As a landownerinterested in
attracting wildlife toyour property, you’ll
need to know whatkinds of wildlife live in your
part of Wisconsin, what they eat, what typeof habitat they prefer and what they need fornesting or denning. This publication givesyou basic information about the needs of
some of Wisconsin's most common wildlife. Itis merely a quick-reference chart listing thefood, habitat, nesting sites, and distributionof these animals in Wisconsin. Use it to startlooking for wildlife already present on yourland and then develop project plans toattract animals native to your region.
You’ll also need to assess whether your landcurrently has the appropriate food, water,
If you’re looking for a new house, it isimportant to know what features you wantfor your “dream home” and what its ideallocation will be. You have to ask yourself:Where do I want to live in the world? Do Iwant to live in the city, the suburbs or thecountry? How many rooms does my familyneed? How close will I be to the grocerystore, work, the mall and the doctor? Animalsalso look for certain features when searchingfor a home in a particular area before they“move” into the neighborhood. What’s the habitat like? How much food isavailable? Where’s the nearest watering hole? Is there enough shelter toraise young? What’s the climate like in winter? How close are people to
their home territory? These are some of the key factors thatdetermine where wildlife will live in Wisconsin, and
whether they’ll choose your land as a suitable “home.”
Wildlife and Your Landa series about managing your land for wildlife
*Primer \prim•ar\ n. 1: a small book for teachingchildren to read. 2: a small introductory book on asubject.
Wisconsin Wildlife Primer*Wildlife Habits and Habitat
shelter and space to attract wildlife, orwhether you can adequately enhance yourproperty’s ability to attract wildlife byincorporating minor habitat modifications.For assistance in creating a wildlifemanagement plan for your property, pleaserefer to Putting Pen to Paper in this series.Be sure to read Calling All Wildlife to gainan understanding of some fundamentalconcepts in wildlife management. And, for anidea of what kind of trees, shrubs and vinesyou can plant to attract wildlife, read So,What Should I Plant? The moreinformation you have, the better you'llunderstand the habits and habitat of thewildlife you want to attract.
Wisconsin has historically been rich inwildlife resources. Wisconsin’s earliestEuropean explorers recorded a greatabundance and variety of wildlife in theforests, wetlands and grasslands of the state.From 1700 to 1800, the prairies andsavannas of southern Wisconsin teemed withelk, bison, wolves, cougars and white-taileddeer. The mixed conifer hardwoods innorthern Wisconsin provided habitat for
American (pine) marten, moose, deer andsmall populations of woodland caribou. Thestate’s central forests were home to millionsof passenger pigeons—populations so densepeople reported that the birds literally“blocked the sun from the sky” duringmigration.
Europeans had an impact on wildlife evenbefore they settled this land. By supplyinghorses and firearms to the native Americans,they helped these original people becomemore efficient hunters. The native Americansas well as American cavalry stationed atsuch outposts as Prairie Du Chienundoubtedly caused the extirpation of theherds of bison and elk which roamedsouthwest Wisconsin. The last bison wasreported to have been shot in the early1830s. The early lumberjacks who logged thenorthwoods each winter also impacted thepopulation of one of Wisconsin’s largesthoofed mammals in the 1800s, the moose.Moose prefer young forests with lushvegetation. As the mature forests werelogged it created better moose habitat.However, not only did it create better moosehabitat, it also created better white-tailed
2 Wildlife and Your Land
Wisconsin’s Wildlife Heritage: A Wildlife Wonderland
Extirpated:bison, caribou
deer habitat. Since deer carry a parasiticbrain worm which is deadly to moose, themoose population declined. This, togetherwith unregulated hunting, caused moose todisappear from Wisconsin by the early 1900s.
As these large grazers vanished, the wolf andcougar populations declined as well, sincetheir food source had disappeared. In orderto maintain a toehold in Wisconsin, theremaining large predators had to turn toalternative food sources—domestic livestock.Farmers couldn’t afford the loss of even onecalf or lamb to a hungry wolf or wild cat so in1865 the state legislature passed a $5 bountyfor each dead wolf that hunters brought in.The story was similar for cougars. By 1960,the timber wolf was declared extirpated fromWisconsin; and even though reports of cougarsightings still trickle in, wildlife biologistsbelieve most of these are unfounded or arethe result of an escaped or released captive-bred cougar.
When European settlers began flooding intothe state in the early and mid 1800s,unregulated hunting and trapping, as well asfarming and logging operations quicklyaltered the native landscape and its wildlifepopulations. Wetlands were drained, theprairies and savannas were plowed under,and northern forests were clearcut.Despite the disappearance of the largermammals from Wisconsin’s landscape, otherwildlife continued to flourish throughout thestate from the early to mid 1800s. Trappersfound abundant fisher, American (pine)marten and beaver populations; and hunterssaw no end to the flocks of passengerpigeons, prairie chickens, sharp-tailedgrouse, ducks and geese. But the harvest ofearly hunters and trappers wentunregulated. No one saw a need to imposebag limits because the wildlife populationsappeared so limitless. Not surprisingly, itwasn’t long before unregulated trapping ofmarten, fisher and wolverine lead to theirextirpation from the state by the early 1900s.Beaver and other furbearer populations werealso drastically reduced and were nearly
eliminated from the state by 1900. Markethunting caused the seemingly endless flocksof waterfowl to plummet; and the widespreaddestruction of passenger pigeon nests bymarket hunters interested in shippingbarrels of squab to eastern markets spelleddoom for this native bird.
The early settlers wielded a double-edgedsword against Wisconsin wildlife. Not onlydid their unregulated hunting and trappingcause wildlife populations to decline, buttheir swelling population created such drasticland use changes that wildlife lost the habitatthey needed to survive. The wild turkey andCarolina parakeet populations dramaticallydeclined due to loss of habitat. Civilizationwas expanding from the south and theclimate and habitat types of the northprevented the northward retreat of thesenative birds. Sharp-tailed and ruffed grouselost out in the south due to overgrazing and“clean” farming though they still maintain afoothold in the north. The draining ofmarshes, in addition to market hunting,caused waterfowl populations, including thetrumpeter swan, to drop dramatically. Poultryfarmers and commercial fishing interestsoften shot hawks, owls and fish-eating birdssince these birds preyed upon fish, game anddomestic fowl.
Wildlife and Your Land 3
Once extirpated:cougar, wolf
Although many types of native wildlifepopulations suffered as European settlerscontinued to change the landscape ofWisconsin, others actually increased. Theythrived in the habitats which farming andlogging provided. White-tailed deerpopulations in the thick northern forestswere originally moderately low, and theyremained low during the logging heydaybecause of intense exploitation. But as theforests resprouted with lush, young growthand as early farming provided a good mix offield and forest, the deer numbers swelled.When central Wisconsin farms grewperennial crops of bluegrass as a seed source,prairie chickens thrived. But it wasn’t longbefore these habitats were altered and theprairie chicken populations dropped. Stillother wildlife, such as coyotes, crows,blackbirds, and alien house sparrows,starlings and rodents, prospered all too wellby their association with people.
Hunters and early conservationists begannoticing the exploitation of Wisconsin’s naturalresources around the 1870s. They slowlyworked toward regulating the use of naturalresources as they enacted laws to protect wild-life populations and forest land. Wildlifemanagement was considered increasinglynecessary since people had greatly alterednatural landscapes. But the needs of wildlifefrequently conflicted with many human landuses. In 1908, Governor James O. Davidsonappointed the Wisconsin Conservation
Commission to manage the “basic naturalresources and related problems.” He had beeninspired during a Governor’s conference heldby President Theodore Roosevelt in which thepresident stressed the need for “conservation”which is defined as the wise use of ournatural resources.
With an enlightened view of conserving ournatural resources, new farming practiceswere put into action to prevent soil erosion,loggers replanted many acres of forest, andindustry began controlling environmentalpollution. Educational efforts began asconservation wardens met with schoolclasses, farming interests and public groups.In 1935, the state legislature ordered theteaching of “conservation of resources” inschools. It was finally recognized that carefulplanning and management could provide forthe future welfare of wildlife in Wisconsin.
People began to take an interest in what washappening to wildlife, and this led to thestudy of wildlife and their habitats. AldoLeopold, one of the founding fathers of thewildlife management profession, took up aleadership role as his followers began tostudy wildlife populations and conductresearch to understand and manage wildlifepopulations.
Efforts to restore some populations ofextirpated wildlife were undertakenthroughout the 1900s by reintroducing them
4 Wildlife and Your Land
Reintroduced: wild turkeys, elk
into their former haunts. Some stockingattempts were successful, others werefailures. To date, successful restockingincludes: the wild turkey, trumpeter swan,American (pine) marten and fisher. Anexperimental reintroduction of elk wasinitiated in northern Wisconsin in 1995, andis currently being evaluated.
Other animals, such as the wolf and moose,were not reintroduced, but have found theirway here from neighboring Minnesota,Michigan, and Canada. The wolf populationcontinues to grow and spread, but the moosepopulations may be limited by the presenceof a parasitic brain worm transmitted bywhite-tailed deer.
Today, Wisconsin supports over 650 differenttypes of mammals, birds, reptiles,amphibians and fish, as well as countlessmillions of invertebrates. We truly live in awildlife wonderland.
