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Seney National Wildlife Refuge 
DURING THE PAST SUMMER a Survey was arranged through the cooperation 
of Mr. J. Clark Salyer II, Chief, Division of Wildlife Refuges, Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, with the object of checking 
upon the birdlife to be found in Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Dr. Alfred 
Lewy and Mr. Karl E. Bartel were invited to make this census, and after 
some hurried preparation, which included several trips to the local ration 
boards, they, accompanied by Mrs. Lewy, left Chicago on the morning of 
August 1, 1948. 
Mr. Salyer has kindly supplied the following historical background and 
brief resume of the response of wildlife to the refuge. 
“The Seney National Wildlife Refuge, located in Schoolcraft County, 
Michigan, was established by Executive order, December 10, 1935, under 
the provisions of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of February 18, 
1929, as amended. Approximately 86,947 acres of land are now within its 
confines. The white man’s hand has been very heavy against this area 
which once abounded in all forms of wildlife and was covered by great 
stands of hardwoods and pines. Logging activities between 1881 and 1890 
removed most of the great trees, leaving only scattered remnants of the 
once vast forests. Numerous fires, following logging, completed the devasta- 
tion. In the Spring of 1912 commercial drainage was inaugurated in the 
Seney Marshes, thus further endangering the remaining wildlife by drain- 
ing away the water areas to make the rich accumulations beneath available 
for agricultural purposes. This venture succeeded only in further despoiling 
the once excellent wildlife habitat, mutely attested by the many abandoned 
farm buildings dotting the countryside a few years later; the expensive 
drainage canals are still visible in the area. 
“In 1933 the Michigan Game Commission recommended that the federal 
government consider the Seney Marshes as a possible locale for a federal 
refuge, and this agency has shown excellent cooperation in the subsequent 
development of the refuge. 
“Using the original drainage ditches and canals in all possible instances, 
the government engineers set about reversing the processes put in motion 
by drainage and the waters were returned to the dried-out marshes. After 
water impoundment followed the reestablishment of desirable food plants. 
This area offers a combination of swamplands, open water and uplands that 
provide the finest kind of wildlife habitat. 
“Waterfowl management has received considerable attention in the 
development of this refuge and the response of the Canada goose, mallard 
and black duck has vindicated this action. Each year sees a larger number 
of Canada geese returning to the refuge to nest. Herons, including the 
great blue heron, American bitern and eastern least bittern, are again 
nesting in these marshes, while the sora and Virginia rail are common 
summer residents. The sandhill crane may again be seen doing its ludicrous 
dance and young birds are no longer a rarity. Ruffed grouse, prairie 
chicken and the sharp-tailed grouse have increased in numbers under refuge 
protection. The prairie chicken had been putting up a losing fight in this 
