Loon Capital of the World

The Answer:

We love it when people try to stump us.

We know all about Mercer, Wisconsin. It's the self-proclaimed "Loon Capital of the World."

The common loon is a water bird. They go ashore only to mate and incubate their eggs. They tend to settle in shallow, marshy lands in Canada and the northern United States. The loon population in states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin is declining, and the bird has been the focus of conservation efforts for many years.

If you travel to Mercer, visit the city's Chamber of Commerce office, where you'll find the world's largest loon: it's 16 feet tall and weighs 2,000 pounds. Mercer is located on the coast of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin's Iron County.

Answers to other loon questions you might have can be found at All About Loons and Common Loon.

-The Editors