Western Prairie Ecoregion

Hairy Woodpecker

"Dead" trees often have delicious food and perfect nest holes for these woodpeckers who call Wisconsin home year around. Clearing dead trees or branches for human aesthetics removes habitat and food for this little buddy.

Wise use of the landscape by facilitating  Matrix habitats  can improve not only agriculture, but also more critters to see when kayaking.

Fish School

Small fish like to hide in shallow waters where they have more places to hide from predators. These little buddies used my Kayak as a hiding spot while I was parked.

Blue Heron Rookery

Blue Herons nest in groups throughout the St. Croix Watershed and these little dinosaurs are getting ready for some lunch as they call for their parents.

Mussels

The St. Croix River is home to fresh waters mussels found no where else on Earth. These buddies help filter the water and are essential for the health of the river.

Sedimentary Geology

The St. Croix River flows through different geologic formations. Its sandstone and limestone walls change each year as the river erodes one layer at a time.

"The climate and topography in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape was favorable to frequent fires that maintained the prairie vegetation that covered almost one third of the area prior to Euro-American settlement."

-  Department of Natural Resources 

Sandstone Habitat

The cliffs of the St. Croix Watershed provide excellent homes for birds, insects, and fish.

The geology of the Western Prairie Ecoregion facilitates a Matrix of habitats.

Matrix Reminants

Investing in intrinsic value of the Western Prairie Ecoregion is essential to improve biodiversity.

Cold Water Springs

Not all water moves in a stream or river. This cold-water spring found its way into the St. Croix River by moving through the soil. Cold water springs provide many ecosystem services and are often hidden until they reach the river.

Macroinvertebrates

Macroinvertebrates are one of three stages of life for many species. They are essential to healthy insect populations such as dragonflies which have been around for 300 million years.

Shore Birds

Shore birds can be found in sandy beaches along rivers across the continent. Keep an eye out for bird and turtle nests when exploring sandy areas of William O'Brien State Park.

Blue Heron

Herons often fish in shallow waters. These dinosaurs have an average wingspan of 5.5-6.5 ft. and have a fossil record dating back 1.8 million years old.

Egret

Egrets almost went extinct because their beautiful feathers were desired for fashion in the 1800's. Similar to herons, these buddies feed in shallow waters along the St. Croix.