Wildlife Update: June 24, 2022

Summertime is officially here! And it certainly is feeling like summer outside. We have had lots of hot weather over the past couple of weeks, including some days in the high 90’s. We have also had some severe weather coming through the area recently, but thankfully we have not had too much damage. The wildlife in Burnett County is also in summer mode. Animals are most active in the morning and evening and tend to hide out during the hottest parts of the day.
If you take a trip to Crex Meadows this time of the year, there are lots of fun things to see! Summertime means also means it is baby animal season. We are seeing lots of baby birds around the property, including goslings and cygnets (swans) that are growing quickly, ducklings of different species, Sandhill crane colts, and so much more! We have also had recent reports of several different snapping turtles laying their eggs!
In addition to hatchling birds, we are also now in the season where we are seeing LOTS of baby mammals (including fawns). During this time, the WI DNR would like to give people a reminder to “Keep Wildlife Wild” whenever possible. This means that when you see a young animal on its own, do not automatically assume that it is orphaned. Wild animal moms often leave their young unattended and in a safe place while they go in search of food. They then return later to tend to the young. It is best to enjoy wildlife from a distance and try not to interfere. 

Here are some bird highlights from the past week: Black Tern, Black-and-white Warbler, Dickcissel, Least Bittern, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-necked Grebe, Sora, Upland Sandpiper, and Virginia Rail. 
 

Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Eastern Wood-pewee
Field Sparrow
Golden-winged Warbler
Grasshopper Sparrow
Gray Catbird
Great Blue Heron
Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Horned Owl
Greater Yellowlegs
Green Heron
Green-winged Teal
Hairy Woodpecker
Hermit Thrush
Hooded Merganser
House Wren
Indigo Bunting
Killdeer
Least Bittern
Least Flycatcher
Mallard
Marsh Wren
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Northern Harrier
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Osprey
Ovenbird
Pied-billed Grebe
Pileated Woodpecker
Pine Warbler
Purple Finch
Purple Martin
 

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-necked Grebe
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-necked Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruffed Grouse
Sandhill Crane
Scarlet Tanager
Sedge Wren
Song Sparrow
Sora
Spotted Sandpiper
Swamp Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Trumpeter Swan
Turkey Vulture
Upland Sandpiper
Veery
Vesper Sparrow
Virginia Rail
Warbling Vireo
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-throated Sparrow
Wild Turkey
Wilson's Snipe
Wood Duck
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Vireo

Alder Flycatcher
American Bittern
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Kestrel
American Redstart
American Robin
American White Pelican
Bald Eagle
Baltimore Oriole
Barn Swallow
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Black Tern
Black-and-white Warbler
Black-billed Cuckoo
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-winged Teal
Bobolink
Brewer's Blackbird
Broad-winged Hawk
Brown Thrasher
Brown-headed Cowbird
Canada Goose
Cedar Waxwing
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Loon
Common Raven
Common Yellowthroat
Dickcissel
Eastern Bluebird

Mammals Spotted:

Beaver
Black Bear (& cubs)
Grey Squirrel
Grey Wolf
Muskrat
Red Fox
Red Squirrel
River Otter 
White-tailed Deer (and fawns)

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**See something out on our properties that isn’t on the list? Feel free to send us a report or stop in and tell us the story! We are always happy to hear observations from our visitors!