Wildlife Update: June 29, 2026

Featured image by: Nancy Jahnel

Weather has been mild the past few days in the Grantsburg area, but that is about to change. The 10 day forecast looks like many days will be in the high 80’s and some into the 90’s, with high humidity and the possibility for thunderstorms.

The highlights for viewing this time of the year are summer resident birds, baby wildlife, wildflowers in bloom, and our many butterfly species!

Some of the baby animal reports this week included Sandhill crane colts, Trumpeter swan cygnets, Red fox kits, Black bear cubs, White-tailed deer fawns, a number of ducklings of different species, and many other birds!

Because we are amid “baby animals season”, the WDNR would like to remind visitors to Keep Wildlife Wild whenever possible. It’s important to observe wildlife at a respectful distance and always remember that a young animal’s best chance for survival is with its parents (there are a few exceptions for wildlife young who do not stay with their mother; this includes things like turtles, who are completely independent upon hatching).

Bird sightings within the last week at Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, Amsterdam Sloughs, and surrounding area:

Alder Flycatcher
American Bittern
American Crow
American Goldfinch
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-winged Teal
Blue-winged Warbler
Bobolink
Brown Thrasher
Brown-headed Cowbird
Canada Goose
Canada Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chimney Swift
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Loon
Common Raven
Common Yellowthroat
Cooper’s Hawk
Dickcissel
Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Warbling Vireo
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Eastern Wood-pewee
Field Sparrow
Golden-winged Warbler
Grasshopper Sparrow
Gray Catbird
Great Blue Heron
Great Crested Flycatcher
Green Heron
Hairy Woodpecker
Hooded Merganser
Indigo Bunting
Killdeer
Lark Sparrow
Least Bittern
Least Flycatcher
Louisiana Waterthrush
Mallard
Marsh Wren
Mourning Dove
Nashville Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Harrier
Northern House Wren
Northern Yellow Warbler
Osprey
Ovenbird
Pied-billed Grebe
Pileated Woodpecker

Pine Warbler
Purple Finch
Purple Martin
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-eyed Vireo
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
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Song Sparrow
Spotted Sandpiper
Swamp Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Trumpeter Swan
Turkey Vulture
Upland Sandpiper
Veery
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wild Turkey
Willow Flycatcher
Wilson’s Snipe
Wood Duck
Wood Thrush
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-throated Vireo

Mammals seen in the area within the last week:

Beaver
Black Bear
Grey Squirrel

Muskrat
Red Fox
Red Squirrel

River Otter
White-tailed Deer
13-lined Ground Squirrel

Sightings of Flowers in Bloom:

American Vetch
Black-eyed Susan
Bush Honeysuckle
Butterfly Milkweed
Canada Anemone
Common Milkweed
Common St. John’s Wort
Daisy Fleabane
Green Milkweed
Harebell
Hawk’s Beard

Hawkweed
Hoary Alyssum
Hoary Puccoon
Indian Paintbrush
New Jersey Tea
Northern Blue Flag
Pale-spike Lobelia
Pasture Rose
Prairie Phlox
Slender Beardtongue
Smooth Rose

Spiderwort
Spreading Dogbane
Starflower
Sulphur Cinquefoil
Thimbleweed
Upright Bindweed
Virginia Ground Cherry
Woolly Plantain
Yarrow
Yellow Pond Lily