Wyandotte Wildlife Refuge

Contact: doug_spencer@.fws.gov
Phone: 517-777-5930

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The Refuge consists of two islands, Grassy and Mammajuda, and adjacent shallow water areas. It is located in the Detroit River off shore from Wyandotte, Michigan, from where it takes its name. The Refuge is situated in what was once one of the most significant migratory staging areas for diving ducks in the United States. Extensive beds of aquatic vegetation, particularly wild celery, attracted large concentrations of divers, primarily canvasback and scaup. In the past 100 years, discharges from the steel and chemical industry and municipal sewage effluent along with the effects of large, deep draft vessels have degraded the lower Detroit River ecosystem, resulting in the substantial decline of these preferred foods. Grassy Island was used a a confined disposal facility for contaminated dredge spoil in the 60's and 70's. Due to this activity, Grassy is now primarily colonized by phragmites (common reed), and resident wildlife is scarce. Mammajuda Island no longer has significant land above the waterline. Only a remnant of the once vast rafts of migratory waterfowl are now seen at Wyandotte.Public access is not permitted on either island.