Not All Native
Not all Wisconsin wildlife is native. Peoplehave wittingly or unwittingly introduced anumber of “exotics” or “aliens” to our state.Some of these, like ring-necked pheasant,Hungarian partridge, rainbow trout andbrown trout are considered useful becausethey occupy drastically altered ecosystemsthat can no longer support such natives asthe prairie chicken and brook trout. Theyprovide hunters with food and outdoorrecreation. Others, like carp, zebra mussel,ruffe, mute swan, starling, house sparrow,pigeon, Norway rat and house mouse, areconsidered pests. A recent exotic animal, thestone marten, in southeastern Wisconsinmay also have negative impacts yet to bediscovered. Nevertheless all are part ofWisconsin’s tapestry of wildlife.
Wildlife and Your Land 5
Aliens:brown trout,
carp
Population boom:whitetail fawn
Mammals, those warm-blooded animals thathave hair and nourish their young with milk,are important to many of us. Seventymammals are native to the state; at least 4are extinct.
Mammals are valuable to people in a numberof ways. Game mammals, such as white-tailed deer, black bear, gray and fox squirrelsand cottontail rabbit provide many hours ofhealthy recreation in the field as hunters pittheir skill against the native wits of thesemammals. Venison and most wild game meatis low in fat and highly nutritious. Thefurbearers—beaver, muskrat, mink, otter,bobcat, coyote, red and gray foxes, raccoonand fisher—provide a source of income fortrappers as well as a source of fur for people’sclothes. All mammals are fun and interestingto watch in the wild, though some can be areal nuisance and cause damage to crops,orchards, bee hives, livestock and our homes.Rodents, skunks, opossums, woodchucks,beaver, deer, coyote and bear fit into thiscategory.
But mammals, like birds, reptiles,amphibians, fish and invertebrates, areimportant regardless of human values.
Different animals are found in differentregions of the state because they fit into thescheme of things. Each plays a particularrole, fills a certain niche within their naturalcommunity. They are dependent upon thevery community of which they are a part andmembers of that community are dependentupon them. Nature has established adynamic equilibrium between each type ofwild animal and other plants, animals andnon-living features of those naturalcommunities. If these natural communitiesare left undisturbed by people, theyultimately work to the benefit of all.
The ranges of Wisconsin’s mammals varyfrom a “toe hold,” such as that of the spottedskunk or white-tailed jackrabbit on ourwestern border, to a statewide presence suchas that of the white-tailed deer or red fox. Amammal’s range is not always constant orpermanent. Progressive expansion orshrinkage may be noted as a result ofchanges to the habitat, either by people or bythe changes wrought by nature (wild fires,tornadoes, changes in climate). Usually themeat-eating mammals require largerterritories than similar-sized plant-eatingmammals. Some mammals, including a few
6 Wildlife and Your Land
Mammals
bats, migrate when winter arrives. Somesuch as ground squirrels and woodchuckshibernate in underground dens. Others, likeskunks or raccoons, sleep during extremewinter conditions. The remainder stay activeall winter. These include rabbits, red fox,coyotes and white-tailed deer.
Many smaller mammals provide a foodsupply for carnivores. But even smallmammals prey on insects. Bats, for instance,are beneficial as they help keep the mosquitopopulations down in areas where we live andrecreate. Small burrowing mammals such asmoles, shrews, and mice play an importantrole in developing the fertility of the soil.Combined with the actions of earthworms,fungi and bacteria, they help aerate the soil,manufacture humus and build up leaf mold.Many mammals act as scavengers or “clean-up crews” to help recycle dead plants andanimals. Beaver assist many other animalswhen they construct dams which createsmall ponds and wetlands along streams.
Mammals, unlikethe birds, aremuch moredifficult toobserve in thewild, since theyare very secretiveand most areactive in thetwilight hours andgenerally after dark. Mammals are best“observed” by following their tracks in thesnow in winter. Although many mammalswill rarely be seen, tracking allows you tolearn much about mammal behavior. Inaddition to tracks, mammals leave behindabundant signs such as droppings, barkchewings, grass tunnels, trails, tree rubs andground scrapes. If you are careful, quiet, anddetermined, you can have good results bystanding along a woodland or grasslandwildlife trail in the early morning, lateafternoon, or even on a bright moonlit night.Mammals leave abundant characteristicsigns. Tracks in the snow, droppings, barkchewings, grass tunnels, trails, and tree rubsall give clues to the type of animal that livesthere. It’s fun to learn these signs and tobecome a seasoned observer. Use field guidesto mammals, such as Allen Kurta’s Mammalsof the Great Lakes Region (University ofMichigan Press), or James Halfpenny’sMammal Tracking in North America(Johnson Books, Boulder), for more completeinformation.
Wildlife and Your Land 7
Red fox
White-footed Mouse
8 Wildlife and Your Land
Little Brown BatWhite-tailed Deer
EasternChipmunk
LeastChipmunk
BadgerFisher
Black Bears
Beaver
Coyote
Bobcat
Gray FoxRed Fox
Wildlife and Your Land 9
Badger
Bats (7 kinds; LittleBrown Bat is common)
Black Bear
Beaver
Bobcat
Eastern ChipmunkLeast Chipmunk
Coyote
White-tailed Deer
Fisher
Gray FoxRed Fox
Ground squirrels, mice,pocket gophers, birdeggs
Moths, mosquitoes andother night-flyinginsects
Berries, acorns, insects,fish, carrion, fawns, birdeggs, honey, nuts
Bark and twigs ofaspen, cottonwood andwillow; roots, grasses
Small mammals,especially snowshoehares; some deer inwinter
Seeds, nuts, acorns,berries, insects, birdeggs, young mice, bulbs
Mice, rabbits, squirrels,carrion, fawns andground-nesting birds
Broad-leaf plants,acorns, fungi, field corn,apples, alfalfa; inwinter, twigs, especiallyhemlock, white cedar
Snowshoe hares, voles,squirrels, carrion, mice,porcupines
Mice, rabbits,pheasants, wild grapesand other berries andfruit, snakes, turtles,woodchucks, grass-hoppers, carrion
Grassland, savanna andfarmland
Agricultural areas,forests; flies over lakes,fields and woodsRural towns, cities
Forest
Wetlands and rivers
Forest; wilder sectionsof brushy northernforest, especially areaswith swamps and rockyoutcrops
Northern forests ofmixed evergreens anddeciduous trees andsouthern woodlands
Farmland, newly cutover forested areas,woodland edge. Note:Populations spreadinginto urban areas
Border areas betweenforest and clearings,wetlands, tamarack andcedar swamps, evenurban areas
Forest of dense conifersor mixed deciduous andconifer forests
Red fox prefersfarmland, mixedwoodlands; gray foxprefers forests to openbrush land
Underground dens insandy fields, pastures,hilltops
Daytime: under barnboards or siding in ruraltowns or farms; underloose bark or in treecavities in forestedareas; caves. Nightroosts: under porchawnings, behindshutters, barns. Winter:caves, attics, inside walls
Makes dens in hollow,downed trees, in uprightdead trees, or beneaththe ground
Lodges made ofsaplings, partiallyunderwater, or densbuilt into stream banks.Note: Protect largeornamental trees withhardware cloth
Dens in trees or underrocky outcrops
Dens in undergroundburrows, rock piles, rockwalls, house foundations.Note: Protect flowerbulbs with wire mesh
Lives in undergrounddens at base of cliff orunder a stump
Hides fawn in thicketsor dense grassy areas.Northern herds seekshelter in conifer standscalled “deer yards”
Dens in tree cavities;seeks shelter in hollowlogs, rock piles andabandoned beaverlodges
Dens in hollow logs ortrees or under rockpiles. May use desertedwoodchuck burrows inhillsides or may digtheir own burrow
Northwest, west
Statewide, morecommon south
Northern third andcentral forest
More common north,southwest, MississippiRiver
Northern third;sightings reported inBaraboo Hills, Vernon,Richland and Crawfordcounties. Uncommon
Eastern is foundstatewide. Least innorth and centralconifers
Statewide but morecommon in the north.Not common in wolfhabitat
Statewide
North and expandinginto central
Red Fox foundstatewide; Gray Foxfound southern third
Mammal Food Habitat Den Site Distribution
10 Wildlife and Your Land
Pocket Gopher
Snowshoe Hare
