Packing list for a family camping adventure at Yellowstone Lake State Park: Tent? Check. Sleeping bags? Check. Bug spray? No need.
Covering more than 968 acres, Yellowstone Lake State Park has the unique benefit of having very few mosquitoes, thanks to its unique residents. During the summer, the park is home to more than 4,000 brown bats that roost in 31 bat houses throughout the park. As the sun begins to set, campers are treated to a spectacular display as the bats take to the sky to feed on as many as 600 mosquitoes each, virtually eliminating the population.
While the bats provide the evening entertainment, visitors can enjoy a host of daytime activities on the park's 455-acre lake. Boating, swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing for walleye, catfish, and largemouth and smallmouth bass fill the summer days with fun. Campers enjoy Yellowstone Lake's nearly 130 individual campsites set into the park's natural beauty. In addition to the park's furry flying friends, visitors can also expect to see a variety of wildlife including deer, raccoons and a variety of birds.
For more information on Yellowstone Lake State Park, call 608/523-4427 or visit www.wiparks.net.