and pitcher plants, as well as blazing star, sunflowers and Joe-Pye weed.
Conservation efforts have been aimed at removing invasive plants, including the glossy buckthorn which, according to The Nature Conservancy's 2002 report, the infestation is "severe" and threatens the vulnerable Poweshiek skipperling, a butterfly of the fen habitats.[2]
Many species of birds have also been spotted at Goose Creek. It is not uncommon to see hawks, meadowlarks, Red-winged Blackbirds and Yellow Warblers all in one visit.