American Pine Marten
Deer MouseWestern Harvest MouseWhite-footed Mouse
Woodland Jumping MouseMeadow Jumping Mouse
Mink
Star-nosed MoleEastern MoleShrews (5 kinds)
Muskrat
Opossum
River Otter
Porcupine
Roots, bulbs andrhizomes; clover, alfalfa,grass, dandelion,plantain, mullein, dock
Fresh twigs and bark ofyoung trees and shrubssuch as pine, alder,aspen, willow, hazelnut,birch, cedar, spruce andsumac, grasses, clover,berries
Voles, mice, squirrels,rabbits, small birds,nuts, fruits
Seeds, insects, berries,nuts, corn, small grains,soybeans
Seeds, berries, fungi,greens, insects
Muskrat, rabbits, mice,squirrels, snakes
Insects, earthworms,small animals, littlevegetable matter
Roots of cattails, arrow-heads, water lilies,rushes; periodically eatsfrogs, turtles, fish,crayfish, mussels
Carrion, small birds,frogs, mammals, fish,eggs, insects, fruits
Fish, crayfish, birds,small mammals
Bark and twigs of pinesand maples
Prairie, savanna, andscrub lands where soil isloose or sandy
Brushy woodlands,swamps and heavyforests especially withdense evergreens
Mature forests of denseevergreens or conifer-hardwood mix
Forest, grassland, oldfields, woodland edge,grain bins
Woodland Jumping,conifer forest orwoodland; MeadowJumping, forest edgeand moist meadows
Wetlands and forestedstreams
Grasslands, woodlandsand wetlands
Marshes, ponds, slowstreams, banks of largerrivers
Woodlands, hardwoodswamps, farmland,hedgerows
Rivers, streams andlakes
Forests
Builds extensiveunderground tunnels.Look for mounds of dirtwithout entrance hole
Hides in dense forestcover such as low-hanging evergreenbranches
Creates den in hollowlogs and tree cavities.Note: Rarely seen
Build small, grassynests lined with fur,feathers, and plants.May be found on theground, in wood piles,under old stumps orlogs, in holes in trees,inside walls of houses
Hibernate inunderground nests;summer nests of leavesand grass near surfaceor in dense vegetation
Burrows into banks oflakes, marshes, rivers
Moles burrowunderground; Shrewsbuild small nests of dryleaves and grassesunder old logs, hollowstumps or under piles ofgrass or brush
Builds dens in banks ora hut of mud, cattailand bulrush
Dens in tree cavities,burrows, or hollow logs
Creates dens in streambanks with underwaterentrance or builds denin hollow logs
Hides in trees, brush,caves, and rock crevicesin forests with someevergreens. Note: Canbe destructive to trees
West of WisconsinRiver, northwesternhalf
Snowshoe, north;White-tailed jackrabbit,western border
Northern thirdRARE
Statewide, exceptHarvest Mouse isrestricted to southwest
Meadow foundstatewide; Woodland innorthern half
Statewide
Eastern Mole, south andwest; Starnosed Mole,north and central;Masked and Shorttailshrews, statewide
Statewide
Southern half
Statewide, mostabundant in northernhalf
Northern and central
Mammal Food Habitat Den Site Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land 11
Masked Shrew
Opposums
Muskrat
Porcupine
Pocket Gopher
Harvest Mouse
Jumping Mouse
Deer Mouse Marten
Otters
Mink
Snowshoe Hare
Eastern Mole Star-nosed Mole
12 Wildlife and Your Land
Cottontail
Woodchuck
13-lineGroundSquirrel
Flying Squirrel
Fox SquirrelGray Squirrel
Red Squirrel
Long-tailed Weasel
Short-tailed Weasel
Wolf
Raccoon
Meadow Vole
Bog Lemming
SpottedSkunk
StripedSkunk
Least Weasel
Wildlife and Your Land 13
Cottontail Rabbit
Raccoon
Striped SkunkSpotted Skunk
Fox SquirrelGray Squirrel
Southern Flying SquirrelNorthern Flying Squirrel
Thirteen-lined GroundSquirrel
Franklins Ground Squirrel
Red Squirrel
Voles (5 kinds, MeadowVole is common)
Lemmings
LeastWeaselShort-tailed WeaselLong-tailed Weasel
Gray or Timber Wolf
Woodchuck
Raspberries and otherbriars, dandelions,plantain, clover, fruit;in winter, tree bark,dried corn
Frogs, fish, shellfish,small mammals, birds,eggs, reptiles, insects,fruit, field and sweetcorn, nuts
Insects, smallmammals, eggs, snakes,crayfish, poultry
Nuts, seeds, buds, fungi,bird eggs, corn
Seeds, nuts, buds,berries, insects, birdeggs, fledgling birds
Seeds, leafy material,insects, eggs
Pine nuts, seeds,berries, sap, mush-rooms, insects, birdeggs, fledgling birds
Grasses, sedges, roots,bulbs, clover, plantain,dandelion, goldenrod,yarrow, insects; inwinter, bark on youngtrees and shrubs
Mice, voles, insects,small birds, chipmunks
Deer, beaver, snowshoehares, small mammals
Grass, clover, plantain,apples, insects, snails,crops, weeds, gardenvegetables
Forest, farmland withforest and grasslandedges
Forest edge andfarmland
Farmland, woodlandedge, brush alongstreams and ditches
Hardwood forests, orsmall woodlotsinterspersed withfarmland
Forests with large dentrees
Grasslands, prairie,lawns
Forests with pine, fir,hemlock; some mixedhardwood forests
Low, moist grasslands,forest, bogs for somekinds
Longtail, shorttail:forest, brush land,prairies; Least:meadows and fields
Pack territories cover20–110 square miles indense expanses offorests
Farmland, edges ofbrushy forests or creeks
Seeks shelter in denseshrubs, briars, andbrush piles in sparsewoodlands andfarmlands. Note:Protect ornamental fruittrees and shrubs fromrabbits in winter andearly spring
Dens in hollow trees orlogs, especially thosenear water. Note: Protectyour sweet corn cropswith electric fencing
Burrows among treeroots. Seeks shelter inabandoned buildings orunder porches
Nests in hollow trees orbuilds leaf nests high inbranches
Nests in old woodpeckerholes, sometimes inattics
Underground burrowsfor raising young andhibernation
Dens in tree cavities,old woodpecker nests
Build nests of drygrasses and sedgesunder debris or inunderground tunnels.Note: Protect youngsaplings with wire mesh
Dens in abandoned moleruns, or beneath a rockpile, wood pile or inabandoned buildings
Den in 6–12 foot deepholes, hollow logs, orcaves
Burrows in ground,wood piles, stone walls,old stumps, foundationsof abandoned buildings;multiple entrances toden
Statewide
Statewide
Striped, statewideSpotted, no recentrecords
Gray Squirrel, state-wide; Fox Squirrel,statewide exceptnortheast
Southern, southern halfNorthern, northern half
Thirteen lined, state-wide; Franklins, western
Northern two-thirds
Statewide
Statewide
Northwest and central
Southern half
Mammal Food Habitat Den Site Distribution
Birds, like mammals, are warm-blooded andcome in all shapes and sizes. However, theyare covered with feathers and have hollow,porous bones which allow all Wisconsinbirds—even the heaviest wild turkey—to fly.They also lay eggs, which they must incubatefor a period of several weeks to a month. Theytend to be more active during the daylightand therefore are fairly easy to observe.
About 400 different kinds of birds have beenobserved and recorded in Wisconsin. Sincebirds are very active and have high bodytemperatures they must keep their internalfires stoked by consuming a lot of food daily.Some consume nearly their body weight infood each day. Many birds eat seeds, some eatfruit. Some insect-eating birds devour about3,000 insects every 24 hours. Birds of preyconsume large quantities of mice, voles andother rodents, large insects, and other birds.Each type of bird has a certain habitatpreference. Some tolerate a wide variation inhabitat while others are very specific in theirhabitat needs. For this publication, Wisconsin
birds are grouped into several categories withonly representative examples listed:
Birds of PreyMarsh and Shore BirdsWaterfowlUpland Game BirdsMigratory SongbirdsResident Birds
You can enhance your land for different typesof birds. Putting out bird feeders well-stocked with sunflower seeds, thistle seedand suet is one easy way of attracting birdsto your property. But don’t forget that theyneed water and shelter, too. So plan oninstalling a year-round birdbath and eitherbuild or purchase a variety of nest boxes. Ifyou have an old field, pasture, or wetmeadow you can enhance it for grasslandsparrows, ring-necked pheasant, bobwhitequail, eastern bluebird, and such warblers asyellow warbler or yellowthroat. If you live inthe southern part of the state and have awoodland, consider planting oaks toencourage wild turkeys. In maturewoodlands, leave snags for hawks, owls,woodpeckers, chickadees and many othercavity nesting songbirds. If you own orborder a wetland, consider planting aminimum of 5 acres of dense, permanentgrass cover to encourage mallard nesting.Also, be sure to leave snags, old oaks andwillows as sources of nesting cavities forwoodducks.
