Other Wildlife

The following is a guide to other wildlife that may be encountered in the Arboretum.

1. Family
2. Habitat: where it can be found in southern Minnesota
3. Most commonly heard vocalizations
4. Size
5. Diet
6. Status at Gustavus (when and how often it is seen on campus)
7. Additional information

Mammals

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

• Status: commonly seen near coniferous trees in Arb throughout the year, more often encountered in winter near Interpretive Center
• Habitat: coniferous and mixed woodlands, suburban areas near bird feeders
• Vocalizations include a loud, sharp “chek,” also a series of similar notes
• Length up to 16 inches
• Diet: nuts, seeds, fruit, berries, insects

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

• Status: commonly seen near trees in Arb throughout the year, especially near the Interpretive Center
• Habitat: woodlands, forested areas, suburban areas near bird feeders
• Vocalizations include chirps and harsh scolding notes
• Length up to 2 feet
• Diet: nuts, seeds, fruit, berries, insects

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus)

• Status: abundant across campus from early April to mid-October, frequently seen foraging in lawns
• Habitat: grassy, open areas, suburban lawns and gardens, prairies
• Vocalizations include a high, sharp squeak
• Length up to 12 inches
• Diet: plants, fruit, seeds, insects
• Commonly called "gopher"

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) L.

• Status: infrequently seen in Arb, most often near wooded areas
• Habitat: woodlands, forested areas, suburban lawns and gardens
• Vocalizations include variety of chirping notes
• Length up to 8 inches
• Diet: plants, fungi, seeds, nuts, fruit, insects

American Badger (Taxidea taxus)

• Status: burrows frequently found in open areas in Arb, especially in Coneflower Prairie, but animal itself is rarely seen
• Habitat: grasslands, large lawn expanses, agricultural fields
• Vocalizations include growling and harsh hissing sounds
• Length up to 3 feet
• Diet: ground squirrels and other small mammals are preferred, but small reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and insects are also consumed
• Primarily nocturnal

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Photo taken west of St. Peter, Nicollet County by Andy Frederick

• Status: infrequently seen in Arb throughout the year, most often in woodlands during morning and evening hours
• Habitat: woodlands, forested areas
• Vocalizations include a loud, abrupt snort
• Length up to 7 feet, height up to 5 feet
• Diet: plants, fungi, seeds, nuts, berries

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

• Status: abundant most years across campus, frequently seen foraging in lawns
• Habitat: grassy, open areas, suburban lawns and gardens
• Generally silent
• Length up to 16 inches
• Diet: plants, fruit, seeds

Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)

• Status: infrequently seen in Arb, most often near dense cover or bird feeders
• Habitat: grasslands, woodlands, forested areas, suburban lawns and gardens
• Generally silent or inaudible
• Length up to 5 inches
• Diet: seeds, fungi, insects, earthworms, other small rodents
• Highly carnivorous, consumes up to three times its weight in food each day

Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)

• Status: infrequently seen in Arb during warm months, often near wooded areas
• Habitat: variety of habitats, most often woodlands and forested areas
• Generally silent or inaudible
• Length up to 10 inches
• Diet: plants, fungi, seeds, fruit, insects
• Primarily nocturnal

Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus)

• Status: commonly seen flying around Arb near dusk and lighted areas around campus at night mid-May to late September, sometimes found sleeping on sides of buildings during daytime
• Habitat: variety of habitats, roosts in trees and old buildings
• Vocalizations generally inaudible
• Length up to 4 inches, wingspan up to 11 inches
• Diet: flying insects (including mosquitoes)
• Hibernates through winter in caves or other protected, enclosed spaces

Reptiles and Amphibians

Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) L.

• Status: infrequently seen throughout Arb early April to late October, especially near wetlands
• Habitat: variety of habitats, open areas near woody or grassy cover
• Generally silent
• Length up to 3 feet
• Diet: variety of prey including insects, small birds and rodents, frogs
• Not harmful to humans

Eastern Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix)

• Status: infrequently seen in Arb early May to late October, most often foraging in lawns or near prairie
• Habitat: variety of habitats, most often seen in open areas near woody or grassy cover
• Generally silent
• Length up to 3 feet
• Diet: variety of prey including insects, small birds and rodents, frogs
• Not harmful to humans

American Toad (Bufo americanus)

• Status: infrequently seen in Arb early April to mid-October, most often near wetlands and wooded areas
• Habitat: wetlands, woodlands, forested areas, suburban lawns near water
• Call is a high-pitched trill lasting around ten seconds
• Length up to 4 inches
• Diet: insects, worms, other small invertebrates
• Hibernates through winter in underground burrows

Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata)

• Status: infrequently seen but easily heard near Arb ponds late March to early November, most often heard in spring
• Habitat: wetlands, cattail marshes
• Call is a loud, rising clicking sound, reminiscent of running a thumb across the teeth of a comb
• Length up to 1 inch
• Diet: flies, mosquitoes, other small invertebrates
• Often called “cricket frogs”

Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)

• Status: commonly found in Arb early May to early October, often sitting on plant leaves or tree limbs
• Habitat: variety of habitats, often near gardens or wetlands, suburban areas near trees
• Call is a high trill lasting a couple seconds, often sounding like a soft police whistle
• Length up to 2 inches
• Diet: insects, other small invertebrates
• Ability to camouflage skin with its surroundings; found in shades of green, brown, and gray

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)

• Status: infrequently heard (and rarely seen) in Arb near Jones Northern Forest Ponds early April to early October, most often heard in April
• Habitat: wooded wetlands
• Call is a “quacking” similar to that of a duck but softer more subtle
• Length up to 3 inches
• Diet: insects, other invertebrates
• One of the first frogs to call in spring along with Western Chorus Frog

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)

• Status: commonly seen and heard near Arb ponds late April to late October
• Habitat: ponds, wetlands, suburban lawns near water
• Call is a low croaking sound followed by quick, soft notes
• Length up to 5 inches
• Diet: insects, other invertebrates, small frogs
• State Amphibian of Minnesota

*All photos taken at Gustavus by Bob Dunlap, Arboretum Naturalist unless otherwise noted.