Endangered and Special Concern Species
Prairie Creek provides habitat for rare species:
Endangered species
Endangered species are threatened with extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range within Minnesota.
Threatened species
Threatened species are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range within Minnesota.
Species of special concern
Species of special concern are not endangered or threatened, but are extremely uncommon in Minnesota, or have unique or highly specific habitat requirements and deserve careful monitoring of their status.
Species in Greatest Conservation Need
Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are native animals whose populations are rare, declining, or vulnerable to decline and are below levels desirable to ensure their long-term health and stability.
Birds
Endangered
Henslow’s Sparrow* (sighted 2012, 2014)
Loggerhead Shrike (sighted 1993, 1999, 2003)
Species in Greatest Conservation Need
Bald eagle (sighted 2005 to present)
Bobolink* (2002 to present)
Dickcissel (2011 to present)
Eastern meadowlark* (2006 to present)
Field sparrow (2009)
Grasshopper sparrow (2002 to present)
Northern harrier* (2014)
Red-headed woodpecker (2014)
Swainson’s hawk (2000, 2002)
Upland sandpiper (1993, 1994, 1996)
Mammals
(Documented in summer 2012)
Plants
Special concern
Prairie Vole*
Western Harvest Mouse
Threatened
Prairie Bush Clover
Photo courtesy of Diane Angell, St. Olaf College.
Sighted 2012 and 2014.
Browse the images below.
Animals marked by an asterisk are shown on the page.
Photo courtesy of Gerry Hoekstra (May 18, 2015).
The Eastern Meadowlark has a wonderful melodic song. To warn of intruders, it also has a harsh call that sounds like a short dzzzt. It nests on the ground and often hides in tall grass. In Minnesota it is listed as one of the Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Photo by Gerry Hoekstra
Photo taken by Gerry Hoekstra.