Horicon, Wisconsin, nestles in the hills of a natural wonderland.  It is the southern gateway to the magnificent Horicon Marsh.  Flowing out of the marsh, the Rock River winds through the center of town on its way to the Mississippi River. The people welcome visitors.  They are eager to share their historic past, their vigorous present and hopes for the future.  Every member of the family will find a favorite activity. The 32,000-acre Horicon Marsh is a legacy of the Ice Age.  It began as a lake gouged out by glaciers pushing their way southward.  Today it's a refuge for wildlife, a part of the National Ice Age Reserve Unit. Lush grasslands and miles of waterways shelter waterfowl and songbirds, muskrats, fish, deer, fox and a variety of upland game.
 

It is probably best-known as a rest stop for over 200,000 migrating Canada geese every spring and fall.
 
 

The Horicon Marsh has been a wildlife refuge since 1943.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service owns and manages the northern two-thirds, above the main dike. The southern one-third is owned by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and is under their jurisdiction. These agencies monitor the wildlife and make decisions necessary for continued breeding, nesting and life of the marsh.