Lake Wildlife

Water is the essence of life and all living things need it to survive. Read about each of these species and find out why each animal lives near or in lakes.

Alien Profile: Spiny Water Flea

Spiny water fleas eat zooplankton and compete directly with small fish that also need to eat it.

American Bald Eagle

We all know the bald eagle as a national symbol with its distinctive "bald" white head.

Bat Facts

Bats belong to a special group of flying mammals called Chiroptera.

Beaver

The beaver holds the title for being the largest rodent in North America.

Blanding's Turtle

Wildlife watching at a wetland area is a fun summer time activity.

Common Loon

That eerie sound you hear is not a ghost haunting a northern lake.

Dragonflies: Wisconsin's Aerial Acrobats

Dragonflies are a spectacular and colorful group of insects.

Great Blue Heron

Have you ever seen groups of huge nests made of large sticks weighing down tall tree tops?

eastern gray treefrog with vocal sac inflated, calling from a marshy area in Milwaukee County

Join the Frog Chorus

by Dreux J. Watermolen

Mink

Sleek with thick, chocolate brown fur, minks are in the weasel family.

Osprey

The Osprey is also known as the fish hawk.

Ellingson Island & Split Rock Lighthouse at Sunset

What Makes a Lake?

Wisconsin - the word is thought to refer to a running river, which makes sense because lakes and rivers make up a large part of Wisconsin's natural resources.

a tiny fairy shrimp being held in a handful of water

Wonderful, Wacky, Water Critters

Lake life is plentiful and not all lake creatures are easy to see.

Wood Duck

The wood duck is often called Wisconsin's most beautiful duck with its bright, multi-colored feathers.