Organism Reference Sheet

Common Loon

  • Appearance: Black and white pattern, rounded head, dagger-like bill, legs stick out behind the tail
  • Habitat: Quiet, fresh water lakes in the northern United States; during migration – lakes and rivers in the southern United States
  • Diet: Mostly fish
  • Predators: Gulls, northern pike, raccoons, skunks, Bald Eagles

Crayfish

  • Appearance: 8 legs, 2 large claws, usually red or reddish-brown
  • Habitat: Any freshwater area that isn’t highly polluted (lakes, rivers, ponds, etcetera)
  • Diet: Worms, insects, insect larva, fish eggs, frog eggs
  • Predators: Raccoons, opossums, snakes, muskrats

Sago Pondweed

  • Appearance: Long, thin stems; long, feathery leaves; green
  • Habitat: Any body of freshwater; on every continent except Antarctica
  • Diet: Make sugar using energy from the sun (photosynthesis)
  • Predators: Insects, insect larva

Dragonfly larva

  • Appearance: 6 legs, no wings, has a small, crusty bump on its back
  • Habitat: Bodies of freshwater; usually on plants in the water
  • Diet: Other insect larva, underwater plants, tadpoles
  • Predators: Birds, lizards, frogs, spiders, fish, waterbugs

Bluegill

  • Appearance: Dark green color, blue color near the gills, usually have between 5 and 9 stripes on the sides of the body
  • Habitat: Freshwater lakes, slow-moving streams and rivers
  • Diet: Insect larva, crayfish, leeches, smaller fish
  • Predators:Larger fish (northern pike, muskellunge, largemouth bass, walleye, catfish), birds (herons, loons)

Northern Leopard Frog

  • Appearance: Green and brown with large spots on the back
  • Habitat: Open fields near wetlands; in winter – bottom of lakes and ponds
  • Diet: Insects, smaller frogs
  • Predators: Snakes, raccoons, other frogs

Bald Eagle

  • Appearance: Mainly brown with white head and tail; large, hooked beak
  • Habitat: Virtually any wetland area
  • Diet: Mostly fish and birds
  • Predators:None, top predators

Pocketbook Mussel

  • Appearance: Green or dark brown outer shell, white inner shell
  • Habitat: Rivers and streams with slow-flowing water
  • Diet: Algae and microscopic bacteria
  • Predators:Muskrats, otters, raccoons, ducks, fish

Algae

  • Appearance: Green or yellow; long, thin, hair-like strands; forms a mat on the surface of the water
  • Habitat: Freshwater and saltwater environments
  • Diet: Makes sugar using energy from the sun (photosynthesis)
  • Predators: Microorganisms, micro invertebrates, insect larva

Raccoon

  • Appearance: Size of a small dog and have heavy fur streaked in brown, black, and gray. They have bushy ringed tails and their paws make hand-like prints in the mud or snow. Their black eye stripes resemble a mask.
  • Habitat: Prairies, woodlands, and cities
  • Diet:Crayfish, frogs, insects, fruits, mussels
  • Predators: Coyotes, foxes, great horned owls, bobcats, and dogs