Popular species View all Wisconsin's Northwoods species »
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Grey wolf (Canis lupus)
The world’s largest wild canid, the iconic grey wolf (Canis lupus) has been a source of both fear and respect, inspiring a rich cultural…
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Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
The wild relative of one of only two domesticated birds to have originated in North America, the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is one of…
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Mink frog (Lithobates septentrionalis)
The mink frog (Lithobates septentrionalis) is a medium-sized North American frog, named for the distinctive mink-like or rotten onion-like…
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Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator)
The largest waterfowl species in North America, the trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is named for its distinctive, trumpeting, ‘oh-OH’…
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American black bear (Ursus americanus)
With a population double that of all other bear species combined, the American black bear is by far the most common member of the bear…
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Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
One of the first trees to bloom in early spring, the eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is an attractive species which produces one of North…
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Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Occurring on every continent except Antarctica, the osprey is the one of the most widespread birds of prey. The plumage of the osprey is…
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Puma (Puma concolor)
Other than man, the large, slender puma (Puma concolor) has the greatest natural distribution of any terrestrial mammal in the Western…
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Swamp metalmark (Calephelis mutica)
The swamp metalmark (Calephelis mutica) is an orange-brown butterfly of North America that is brighter and sharper in colour than its…
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Red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
A particularly large grebe, the red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) is a stocky species, with a long neck and a long, straight, robust…
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Greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)
The greater prairie chicken is a stocky brown, strongly barred grouse with paler coloured stripes, most easily recognised by the male’s…
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Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a long, slender North American snake with a colourful and extremely variable appearance…
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Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is one of the largest and arguably most beautiful bats in the Americas. Its body fur is long, dense and…
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Spruce grouse (Dendragapus canadensis)
The spruce grouse (Dendragapus canadensis) is a dark, stocky bird of coniferous forests in the northern United States and Canada. The male…
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Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
One of the fastest species in the world, the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) may reach speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour (155…
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Snowy owl (Bubo scandiaca)
Perhaps one of the most instantly recognisable of all owls, the snowy owl is characterised by its distinctive white plumage, which gives it…
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Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
The only species in its genus, the silver-haired bat is easily recognised by its dark black to blackish-brown fur, with silvery-white tipped…
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Pugnose shiner (Notropis anogenus)
A small, poorly-known freshwater fish, the pugnose shiner (Notropis anogenus) is named for its extremely small, sharply upturned mouth…
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Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a muscular, leggy cat with forelimbs that are slightly shorter than the hind-limbs, lending it a…
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Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
Information on the sugar maple is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…
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Eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus)
A shy, non-venomous reptile, the eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus) is characterised by three bright, well-defined stripes which run…
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Northern blue butterfly (Plebejus idas)
The northern blue butterfly (Plebejus idas) is a small North American butterfly with bright silvery-blue to purplish-blue wings, outlined…
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Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Instantly recognisable as the national emblem of the United States, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) has long been a key symbol in…
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Black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)
A medium-sized North American woodpecker, the black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) is named for its entirely glossy black upperparts…
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Greater redhorse (Moxostoma valenciennesi)
The largest of the redhorse (Moxostoma) species, the greater redhorse (Moxostoma valenciennesi) is a large, stout freshwater fish with a…
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American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Information on the American beech is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…
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Boreal chickadee (Parus hudsonicus)
A small songbird, the boreal chickadee (Parus hudsonica) is, as its name suggests, almost entirely restricted to the boreal forests of North…
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Purple wartyback (Cyclonaias tuberculata)
The purple wartyback (Cyclonaias tuberculata) is a rather distinctive mollusc, named partly for the many bumps or ‘warts’ covering much of…
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Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus)
Information on the little brown myotis is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…
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Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
The only member of the Laniidae family (true shrikes) to occur exclusively in North America, the loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is…
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Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is one of the hardiest of all shorebirds, breeding far north in the Arctic region and migrating southwards…
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Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis)
Distinguished by the long, rounded ears for which it is named, the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) is a small bat species…
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Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
The most widespread of all hummingbird species, the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a familiar inhabitant of Central and…
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Ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata)
The ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) has a domed, round or oval carapace (upper shell) that is dark brown to reddish-brown, often with a…
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American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a stocky wading bird best known for the male’s unique, loud, guttural call which has led to…
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Cherrystone drop (Hendersonia occulta)
The only species in its genus, the cherrystone drop (Hendersonia occulta) is a tiny terrestrial snail which is named for its resemblance to…
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American robin (Turdus migratorius)
Described as “America’s favourite songbird”, the American robin (Turdus migratorius) is one of the most abundant, widespread and instantly…
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Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis)
Described as one of the most beautiful of all North American bats, the eastern red bat is a distinctive species characterised, as its name…
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Linear-leaved sundew (Drosera linearis)
The linear-leaved sundew (Drosera linearis) is a small insectivorous plant. It is distinguished from other sundews by its long, narrow…
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Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
As its common name suggests, the red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) can be instantly recognised by its bright red head. The…
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American marten (Martes americana)
Information on the American marten is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…
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Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni)
Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) is an extremely secretive bird of North America. Prior to 1995, this species was…
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Marsh grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris)
Named after Mount Parnassus in central Greece, the marsh grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) is not in fact a grass, and is rather a…
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American black duck (Anas rubripes)
The American black duck (Anas rubripes) is a large dabbling duck of eastern North America that, contrary its common name, has predominantly…
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American eel (Anguilla rostrata)
Despite having been known for hundreds of years, the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) has a complex life history which, even today, is not…
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American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica)
A medium-sized shorebird with attractive breeding plumage, the American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica) is characterised by its…
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American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
A huge bird with a massive wingspan, the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) has a sturdy bill and expandable pouch that are…
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American woodcock (Scolopax minor)
A striking and unusual-looking bird, the American woodcock (Scolopax minor) has richly patterned plumage, consisting of varying shades of…
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Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus)
The banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) is a small, slender species of fish native to North America. It has a small mouth, a lower jaw…
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Beaked spike rush (Eleocharis rostellata)
A stout, robust perennial plant, the beaked spike rush (Eleocharis rostellata) has proliferous clustering stems, which form distinctive…
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In this activity students explore the concepts of migration, hibernation and adaptation to the cold as mechanisms to survive the winter.
This activity challenges students to think about the relationship between summer flowering plants and the butterflies that depend on them.