Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area Location in Illinois
Location	Logan County, Illinois, USA
Nearest city	Lincoln, Illinois
Area	974 acres (394 ha)
Established	1971
Governing body	Illinois Department of Natural Resources

The Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area is a special place in Illinois. It covers about 974 acres, which is like 737 football fields! This area is a conservation area, meaning it's protected to keep nature safe. You can find it south of Lincoln, Illinois.

This park started in 1971 as Railsplitter State Park. Later, in 1995, it was renamed to honor Edward R. Madigan. He was an important person from Lincoln, Illinois. He worked in the U.S. House of Representatives and was also a U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) takes care of the park.

The park is shaped like a horseshoe and surrounds a state facility. One of the best parts of the park is a 2.5-mile section of Salt Creek. This creek is a big stream that flows into the Sangamon River in central Illinois.

Exploring the Park's Nature

This park is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. It's a great place to learn about nature and see wildlife up close.

Birds of the Park

The Edward R. Madigan area is very important for pheasants. The IDNR raises many pheasants here, usually between 80,000 and 100,000 baby pheasants each year! These birds are then released for hunting. Besides pheasants, you might also see doves and quail in the park.

Fish in Salt Creek

Salt Creek is full of different fish! In 2006, experts found many types of fish here. You can find largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and bluegill. The bluegill is even the state fish of Illinois! Other fish include sunfish, crappie, drum, channel catfish, bullhead, and carp. If you like water activities, you can go Canoeing and kayaking in Salt Creek during the day.

Trees and Forests

The park has about 7.75 miles of trails that go through beautiful wooded areas. In the low-lying areas near Salt Creek, you can find one of Illinois's largest American sycamore trees. These trees are huge! Away from the creek, the park has many groups of white oak and hickory trees. These are common trees in central Illinois. The white oak is the state tree of Illinois. You can also see ash, hackberry, and black walnut trees. About 100 to 150 deer live in the park and eat from the trees and bushes.

Getting to the Park

You can easily reach the Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area.

Historic Route 66 Connection

Part of old U.S. Highway 66 goes right through the park. This road is now called Interstate Business 55. It's cool to think about how people used to travel on this famous road!

Finding Your Way by Interstate

The easiest way to get to the park is by taking exit 123 on Interstate 55. This is where Business 55 meets Interstate 55.