14 Wildlife and Your Land
Birds
Tundra Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Wildlife and Your Land 15
Bald Eagle
Northern Goshawk
Northern Harrier(formerly Marsh Hawk)
Broad-winged Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Suckers, northern pike,muskellunge, bullheads,carp; occasionally geeseand ducks; carrion suchas deer, small livestock,waterfowl, fish duringwinter
Ruffed grouse, quail,ducks, chipmunks, redsquirrels, snowshoehare, poultry, mice,weasels, small hawks,owls, crows, doves, bluejays, thrushes, shrews,grasshoppers andcaterpillars
Rodents and other smallmammals, amphibians,snakes, birds, insects,fish
Small mammals such asyoung rabbits, redsquirrels, chipmunks,mice, moles, shrews;also snakes, frogs,lizards, small fish,larvae of large mothsand butterflies, beetles,grasshoppers andcrickets, crayfish; huntsfrom perch in woodlandsor while flying overtreetops or openmeadows
Northern flicker, quail,ring-necked pheasant,ruffed grouse, mourningdove, blue jay, ducks,least bittern, Americancrow, blackbirds,poultry, rabbits,squirrels, chipmunks,snakes, mice,grasshoppers, cricketsand bats
Primarily amphibians,reptiles, fish andcrayfish, but alsoinsects, small birds andsmall mammals
Large rivers, lakes,reservoirs; found inconcentration neardams along theMississippi and LowerWisconsin rivers
Mixed hardwood andconiferous forests
Wetlands, marshes,open fields, meadows
Deciduous woodlandsand mixed coniferoushardwoods aroundlakes, streams andswamps
Mixed, deciduous andsometimes coniferousforests, or along riveredges in deciduouswoods. Also, pineplantations in southeastWisconsin
Mature river bottomforests and woodedmargins of marshes,often close to cultivatedfields
Roost and nests in largetrees, often white pine.Nest is 4 feet indiameter and 3 feetdeep
Builds stick nest.Prefers large hardwoodtrees 30–40 feet aboveground; frequentlyselects birch, aspen,maple, and beech fornesting trees;occasionally selectsjuniper, pine, spruceand fir. May build ontop of old hawk nest
Nests on the ground intall grasses in ameadow or swamp nearwater
Builds stick nests inbirch, elm, maple,basswood or otherdeciduous trees, pine,hemlock; from 25–90feet above ground;occasionally 3–10 feetabove ground
Builds stick nest with“cup” lined with barkflakes, occasionallyrimmed with green treesprings in main crotchor on a horizontal limb.Nests 20–60 feet aboveground in deciduous orconiferous trees;occasionally uses oldcrow nests or same nestfrom previous year, buttypically builds a newnest in same area
Builds nests of mossytwigs and branches,lined with bark strips,bits of oak leaves andlichens in deciduoustrees averaging 80–95feet tall
Northern one-third inspring and summer;rare in southeast, southcentral and easternWisconsin. Number ofoccupied territories hasincreased from 108 in1973 to 645 in 1997
Northern one-fourth,and south into centralWisconsin
Statewide; uncommonwinter resident south
Statewide, butuncommon summerresident west andcentral. Often seen inlarge numbers duringfall migration
Statewide butuncommon. Watch for itnear birdfeeders inwinter in southern thirdof state
Statewide butuncommon summerresident; uncommonwinter resident south
Birds of Prey Food Habitat Nest Site Distribution
16 Wildlife and Your Land
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Osprey
Barred Owl
Great Horned Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
Primarily smallmammals such asrabbits; also birds,reptiles, and someinsects
Primarily smallmammals
Small birds up to pigeonsize; also small mam-mals, reptiles andinsects
Insects such asgrasshoppers, cricketsand beetles; also miceand other smallmammals, birds,lizards, toads, frogs andsmall snakes; huntsfrom a perch or whilehovering over areaswith short grassy cover
Primarily fresh panfish;also frogs, snakes,ducks, crows and smallmammals
Variety of birds, miceand other smallmammals, fish, frogs,salamanders, snakes,crayfish and largeinsects
Rabbit, squirrels,skunk, woodchuck,opossum, gopher, geese,turkey, pheasant, quail,mice, rats, weasels,mink, crow, crayfish,reptiles, amphibians,fish and large insects
Mice and other smallmammals, grass-hoppers, locusts, moths,beetles and otherinsects, spiders, fish,crayfish, salamanders,reptiles, songbirds
Woodland edge invariety of open habitatsincluding pasture, field,meadow and swampyareas
Grasslands, openmarshes and fields
Coniferous anddeciduous forests,conifer plantations andconifer swamps
Forest openings,marshes, grasslands,farmland, woodlandedges. Commonly seenon utility wires
Lakes, rivers, marshesand reservoirs
Oak and mixeddeciduous andconiferous forestsbordering lakes, steams,swamps, marshes or wetmeadows
Farm woodlots, openconiferous, deciduous ormixed woods,riverbottom forests,marshes, swamps, largecity parks and orchards
Variety of woodedhabitats, especially openwoods adjacent tomeadows, marshes orfields. Also, orchardsand shade trees intowns and cities
Builds nests of sticks intops of large deciduoustrees, usually 35–90 feetabove ground
Doesn’t nest inWisconsin but nestsprimarily on cliffs alongriver bluffs
Nests primarily inconifers, usually 30–35feet above ground. Nestis a compact platform oftwigs, sometimes linedwith smaller twigs orbark strips
Nests in nest boxes andtree cavities; nest sitesare usually alongstreams, ponds or forestedges, normally 10–35feet above ground
Nest site is near or inwater atop dead orliving trees, powerpoles, old eagle, gull orgreat blue heron nests,artificial nestingstructure; nest site maybe used by same pairyear after year
Nests 18–50 feet aboveground in tree cavities,hollows in top of brokentree stub or nests ofcrows and squirrels
Nests up to 70 feet highin large trees, usually inthe nests of red-tailedhawks, osprey, baldeagles, heron or crow.Sometimes nests in treecavities
Nests 5–35 feet high intree cavities, abandonedwoodpecker holes; alsonests in wood duck nestboxes
Statewide
Statewide in winteronly
Northern half
Statewide
Northern two-thirds insummer
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide, except rarein north
Birds of Prey Food Habitat Nest Site Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land 17
Bald Eagle
Goshawk
Harrier
Broad-wingedHawk
Barred Owl
Great Horned Owl
Screech Owl
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-shoulderedHawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-leggedHawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Kestrel
18 Wildlife and Your Land
Turkey Vulture
Great Blue HeronSandhill Crane
GreatEgret
BeltedKingfisher
GreaterYellowlegs
PectoralSandpiper
Killdeer
Woodcock
Wildlife and Your Land 19
Turkey Vulture Fresh or decayedcarrion, includingalmost all wild anddomestic animals; frogs,snakes, birds and fish
Hilly, forested regionswith exposed perches.Shaded nest sites oncliffs and in maturetrees
Lays egg directly on theground beneath fallentrees or tumbledboulders, in piles ofdiscarded brush, logsand/or rocks or inabandoned buildings, insmall caves, on rockledges, in hollow logsand in large hollowtrees. Nearly every siteis isolated fromdisturbance by people
Statewide
Birds of Prey Food Habitat Nest Site Distribution
Sandhill Crane
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Sandpipers, Plovers andother shorebirds(Pectoral and SpottedSandpipers, Greaterand Lesser Yellowlegs,Piping and Semi-palmated Plovers,Killdeer, Sanderling)
American Woodcock
Mice, frogs, insects,roots, shoots of grains,grasses, seeds
Fish, insects, frogs,crayfish, salamanders,snakes, snails and smallmammals
Fish, crayfish, frogs,salamanders, snakes,insects, leeches andsmall mammals
Small fish, frogs,insects, crayfish,mollusks and mice
Small crustacea,aquatic worms andother aquaticinvertebrates found inmud, wet sand orfloating in water
Insects, earthworms
Grasslands, sedgemeadows, marshes,farmlands, bogs,sloughs, lakes, ponds,river deltas
Marshes, riverbottomlands, shallowlakes, bays and streams
Common in marshes,rivers and streams,bottomlands
Edges of lakes, ponds,rivers and streams
Muddy and sandyshorelines. Some occurin open fields andmeadows
Damp woods
Nests on mound ofemergent vegetation,grass, moss, or mudamong rushes, sedgesand other tall, densevegetation
Builds large stick nestsin trees 1–40 feet aboveground
Builds large stick nestin trees often above 50feet
Burrows 3–6 feet into astream bank nearwater, 1–3 feet from topof bank; builds a nestcavity often lined withdisgorged food pellets
Nest on ground. Most donot build nests. Needisolated areas free fromdisturbance of humansor pets
Nest on ground,spectacular courtshipflights on early springevenings
Statewide with heaviestnesting concentrationsin central Wisconsin
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide
Some statewide, othersrestricted, others onlymigrate through thestate
Statewide, can be seenin large numbers duringfall migration
Marsh and Shore Birds Food Habitat Nest Sites Distribution
20 Wildlife and Your Land
Canada Goose
Dabbling Ducks (13kinds includingPintail, Shoveler,Gadwall)
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Wood Duck
Diving Ducks (20 kinds,including Scaup,Goldeneye, Bufflehead,and Ruddy Duck)
