Cricket frog

1. Northern MyotisDescription- a small bat with dull grayish brown back with a pale gray belly, they have long ears and are very hairy, the males and females look the same.Reproduction-the Northern Myotis mates in the fall but not much is known about the mating process, the only thing observed is that there are small nursery colonies in the spring for the baby’s.Food- the bat eats mosquitos, flies and many other small flying insects; it flies over ponds, clearings and forested areas wherever there is an abundance of food.Predators- hungry raccoons will occasionally eat a bat sleeping in a rock crevasse or low area, but other than that there are no know predators.Habitat- the Northern Myotis hibernates in caves and mine tunnels in eastern Minnesota. The bats are fairly solitary or are found in small groups, the bats sleep in hollow trees or also in rock crevasses in many different areas.Population- the Northern Myotis is widely spread across eastern United States, but in Minnesota there are few. Disease- White nose syndrome is the only know disease, it occurs during winter hibernation.Hunted-nullFun facts- the Northern Myotis often sleeps with the smaller brown bats, has very flashy air maneuvers, and is only found in groups of 100 bats or smaller.

3. Cricket frog • Description- adult cricket frogs average 1 inch in length and the males are usually smaller than the females. They are black, yellow, orange or red on a base of brown or green. They have blunt noses and a stripe on both thighs. • Reproduction- this frog may be reproductive for 3-10 years, breeding occurs from June to July, a female may lay several dozen eggs on aquatic vegetation, in about four days tadpoles will emerge. • Food- the cricket frogs diet consists of insects, flies and mosquitos. • Predators- bull snakes in Minnesota are its predator but there are other predators according to what state it lives in. • Habitat- Cricket frogs inhabit sunny shallow ponds with an abundance of vegetation and algae, they hide in the grass and are very agile and hard to catch. • Population- the cricket frog is not very abundant in Minnesota they only live in the extreme southeast, they are more abundant in southern states. • Disease-null • Hunted-null • Fun fact- the Cricket frog can leap up to 6 feet in distance. They get there name from the gickgick sound they make when looking for a mate. They are excellent swimmers.

5. Sunfish • Description- appearance varies considerably among individual sunfish. Most bluegills (one of the most abundant types of sunfish in MN) are light to dark olive though older sunfish may have a purplish tinge, the dorsal fin of a sunfish is often darker than the rest of its body, males are brighter in color than the females. • Reproduction- sunfish spawn from late May or through much of the summer, they lay eggs in shallow water, the females often lay more than 50,000 eggs. • Food- Sunfish feed mostly on aquatic insects and other small invertebrates. They often feed in heavily weeded areas to avoid predators. • Predators- Large Lake fish including northern pike, muskeys and occasionally bass will eat young sunfish. • Habitat- sunfish inhabit 80% of Minnesota lakes, they sleep in rock holes or very heavily weeded areas. • Population- there is many different varieties of sunfish in 80% of Minnesota lakes. • Diseases-Bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections often infect populations of sunfish,Columnaris is the most common bacterial infection in sunfish, but it seldom causes death. Dramatic temperature change can also make sunfish sick. • Harvested-fishing opener is in May and harvest regulations differ depending on the lake. • Fun facts- males defend their eggs, if food is scarce the sunfish will eat their own eggs. The blue gill sunfish is the most common in Minnesota.

7. Jack pine • Description- the jack pines have a straight trunk with a height of 25 to 60 feet and a diameter of 8 to 20 inches. They usually grow after wildfires and also in poor soil. • Bark, leafs, fruit and seeds- the bark is red brown irregularly divided into small scales. The seeds are cones that are about 1 inch long, they are curved and turn brown when ripe, the seeds in the cones can be carried for miles by strong winds. The needle like leafs are also about 1 inch in length and there are two in a bundle. • Diseases- wildfire • Economic uses- weak trees, usually used for boxes, crates, shipping containers, posts, poles and railway ties. • Fun facts- the cones on Jack pines can remain unopened with good seeds inside for up to four years.

9. Blazing star • Description- the stems grow up to 5 feet, the leaves are narrow, but the lower you go on the stem the bigger the leaves get (up to 4 inches long) • Flowering- starts at the top and works its way downward, the blazing star flowers in may its flowers are mostly purple but sometimes yellow as well. • Uses- wildlife food, and wildflower gardens because of its attractive flowers.

11. Department of EnviromentalConservation.N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2012. • <http://www.dec.ny.gov./animals/7120.html>. • kid zone. KidZone.ws, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.kidzone.ws/ • bibliography.htm>. • The Mammals of Texas.LisaBradly, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. • <http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/myotsept.htm>. • Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2012. • <http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trees_shrubs/conifers/jackpine.html>. • Sunfish.N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2012. <http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/ • sunfish/biology.htmla>. • USDA.N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2012. <http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/ • fs_lipy.pdf>.