Biodiversity in MinnesotaVictoria Thomas-Haack

Sandhill Crane ~ Grus Canadensis

Population- about 650,000 Diet- Omnivorous. They eat plant tubers, grains,

small invertebrates such as insects or worms. Babies eat mainly insects and other protein filled foods. They can probe the ground for agricultural seeds.

Habitat- Freshwater wetlands, including marshes, wet grasslands, and river basins.

Reproduction- Females lay two eggs in a nest made of grasses and vegetation on the ground or shallow water. Both sexes care for and defend their young.

Continued… Hunted or Harvested- They are a protected

species, but can be hunted in Northern MN. Fun Facts- 1. Closely related to the whooping

crane. 2. Used in migration experiments guiding young whooping cranes to wintering areas in the Southern US, could be credited with saving an endangered species. 3. In New Mexico there is a Sandhill Crane festival every November.

Description- Graceful flight, echoing call. Mainly gray but white face and red crown. The young are brown. 5-8 lbs. and 4 feet.

Continued… Diseases- Mycotoxicosis. Caused by

mold and fungi. Predators- Eggs can be eaten by

crows, ravens, wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, hawks, eagles and raccoons. Adults are preyed on by foxes, eagles, coyotes, wolves, bobcats and large owls.

Sandhill Crane http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/

2011/04/05/bill-would-permit-northwestern-minn-crane-hunting/

Beaver ~ Castor Canadensis

Description- Large Rodent, large orange teeth and flat paddle shaped tail. 35-40 inches 40-50 lbs. Various shades of brown.

Reproduction- mate at age 2 from November to March. Babies born in May or June with 3 to 4 kits.

Food- in spring and summer it’s leaves buds, twigs, fruit, ferns, stems and roots of water plants. Fall and winter its cuttings from trees stored beneath water.

Predators- coyote, wolf, bobcat, cougar and bear.

Continued… Habitat- “Water Conservationist” near and

around water. Population- .6 beaver colonies per river mile. Hunted or Harvest- trappers take 20,000 to

30,000 surplus beaver most years. Southern MN- 10/30-4/30 Northern MN- 10/23-4/30

Fun Facts- 1.They can chew through 6 inch tree in 15 minutes 2. A single beaver can chew down hundreds of trees a year. 3.They are nocturnal semi-aquatic rodents.

Diseases- Tularmia, Giadiasis- diarrheal illness

Beaver http://

animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/beaver

Flathead Catfish ~ Pylodictis Olivaris

Description- Flat broad head, No scales. 4 pairs of barbels. Sharp spines on fins. 10-20 lbs. blotchy yellow and brown, turn gray or olive with age.

Reproduction- M/F pair in June or July. Male guards and tens fertilized eggs.

Food- young eat insects and other invertebrates. Older add fish to diet, sometimes acts like its mouth is a cave to fool small fish or life on bottom of river and suck in fish as they swim over top.

Continued… Predators- Black bull heads, and channel

catfish eat young flathead catfish. Habitat- Near sunken logs in backwaters

and pools or big muddy slow rivers. Population- healthy population Fun Facts- 1. Can swim upside down 2. Can

give electric shocks 3. “Walk” from one body of water to another.

Diseases- accumulate toxins such as PCB’s. Hunted- Early Fall

Flathead Catfish http://

observeyourpreserve.org/species/flathead-catfish

Redbelly Snake ~ Storeria Occipitomaculata

Description- Size of a large night crawler, brown or gray, length wise stripes on top and a red belly. 8-10 inches

Reproduction- 1-23 young 8 is average. Food- insects, earth worms, slugs Predators- birds, skunks, and other snakes. Habitat- Woodlands and forest edges

near water. Winters in rock crevices and ant mounds

Continued… Population- No special status in M N Fun Facts- 1. Two subspecies are

found in MN 2. Northern RBS has three light spots on the back of neck 3.Black one does not

Hunted or Harvested- No special status in MN

Quaking Aspen ~ Populus Tremuloides

Description-May reach 65’ and diameter of 12” to 20”. Young branchlets are reddish-brown and shiny, becoming graying and roughened after first year

Bark- Thin, white to gray-green smooth with black area around back of limbs; become graying and deeply furrowed

Leaves- Small broadly oval, short point at the end. Green shiny above and dull on the bottom. 1-2” in size.

Continued… Fruit and Seed- Ripens in May or June.

Consists of cottony mass (catkin) containing tiny round light brown seeds that germinate in a few hours after released from tree.

Disesase- Shoestring Rot: roots rot. White Trunk Rot: “heart” rots. Fungi: black canker, scooty bark canker.

Fun Facts- Quaking comes from the metallic clatter that the leaves make when ruffled by the breeze.

Continued… Economic Uses- Paneling, furniture

components and flooring http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/

CoopExt/4DMG/Trees/aspencan.htm

Wild Rose ~ Rosa Woodsii Lindl.

Description- In June, pale pink 5 petals yellow center, may reach up to 6feet

Fun Fact- Skin of wild rose hip is edible and is a source of vitamin c

Uses- was used by Europeans as a source of vitamin a and c flavor soups, making syrup. American Indiands used it for tea, salads, smoking tobacco or perfume.

When it flowers- May to July

Wild Rose http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/

flowers/ia_wild_prairie_rose.htm