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Scaup (Greater orLesser)
Mergansers(3 kinds: Common,Hooded and Red-breasted)
Corn, small grains,alfalfa, seeds, grasses,sedges, berries,crustaceans, smallmollusks, large insects
Seeds, aquaticvegetation, insects,grain, grasses, sedges
Duckweed, grasses,smartweed, sedges, wildrice, corn, invertebrates
Pondweeds,smartweeds, bulrushes,millet, wild rice, insects,mollusks
Acorns, nuts, water lilyseeds, beetles, bugs,spiders
Aquatic plants, insects,crayfish, small fish,mollusks, grasses andsedges
Submerged leaves,seeds and stems ofaquatic plants such assago pondweed, wildcelery, algae, and wildrice
Submerged leaves, seedsand stems of aquaticplants such as sagopondweed, wild celery,algae, and wild rice
Aquatic plants, insects,crayfish, small fish andmollusks
Fish
Farmlands, lakes,rivers, marshes;frequent urban areas,especially parks and golfcourses
Wetlands, shallow,weed-filled waters
Wetlands in farmland
Marshes, ponds, riversand farmlands
Forested wetlands
Most prefer larger lakesand rivers; a few prefersmall lakes, ponds andsloughs; rarely come toland
Open waters of lakesand rivers
Open water of lakesnear woodlands
Large, open water lakesand rivers
Wooded lakes andstreams, large riverssuch as Mississippi
Builds nest of grassesand feathers on groundin marshy areas. Note:Can be a nuisance inagricultural and urbanareas
Do not commonly nestin Wisconsin, but needprotection of marshvegetation and shallow,open water
Nests in short grassaround edges ofwetlands, especially inungrazed fields,semipermanent shallowpotholes surrounded byhayfields or grasslands
Nests primarily inupland grasses, yet canbe found nesting incattails
Nests in old woodpeckerholes in old trees or inwood duck nest boxesset 15 feet aboveground, over water
Many diving ducks donot nest in Wisconsin
Nests primarily inprairies and parklandsof the U.S. and Canada;migrates throughWisconsin in spring andfall; winters in lakes,coastal bays and inlandmarshes along theAtlantic and Gulf ofMexico
Nests on the ground bywater in clumps of tallplants in shallow water
Doesn’t nest inWisconsin, mostabundant in spring andfall migration
Common and Hoodedmergansers nest in treecavities; Red-breastednests on the ground
Statewide, especiallyHoricon Marsh, GrandRiver Marsh, PineIsland, Crex Meadows,Theresa Marsh
Statewide
Southeast and east-central
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide, especiallyLake Michigan,Mississippi River, LakeWinnebago
Statewide
Northern third
Statewide
Statewide, commonalong Mississippi Riverin March and earlyApril
Waterfowl Food Habitat Nest Sites Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land 21
Canada Geese
Pintail
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Wood Ducks
male, leftfemale, right
Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
22 Wildlife and Your Land
Wild Turkey
Ring-necked Pheasant
Bobwhite Quail
Greater Prairie Chicken
Sharp-tailed GrouseRuffed Grouse
Wildlife and Your Land 23
Greater Prairie Chicken
Ruffed Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Ring-necked Pheasant(Non-native)
Bobwhite Quail
Wild Turkey
Seeds, berries, insects,grain, buds, leaves,tender vegetation
Aspen buds and catkins,hazelnuts, acorns,catkins, berries, wildgrape, clover, insects
Seeds, berries, insects,buds, leaves and tendervegetation
Corn, grains, weedseeds and insects
Wild grape, bittersweet,sumac, corn, soybeans,grasshoppers, crickets,beetles
Acorns, insects, berries,seeds, alfalfa, corn.leaves, catkins, nuts
Large expanses of opengrasslands with someshrubs and wet marshareas
Forests with varyingages of aspen and alderthickets
Scrub oak, barrens,earliest stages of forestsuccession withopenings and scatteredthickets
Farmland withhayfields, grasslandsand wetlandsintermixed
Farmlands interspersedwith brushy areas,grassy marshes,hedgerows or thickets ofhazel, raspberry,grapevines, willow andelderberry
Farmland interspersedwith oak-hickorywoodlands
Nests on ground
Nests on the ground inthick young aspenstands
Nests on ground
Builds nest on groundin tall, dense grasses
Nests on ground. Live ingroups called “coveys”
Nests on ground indense cover
Only in isolated spots incentral Wisconsin
Statewide, restrictedareas in south
Northwest
Southern half
Southwest
Southwest, southerncounties, somenortheast counties, andsome northwestcounties
Upland Game Birds Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
24 Wildlife and Your Land
Northern Oriole(Formerly Baltimore
Oriole)
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Bluebird
Bobolink
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blackberries,blueberries,elderberries, grapes,pears, peas,caterpillars, ants,beetles, spiders,grasshoppers, bugs,wasps; at feeders:orange halves, smalltrays of grape jelly,mealworms, brokenwalnuts, apple slices,suet and bread
Ants, beetles, canker-worms, caterpillars,grasshoppers, grubs,weevils, snails andspiders; barley,bristlegrass, canary-grass, corn, millet, oats,peanuts, ragweeds,wheat, crabgrass andsunflowers
Spiders, wasps,caterpillars, worms,beetles, grubs, crickets,grasshoppers, weevils,ants, centipedes,cutworms, snails,sowbugs, blackberries,blueberries, cherries,cotoneaster, Virginiacreeper, dogwoods,elderberries,chokeberries,eunoymus, poison ivy,raspberries, serviceberries; at feeders: driedcurrants, raisins,peanuts, peanut butter,pecans, bread, cake,pitted dates, dried figs
Insects and seeds ofweeds and grasses
Insects, seeds of herbsand grasses, elder-berries, blueberries,blackberries, straw-berries
Seeds, grains, insectsand small invertebrates
Open deciduous woods,forest edges, parks,residential areas,farmlands, orchards,river bottoms, uplandhardwoods
Cattail marshes, wetmeadows, swamps,pastures, hedgerows,grasslands, field edges,roadside ditches
Woodland edges,orchards, gardens,meadows, cemeteries,golf courses, pastures
Hayfields, opengrasslands, old fields,pastures, sedge andgrass meadows
Forest edges, openbrushy fields, roadsidethickets
Deciduous or mixedsecond-growth woods,swamp and streamborders, old orchards,suburban trees, edges ofwoods and pastures
Weaves an intricatepouch-like nest, whichhangs pendulously25–30 feet at the tip ofbranches of elm,cottonwood, birch,boxelder, aspen, oak,maples, willows or appletrees; Nest is built withmilkweed down, doghairs, weed fibers, wooland yarn or any otherfibrous material
Weaves nest in cattails,rushes, sedges, reeds orbushes, near or overwater, usually no morethan 3 feet aboveground
Builds nest in bluebirdnest boxes, rottenfenceposts, natural treecavities, old woodpeckerholes; most attempt tore-nest and produce asecond brood
Builds nests in a slightnatural hollow or scrapein the ground in densestands of alfalfa, clover,timothy, or weeds
Builds a cup of driedgrasses and plant fibers1–12 feet above groundin crotch of a bush,shrub or low tree, or ina tangle of berry vines
Builds a flimsy nest ofsmall twigs, weed stemsand plant rootlets in thefork of a deciduous treeor shrub at 4–15 feetabove ground
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide, butuncommon south andeast
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide
Migratory Songbirds Food Habitat Nest Sites Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land 25
Eastern Bluebird
Red-winged Blackbird
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
BaltimoreOriole
Bobolink
26 Wildlife and Your Land
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Martin
Wildlife and Your Land 27
Ruby-throatedHummingbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Martin
Eastern MeadowlarkWestern Meadowlark
Flower nectar and pollenfrom: cardinal flower,columbine, coralberry,buckeye, scarlet runnerbeans, bee balm(monarda), eveningprimrose, gladiolus,hibiscus, honeysuckle,lilies, butterfly weeds,morning glory,nasturtium, petunia,phlox, snapdragon,thistle, trumpet creeper,weigela, zinnia, hosta,coral bells; hummingbirdfeeders filled with red-colored sugar water;very small insectsattracted to nectar andsometimes flying insectsattracted to uneatenprey at hawk nests
At feeder: black oilsunflower seeds, whiteproso millet, crackedcorn, corn, grainsorghum, peanuts,peanut butter, oldbakery goods such aswheat or corn bread andpie crusts, brokenwalnuts, wheat,oatmeal, pumpkinseeds; In the wild:amaranth, crabgrass,barnyard grass, bristlegrass, canary grass,dropseed, goosefoot,wild hemp, oats,petunia, ragweed,switchgrass, wheat,lamb’s quarters,chickweed, purslane,wild sunflower, pineseeds; weevils, beetles,flies, moths,grasshoppers, ants,spiders
Flying insects, someground insects andspiders
Mainly insects insummer; seeds of wastegrain, weeds andgrasses in winter
Hardwood and mixedhardwood forests,meadows, woodlandedges and clearings,orchards, backyardgardens
Coniferous or mixedforests, and forestedges. In winter atsuburban and rural birdfeeders
Farmlands, parks,suburban yards,preferably near water;also marsh edges, lakeshores, meadows nearpools and open, cut-overwoodlands near water
Open grasslandsincluding hayfields,meadows, pastures,prairies; Eastern preferspastures
