Animals of Prairie Creek
Click on an image to find out more about the animal
If visitors have photos of animals or plants taken at Prairie Creek WMA, please share them with Craig Koester.
Mammals
White-tailed deer are mostly found on the west side of the road, and are overabundant in the WMA. Photo courtesy of Carleton College.
An upright raccoon identified in a Carleton College research project on the west side of WMA. As a nocturnal species, raccoons are active foragers during the night.
A red fox identified at night. Photo courtesy of Carleton College.
Prairie voles are a special concern species. Photo courtesy of Diane Angell, St. Olaf College, July 2012.
White-tailed Deer
Racoon
Red Fox
Prairie Vole
Reptiles​
Although the Plain Garter Snake is the most common snake species in Minnesota, it's still quite surprising to find them at Prairie Creek. As snakes use the burrows of other animals as habitat, it is very likely that the Plains Garter Snake takes advantage of the voles' holes at Prairie Creek. Tall and dense prairie plants are very good cover for them and they can move very swiftly through grass. These snakes are not poisonous, but give off a smell when scared.