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Osprey can both be seen fishing around the pools and have nested in the area. In the evening, both Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl call in the woods surrounding the ponds.
A hike along the wooded trails can turn up a long list of passerines including Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, White-throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Purple Finch, Ovenbird, Mourning Warbler, Pine Warbler and many more birds including Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock.
Animal life is plentiful and varied in the Little Willow WMA. River Otter swim in the ponds, as well as American Beaver, Mink and Muskrat. Other regulars are Coyote, Gray Wolf, Bear, White-tailed Deer, Porcupine and Short-tailed Weasel.
Remember that this area is open to both hunting and fishing, during the fall months there can quite a few hunters around, use caution and common sense in this multiple use area.
Directions: From Aitkin, take US Highway 169 north for 14 miles to County Road 3. Follow County Road 3 west for approximately five miles from its junction with US Highway 169. Turn south on 400th Place directly across from the Esquagamah Lake Public Access. Take this gravel road for approximately one mile to the main entrance and parking area.
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