Builds tiny nest inbranches the size ofwalnut halves, typically10–20 feet above theground; often near orsometimes directly overwater or near woodlandtrails on a horizontalbranch; Nest is made ofspider silk and plantdown and covered onoutside with lichens
Commonly buildscompact nest of grasses,rootlets, and moss onthe ground, concealedbeneath weeds andgrasses; occasionallymay place nest up to 8feet above ground inshrubs or treesBreeds in boreal forestand conifer plantationsin northern counties
Nests in colonies inpurple martin houses orsets of hanging gourdsset 15–20 ft. aboveground; sometimes inhollow tree cavities
Builds nest in a naturalhollow or scrape on theground. Weaves a loosedome-shaped roof overnest
Statewide
Statewide in winter
Statewide, but morenumerous in easternand southeasternWisconsin
Statewide
Migratory Songbirds Food Habitat Nest Sites Distribution
28 Wildlife and Your Land
NighthawkWhip-poor-will
American RobinThrushes
Grassland Sparrows
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chimney Swift
Scarlet Tanager
Brown ThrasherGray Catbird
Flying insects
Earthworms, wildberries and fruit such ascrabapples, apples,cherries, elderberries,blackberries, blueberries,cranberries and a varietyof insects and spiders
Insects, weed seeds,spiders
Flying insects
Flying insects; wildberries and seeds in coldweather when insectsare scarce
Flying insects includingbeetles, flies, ants, bugs;sometimes caterpillarshanging from treebranches
Variety of insects andother small inverte-brates; also some wildfruits
Insects, spiders, worms,small invertebrates,berries and fruits
Nighthawks found incities on gravel rooftops,railroad right-of-ways,sand dunes; sandy ruralareas, plowed fields,plains, remote blacktopareas; whip-poor-willsfound in open hard-woods or mixed oak andpine forests
Deciduous or mixedconiferous-deciduousforests, also riverbottomforests; robins verycommon in suburbanyards, parks
Habitat types varyamong species, butgenerally includepastures, hayfields,open grasslands,marshes, grassy dunes,wet meadows, prairies
Farmsteads with barnsand outbuildings, opengrasslands, open forests,lakeshores
Open woodlands andfarmlands near ponds,streams and lakes; alsoriver bottomlands,beaver ponds, woodedswamps and marsheswhere dead trees standin or near water
Cities, towns and farms
Mature oak forests,bottomland hardwoodforests, groves, parks,orchards
Brushy woods, woodlandedges and thickets, nearsuburban or ruralhomesteads, dry marshedges, roadside shrubs,abandoned fields andfencerows
Neither bird buildsnests; nighthawks layeggs on gravel rooftopsor on bare ground;whip-poor-wills lay eggson ground on deadleaves
Robins build nest ofmud and grass indeciduous or coniferoustrees or shrubs, on nestplatforms in opengarages, church ledgesor abandoned buildings
Build nests of grasseslow to or on the ground
Builds mud nests onrafters of old barns orbuildings; sometimesunder bridges or inculverts
Builds nest of grasses inbluebird nest boxes, treecavities and abandonedwoodpecker holes about3–15 feet above ground
Builds nest on walls ofchimneys, silos, oldwells or in little-usedgarages, barns andshacks; sometimes intree hollows or stumps
Builds a small, flimsycup on horizontal oak,maple or elm limb about8–15 feet above ground
Thrashers build bulkynest from 1–3 feet abovethe ground butsometimes on the groundunder tangled thickets.Catbirds build nests2–10 feet above groundin dense willow andalder thickets, lilac andberry bushes or in smalltrees bordering streams
Statewide
Some statewide, a fewrestricted to northernforests
Statewide
Statewide, but leavesstate in August
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide
Migratory Songbirds Food Habitat Nest Sites Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land 29
Chimney Swift
Tree Swallow
Scarlet Tanager
Savanna Sparrow
Brown Thrasher Nighthawk
Catbird
Robin
Wood Thrush
Barn Swallow
30 Wildlife and Your Land
Vireos (7 kinds, red-eyed vireo typical; afew are rare)
Warblers (37 kinds,yellow warbler typical,several are rare)
House Wren
Small insects andcaterpillars
Small insects, smallinvertebrates;occasionally may eatseeds and berriesparticularly duringcolder seasons wheninsects are not common
Insects, smallinvertebrates
Woodlands, deciduousthickets, brambles,undergrowth, openmixed northernhardwood-coniferousforests, mature wetforest, second-growthwoods and residentialareas
Variety of forest typesand river bottomlandhabitats. Each kind ofwarbler has its ownspecific habitatrequirements
Woody vegetation insuburban and ruralareas; frequentswoodland edges, openforests and clearings
Weaves nests of barkstrips, cobwebs, finegrass high in tree tops
Weaves small, round,cupped nests of grassesand other plant fibers,placed from groundlevel to tops of trees,depending on the type ofbird
Wrens build nests intree cavities, fenceposts,stumps, abandonedwoodpecker holes ornestboxes with openingspreferably 1 inch indiameter
Red-eyed Vireo andWarbling Vireo foundstatewide, othersrestricted or not ascommon
Few statewide, mostrestricted duringnesting season tonorthern andnortheastern counties;some restricted tofloodplain forests
Statewide
Migratory Songbirds Food Habitat Nest Sites Distribution
Yellow Warbler Red-eyed Vireo
House Wren
Wildlife and Your Land 31
Northern Cardinal
Black-capped Chickadee
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
At feeders: gray-stripeand black oil sunflowerseeds, safflower seeds,and peanut hearts,bread, cantaloupe seeds,peanut butter, pumpkinseeds, squash seeds,watermelon seeds, driedapples and raisins; Inthe wild: cedar berries,cherries, blackberries,elderberries, grapes,mulberries, raspberries,plums, strawberries,viburnum, blueberries,barley, bristlegrass,buckwheat, corn,hazelnut, hackberries,millet, oats, ragweed
At feeders: black oilsunflower seeds,peanuts, peanut butter,pumpkin seeds, suet,old bread anddoughnuts; In the wild:insects such as motheggs, katydids, spiders,caterpillars, beetles,flies, wasps; alsoblueberries, black-berries, wild cherriesand seeds fromgoldenrod, ragweed,hemlock; fat from deadanimals such as white-tailed deer during falland winter
Insects, grain, birdseed,snails, fruits, nuts;feeds primarily on weedseeds and winter grains,sunflowers, sorghum,ragweed, millet,barnyard grass,California poppy,canary grass, foxtail,bristlegrass, wild hemp,Japanese millet
Primarily ants; alsobeetles, caterpillars,cockroaches,grasshoppers, crickets,wild berries, red cedar,plums, hawthorn,hackberry seeds, corn,acorns, oats ragweed,rye, wheat; at feeders:suet, peanut butter,raisins and apples
Thickets, forest edges,groves, suburbangardens, parks, smallrural and urbanwoodlots, farmsteads,urban backyards, openswamps
Deciduous andconiferous forests, ruralwoodlands, suburbanand rural areas withmature trees andorchards; favors edge
Open mixed woods,Christmas tree farms,orchards, suburbanareas, farmlands, woodedges, church andcemetery sites
Farm groves, urbanbackyards, orchards,open deciduous andconiferous forests, parksand savannas
Builds loose-knit, butbulky, nest of twigs,vines, bark strips,grasses and places it indense shrubbery ofconifer tree or smalldeciduous tree orvine/briar tangle;generally less than 10feet high
Excavates hole about4–10 feet above groundin very soft, rottingwood of dead tree suchas aspen, paper birch,yellow birch, willow,basswood, maple orwhite ash; or builds nestin fence post; will useexisting cavities or birdhouses; nest cavitiesfrequently lined withrabbit fur
Builds a platform ofloosely woven sticks onhorizontal branches inshrubs and trees,especially conifers about10–25 feet above ground
Excavates a nestingcavity in living tree,dead tree, utility pole,fencepost or side ofbuilding 2–60 feet aboveground
Statewide
Statewide
During summer:common in southernand central Wisconsin,uncommon in the north;in winter, common insouthern Wisconsinfarmlands
Statewide, butuncommon winterresident in southernWisconsin; rare winterresident in centralWisconsin
Resident Birds Food Habitat Nest Site Distribution
32 Wildlife and Your Land
American Goldfinch
Blue Jay
White-breasted NuthatchRed-breasted Nuthatch
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Cedar Waxwing
Weed seeds fromragweed, dandelion,goldenrod, chickweed;some insects such asaphids, caterpillars,plant lice; at feeders:thistle (niger) seed,finch mix, black oilsunflower seed, crackednut meats, millet seeds
At feeders: gray-stripesunflower seeds,safflower seeds,peanuts, peanut butter,pumpkin seeds, squashseeds, suet, bread,crackers, raisins,apples; In the wild:blueberries, cherries,elderberries,strawberries, serviceberries, grapes,mulberries, plums,choke cherries, acorns,sumac seeds, corn, oats,wheat, buckwheat,sorghum, nuts,hazelnuts, pine seeds,insects, animal andplant matter
At winter feeders:black-oil sunflowerseeds, safflower seeds,suet; also eat acorns;red-breasted pries openconifer cone scales andremoves seeds for muchof its food; In spring andsummer: beetles, ants,spiders and otherinvertebrates;sometimes white-breasted uses nectarfeeders that have beenplaced for Baltimoreorioles
Cambium and tree sapand insects attracted tothe sap pits, which itdrills in a regular seriesof pit-like holes in trees;flying insects, acorns;will visit feeders for suet,peanut butter, crackedwalnuts, fruits; will alsodrink at nectar feeders
Wild fruits and berries,particularly red cedarberries, insects
Mixed woodlands,meadows, weedy fields,farmland, urbanbackyards, fencerows,orchards, pastures withscattered trees, edges offorest and swamp
Variety of woodedhabitats, farms, parks,cities and suburbs
White-breasted prefersdeciduous and mixedwoodlands, urban andrural yards; red-breasted prefers coniferforests
Deciduous, coniferousand mixed deciduous-coniferous forests,especially with aspen.Can be found duringmigration in orchards,parks, farmlands, orwoodlands
Open woods, orchards,farmland
Builds nest of thistleand cattail down late insummer; places nest inupright branches orhorizontal limbs of awide variety of treesand shrubs usuallyabout 5–15 feet aboveground
Builds bulky nest oftwigs, bark, leaves,mosses and plant fibersabout 10–25 feet aboveground and hidden incrotch of conifer ordeciduous tree; alsonests occasionally inshrubs
Nests in old woodpeckerholes about 5–50 feetabove the ground(white-breasted) orabout 15 feet aboveground (red-breasted),birdhouses (rarelybirdhouses for red-breasted)
Excavates cavity in liveor dead trees from 3–35feet above ground;especially favor aspeninfected with fungus
Builds nest of looselywoven grasses andfibers placed onhorizontal limb of a tree4–50 ft. above ground
Statewide
Statewide
White-breasted, state-wide;Red-breasted,north
Statewide, butuncommon duringsummer in central andsouthwest Wisconsin;uncommon in winter insouthern Wisconsin;rare in centralWisconsin
Statewide
Resident Birds Food Habitat Nest Site Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land 33
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sapsucker Cedar Waxwing
Blue Jay
Cardinal
Mourning DoveChickadee
Goldfinch
Flicker
34 Wildlife and Your Land
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Three-toed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Insects including wood-boring beetle larvae andants; wild berries,sumac seeds, corn; Atfeeders: sunflower seed,suet, peanuts, peanutbutter, meat scraps,cracked pecans, cheese
Beetles, ants, aphids,millipedes, spiders,caterpillars, insectlarvae, cherries, apples,mulberries, black-berries, service berries,poison ivy berries,dogwood, chokecherries, acorns, corn,hazelnuts; At feeders:sunflower seed, suet,broken walnuts,peanuts
Insects and wood-boringlarvae of moths andbeetles, fruits, acorns,tree cambium
Carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles and otherinsect larvae, sumacseeds, wild fruit, acorns;At feeders: suet
Wood boring beetles,crickets, ants,grasshoppers, insectlarvae; several wildfruits, seeds, acorns,hazel and hickory nuts;At feeders: suet, orangehalves, apples, peanuts,peanut butter, sun-flower seed, shelled corn
Beetles, ants,caterpillars, bugs,honeybees, acorns,beechnuts, apples, corn,berries; At feeders: suet,sunflower seeds
Urban areas,farmsteads, smallwoodlots,boreal/hardwood forests,orchards, bottomlands
Farmlands withwoodlots, swamps,hardwood andconiferous forests,orchards, urban areas
Northern tamarack-spruce bogs and firforests, burned areasand swampy forestswith dead trees
Mature hardwoodforests, groves of largehardwood trees, matureforests near rivers andlakes
Deciduous forests,parks, orchards,gardens, backyards
Prefers mature oakwoodlots, farmlandwoodlots, orchards,mixed hardwood forests
Excavates hole 8–18inches deep in living ordead trees, stump,fencepost, or in rottingwood often 10–30 feetabove ground
Excavates nest cavitiesin dead or living treeswith decayed heartwoodfrom 5–30 feet aboveground
Excavates cavity from5–12 feet above groundin live or dead pine,spruce, aspen and cedar
Excavates large, deepcavities with oblongentrances in very largetrees at least 16 inchesin diameter, 25–50 feetabove ground
Excavates nest cavitiesabout 13–40 feet aboveground in dead oak,birch, maple, apple andbutternut trees; treestumps, utility polesand wooden buildings
Excavates cavitiesusually about 20–30 feetabove ground in trees;sometimes excavatescavities in fence posts
Statewide
Statewide
Northern boreal/coniferforests
Statewide, but morecommon in north-central and southwest
Fairly common inwestern and southernWisconsin; uncommonin northern and easternWisconsin
Statewide, butuncommon winterresident in southernand central Wisconsin
Resident Birds Food Habitat Nest Site Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land 35
DownyWoodpecker
Red-headedWoodpecker
Red-belliedWoodpecker
HairyWoodpecker
Three-toed Woodpecker
PileatedWoodpeckersfemale, abovemale, below
36 Wildlife and Your Land
House Finch
Pigeon (Rock Dove)
House Sparrow
Starling
Weed seeds such as wildmustard, mullein,pigweed, chickweed,aphids, caterpillars,sunflowers, thistle seedand finch mix
Seeds, waste grain,insects, fruit
Seeds in wild and atbird feeders, insects,bread, old bakery goods
Insects, grubs and otherlawn pests, mulberriesand other berries
Farms, cities, parks,open woods, adapts tohuman dwellings
Farmland, cities
Around humandwellings
Around humandwellings, especially infarm country; cities,suburbs, orchards,parks, gardens
Builds nest of twigs,grasses and debrisplaced in tree cavities,bird boxes and buildingledges
Roosts in old buildings,barns and under bridgesor cliffs; Droppings candeface buildings andsidewalks
Builds ball of grasses,weeds, trash placed inbluebird houses, porchrafters, holes in walls,awnings, behindshutters; competes withbluebirds and treeswallows in nestboxes
Fills cavities in trees orbirdhouses with a massof grasses, corn husks,cloth, feathers;competes with purplemartins in birdhouses
Southern half. Native toSouthwestern U.S., butwere shipped illegally toNew York as “Holly-wood Finches;” thespecies has sinceescaped and spread tonew territories
Statewide. Native to theOld World north of theequator
Statewide. Native toEurasia and NorthAfrica
Statewide. Native toEurasia
Non-native Birds Food Habitat Nest Sites Distribution
Pigeon
Starling
House Finch
House Sparrow
Wildlife and Your Land 37
Reptiles and amphibians, collectively knownas “herptiles” or “herps” for short, are cold-blooded animals unlike the warm-bloodedmammals and birds. The reptiles includesnakes, lizards and turtles; amphibiansinclude frogs and salamanders. Most snakes,all lizards and some turtles prefer to live onland. Most turtles prefer a life in or nearwater. However, all amphibians must laytheir eggs in water or very damp habitats.Therefore, wetlands—from marshes, swampsand moist woodlands to lakes, streams,ponds and temporary pools—are essential tothe survival of amphibians. Many reptiles, onthe other hand, are not as dependent onwetlands as are the amphibians. Because thethick, hard scales which cover reptilianbodies provide protection from drying air andsun, most Wisconsin snakes and lizards livefar from water. Still, aquatic turtles andwater snakes are very dependent onwetlands.
Amphibians are also different from reptilesin that they go through a metamorphosis, orchange in body shape. Just think about frogsin their early tadpole stage. Lastly, allWisconsin herptiles are silent creaturesexcept for the unique vocalizations of thefrogs. Who has not appreciated hearing thejingling of spring peepers or the trilling oftoads on a warm spring night?
Herps are very beneficial to people. Severalkinds of snakes, for instance, consume largequantities of rodents each year. Only two,fairly rare kinds of snakes are poisonous: thetimber rattlesnake found in the rugged bluffcountry along the Mississippi and LowerWisconsin Rivers, and the Massasauga, ashy, retiring rattler of the swamps. Frogs andtoads also do their best to reduce the supplyof insects including mosquitoes, black flies,and other pesky flying insects. As with birdsand mammals, herps are important in theirown right. Both reptiles and amphibians
serve as food for other, larger animals, so allplay a critical role in the circle of life and thecycles of nature.
Landowners don’t often think of attractingreptiles or amphibians to their property.These cold-blooded, “slimy” or “scaly”creatures just don’t seem to have theaesthetic appeal that the “warm fuzzy” birdsand mammals have. Nevertheless, since thisgroup of animals plays an invaluable role inthe ecological scheme of things on theWisconsin landscape, you may want to plansome projects to encourage their presence.You could, for instance, restore a wetland onyour property where one once existed andmay have been filled in or plowed under. Or,consider improving your woodland by leavingdowned timber on the woodland floor,especially in moist lowland woods wheresalamanders and some frogs would benefit.Your property’s biodiversity and overallnatural health will be greatly increased.
Read more about reptiles and amphibians inNatural History of Amphibians and Reptilesin Wisconsin by Richard Carl Vogt, published1981 by the Milwaukee Public Museum andFriends of the Museum.
Green frog
Reptiles and Amphibians
38 Wildlife and Your Land
Mudpuppy
Spiny Softshells
Musk Turtle
Painted Turtle
Blandings Turtle
Ornate Box Turtle
Wood Turtle
Snapping Turtle
Map Turtle
TigerSalamander
Red-backedSalamander
Wildlife and Your Land 39
Blandings Turtle
Ornate Box Turtle
Map Turtles (3 kinds)
Musk Turtle
Painted Turtle (2 sub-species)
Snapping Turtle
Soft-shelled Turtles (2kinds, Spiny is mostcommon)
Wood Turtle
Mudpuppy
Red-backed Salamander
Tiger Salamander
Prefers crayfish, insects,earthworms, vegetation,berries
Insects, cactus andother succulent plants,berries
Fish, insects, snails
Insects, fish, carrion inwater
Aquatic vegetation,snails, crayfish, insects,fish, carrion, tadpoles
Insects, crayfish,mollusks, worms,leeches, fish, frogs,birds, aquatic plants
Fish, crayfish, aquaticinsect larvae
Insects, earthworms,berries, vegetation
Worms, and otheraquatic invertebrates,insects, small fish
Small insects and insectlarvae
Earthworms, cricketnymphs, grasshoppers,moths, flies, spiders,beetles, cicadas
Shallow, weedy bays ofrivers, lakes andmarshes
Dry, sandy floodplain,prairies adjacent to thelower Wisconsin River
Lakes, rivers with slowto moderate current
River backwaters andlakes
Ponds, shallow lakes,and slow moving rivers
Lakes, rivers, creeks,ponds and marshes
Primarily rivers, largelakes and reservoirs
On land or water nearfast moving streams inforested areas
Bottoms of rivers andlakes during every stageof life cycle
Damp litter and rottedlogs in woodlands,sphagnum bogs
Breeds in prairie ponds,marshes, kettlepotholes, lakes,woodland ponds, farmponds
Seeks shelter insideshell or on marshbottom or in submergedvegetation
Hibernates in self-excavated or mammalburrows; hides underbushes or in burrows
Hide in deep areasunder sunken logs,occasionally in aquaticvegetation; hibernatebehind logs and rockson riverbottom
Retreats to bottom orhides in densesubmerged vegetation
Burrows or lays onbottom during winter;hides in densesubmergent vegetation
Stays on muddybottoms of ponds indense aquaticvegetation
Hide in sandy or muddybottoms; nest nearwaters edge
Hibernates under cutbanks or in deeper poolswith at least moderatecurrent
Hides amongst rocks onbottom of rivers andlakes
Hides under logs andleaf litter, in sphagnummoss or under ground
Spends much of the yearunderground inwoodlands; migrates tobreed on first rainynights associated withfrost-out
Statewide except for sixnorth-central counties,THREATENED
Southwest and south-central, ENDANGERED
Mostly restricted tosouth-central,southwest and west
Southern one-fourthand along Mississippifrom La Crosse south
Statewide
Statewide
Primarily western two-thirds, abundant in theBlack, Chippewa,Mississippi, andWisconsin rivers
Primarily northern two-thirds, THREATENED
Statewide
Northern half
Central, southeasternand northwestern
Turtles Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
Salamanders Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
40 Wildlife and Your Land
Bullfrog
Western Chorus Frog
Blanchards Cricket Frog
Green Frog
Northern Leopard Frog
Mink Frog
Pickerel Frog
Spring Peeper
Eastern American Toad
Eastern TreefrogCopes Treefrog
Wood Frog
Insects, small fish, otherfrogs, small turtles
Mites, midges,caterpillars, spiders,beetles, ants, spiders
Small insects,invertebrates
Insects, invertebrates
Insects, invertebrates
Insects, invertebrates
Insects, invertebrates
Small insects
Earthworms,mealworms, gardeninsects
Small insects,invertebrates
Insects
Permanent bodies ofwater
Prairies, marshes,riverbottom forests,woodland pools nearshallow or temporarywater or semi-openareas
In or near permanentwater with submergedplants and low, gradientshorelines with low,sparce vegetation
All types of permanentwater; prefers tallshoreline vegetation,including brush
Breeding: lakes, streams,rivers, ponds; Foraging:fields and wet prairies
Lives at or near theedges of bogs associatedwith lakes and streams
Cool, clear waters ofspring-fed lakes andstreams
Wooded areas withtemporary or semi-permanent ponds,swamps and marshes
A variety of habitatswherever there areinsects, moisture andshallow waters forbreeding
Eastern: forest interiorand edges; Copes: oaksavannas, woodland orbrushy field edges
Lowland hardwoodforests and other largetracts of moist woods
Hides in shorelinevegetation or insubmerged vegetation
Hides under vegetation,climbs on shrubs andgrasses; hibernatesunder rocks, logs andground litter
Leaps in zigzag patternto escape predators;rapidly jumps intowater and then back toland; may hide undersubmerged vegetation
Near waters edgeriparian areas; hides inshoreline vegetation orin debris on lake bed
Often found far fromstanding water duringthe summer; hibernatesunder water
Hides under sphagnummats or in emergentvegetation; flees acrossthe water surface anddives
Takes shelter inshoreline vegetation andin the water; often hidesin water cress; breeds inwarmer adjacent pondsor backwaters
Hides under damp leaflitter, under logs andbark
Breeds in wateranywhere; burrowsunder leaf litter, underlogs or in loose soil
Eastern: hides in treesand under bark; Copes:hides on underside ofleaves in brush or inleaf litter; both breed intemporary andpermanent ponds
Hides among forest floorleaf litter
Statewide but patchy
Statewide
Extreme southwest,ENDANGERED
Statewide
Statewide
Northern thirdto half
Scattered statewideexcept extreme north-central counties
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide
Nearly statewide exceptfor extreme southcentral counties
Frogs Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land 41
Spring Peeper
Chorus Frog
Cricket Frog Eastern Tree Frog
Toad
Leopard Frog
Mink Frog
Wood Frog
Pickerel Frog
Green Frog
Bullfrog
42 Wildlife and Your Land
Blue Racer
Brown SnakeBullsnake
Garter Snake
Hog-nosed Snake
Massasauga
Milk Snake
Fox Snake
Ring-necked Snake
Smooth Green Snake
Timber Rattler
Northern Water Snake
Wildlife and Your Land 43
Blue Racer
Brown Snakes (2 kinds,Red-bellied andNorthern are bothcommon)
Bullsnake
Garter Snakes (5 kinds,Eastern is mostcommon)
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Massasauga Rattlesnake
Milk Snake
Fox Snake
Racerunners and otherlizards, snakes, frogs,insects, small birds,rodents
Earthworms, smallinsects, invertebrates
Mostly rodents,sometimes groundnesting birds and eggs
Frogs, insects,salamanders, earth-worms, small fish, smallmammals
Toads, frogs, largeinsects
Small rodents, smallbirds, frogs
Mostly rodents, oftenother snakes, includingrattlesnakes
Mostly small rodents,sometimes small birds
Open fields, open oakwoodlands, dry rockysouthwest facing slopes,dry prairies, oaksavannas
Dry to slightly moistareas such as surfaceleaves on open woodlandfloors, southern lowlandhardwood forest,marshes, old fields,under rubbish or vacantlots
Loose sandy soil in dryprairies, oak savannas,pine barrens, and oakopenings; south andwest slopes in bluffsalong Wisconsin andMississippi rivers
Lake, creek and rivermargins, grassy fields,sedge meadows, bogs,wet prairies andhillsides
Open fields, hillsides,especially open sandyareas, also southernlowland hardwood forestnear rivers duringsummer months
Marshy areas, bogs,lowland hardwoodforests and more openswamps with sunny, dryopen fields nearby
Moist forest edges nearopen woods andgrasslands; alsowoodlots and pasturesnear streams and rivers
Marshes, farmlands,open moist woodlands,southerly exposed slopesof bluffs
Seeks shelter under flatrocks or in limestonecrevasses, or inmammal burrows
Hibernate in desertedanthills, rock crevassesand buildingfoundations
Hibernates in deep rockfissures on SW exposedhills, burrows of pocketgophers or groundsquirrels; seeks summershelter in dense groundcover, flat rocks andmammal burrows
Hides underground,under logs, infoundations and under avariety of litter
Seeks shelter in its ownburrows which it makesin sand or else seeksshelter in abandonedrodent burrows
Hibernates in mammalburrows, especiallycrayfish burrows
Hibernates infoundations or otherburied rock structures;found under boards andlogs in summer
Found in trees and hidein the holes of oak andhickory; hibernatesunderground in naturalrock structures, rock-lined dug wells anddeep rock foundations;in summer, often hidesunder boards and piecesof metal
Southern half
Statewide
Southwest and West
Statewide for EasternGarter Snake only
Statewide except fornorthcentral counties
West and West-central,ENDANGERED
Southern two-thirds
Statewide
Snakes Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
44 Wildlife and Your Land
Northern Ring-neckedSnake
Prairie Ring-necked Snake
Smooth Green Snake
Timber Rattlesnake
Northern Water SnakeQueen Water Snake
Western Slender GlassLizard
Six-lined Racerunner
Five-lined SkinkNorthern Prairie Skink
Small salamanders,earthworms, smallsnakes, lizards
Insects, earthworms,small invertebrates
Primarily rodents andother small mammals
Frogs, salamanders,fish, crayfish, largerinvertebrates
Insects, small lizards,small snakes, bird eggs
Insects, smallinvertebrates
Insects, smallinvertebrates
Northern: Moistdeciduous forests;Prairie: Southwestfacing bluffsides alongWisconsin andMississippi rivers
Open grassy fields andgrassy woodlots
Rocky, open or woodedhillsides and nearbyfields and lowlands, oakwoodlands
Borders of creeks, riversand lakes
Open meadows, drymesic prairie, oaksavanna with sandysoils
Dry sandy areas in openfields and on rockyhillsides
Dry, sandy areas inopen fields and oak andpine barrens
Both: Hide under rocks,bark, fallen trees;Northern: hides in logsor leaf litter by day,forages at night;Prairie: by day, baskson dry prairie hillsides
Found under logs ormetal
Found along bluffsassociated with theMississippi andWisconsin rivers
Takes refuge in thewater
Hides in sedge clumpsand animal burrows
Hides in brush, grassclumps, and its ownburrows
Hides in stumps, rottinglogs, slab and sawdustpiles; may climb treesand low brush to forageand escape predator
Northern: northernthirdPrairie: southwest
Mostly statewide,except along extremewestern counties andsouthwest
West and southwest
Northern: statewideRESTRICTED
Queen: extremesoutheastENDANGERED
West and central,ENDANGERED
Southwest
Prairie: northwestFive-lined: central andnortheast
Lizards Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
Wildlife and Your Land Staff: Mary K. Salwey, Project Director; JanetL. Hutchens, Project Assistant; Todd Peterson, Chief, Public Service andUser Program Section. Editorial assistance by Robert Hay, Cold-bloodedSpecies Manager; Sumner Matteson, Avian Ecologist; Scott Craven,UW-Extension; Adrian Wydeven, Mammalian Ecologist; and KeithWarnke, Upland Wildlife Ecologist. Graphics and layout by KandisElliot. Published by the Bureau of Wildlife Management, WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources, P. O. Box 7921, Madison, WI, 53707.
Federal Aid Projectfunded by your purchase
of hunting equipment
PUBL-WM-220-98