Animals

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Habitat loss is a major concern for most animals in the world. As our population becomes larger our demand for more space is fragmenting and removing wild life habitat at an evermore-alarming pace. This is especially true for wetland systems.

Drainage of wetland is common throughout the world   

The primary reasons for wetland drainage is for urban habitat and agricultural land such as this California wetland.

Since the European settlement of the United States over 50% of the natural wetland systems have been lost (Mitch and Gosselink). The drainage, filling and harvesting of wetland for agricultural, housing, and fuel was rampant until the 1960s and 1970s when popular interest, and increasing scientific knowledge prompted an ecological movement to preserve and improve wildlife habitats.

Wetlands are ecotones that harbor a huge diversity of both plant and animal species that are either totally dependent or intimately associated with them. The fragmenting and destruction of wetland habitat has led to great numbers of wetland dependent or associated species to becoming threatened or endangered. Constructed wetlands offer a real opportunity to promote wetland habitat, and offer refuge to wildlife that are being pressured by human activities if they are appropriately designed to prevent contaminants, and pathogens from being inserted into the ecosystem.                       



See some of the species that are threatened or endangered in your state.
Some of the endangered animals from the Northeastern U.S. that can be aided with additional habitat through the construction of constructed wetlands.

Dwarf wedge mussels on stream bottoms or adjacent to wetlands.

Freshwater mussels are among the most rapidly declining animal groups on the continent. The dwarf wedge mussel once existed in 70 locations within 15 major rivers draining into the Atlantic. Today, the species exists in only 42 small sites within nine drainages.


water shrew (Sorex palustris)
The water shrew is the largest long-tailed shrew in the eastern United States, having an approximate total length of 6 inches and weighing 12-18 grams. It is easily distinguishable from other shrews of the region by its large, webbed hind feet that are fringed with bristle-like hairs. This adaptation helps it swim and dive for prey in mountain streams and it has even been seen running on top of the water! This species is listed as endangered in Vermont and is a federal species of concern. The main predators of this species are trout and bass in the water and weasels on the shore. They use borrowed burrows for their nests, and are always found near water.

Plymouth Red Belly Turtle  Pseudemys rubriventris bangsi
The Plymouth Red-Bellied turtle is a large (10 -12 inches) variably patterned basking turtle that can weigh up to 10 pounds. The top shell, or carapace, of adults is generally black to mahogany in color, with light chestnut to red markings along the margin. The plastron of males is pale pink with dark patterning. The plastron of females is red with borders of gray along the seams of the shell plates. Both adults and juveniles have yellow stripes on the head, neck, and limbs. Hatchlings are about one inch long and have a yellowish-green carapace with orange bars, and light green spots and streaks across the shell plates. Skin color is green. The Plymouth Red-Bellied turtle inhabits freshwater ponds of varying sizes that have abundant aquatic vegetation.

Bats
Because they are active at night, bats are a mystery to most people. Bats are very important to the environment, agriculture, science, and in some instances to the economy. Worldwide, many plant species depend on bats for propagation; bats facilitate the pollination and/or seed dispersal of bananas, avocados, dates and cashews. All bats in Vermont eat insects, and they significantly reduce insect populations concerned with crop destruction (grasshoppers) and human health (e.g. the mosquito).

 Karner Blue Butterfly
The Karner blue butterfly has a wingspan of about one inch. The upper surface of the male is blue with a black edge and white outer margin, and the female is similar but more brown or grayish in color, with a row of dark spots with orange crescents along the wing margins. The Karner blue is closely associated with wild lupines, prairie grasses, and nectar plants such as butterfly weed. The Karner blue is often found in  "Oak Openings” with an under story of prairie plants, surrounded by spots of poor drainage supporting wetlands.   

Bog Turtle
Bog Turtles are small turtles, which seldom grow larger than four inches in length. Since these tiny turtles are dependent on sphagnum bogs, swamps, and clear, slow moving meadow streams with muddy bottoms. Loss of habitat is causing its demise; they have been severely affected by drainage and "reclamation" of wetlands. Although it is now rare, or absent in many portions of its former range, it was once fairly abundant. (Conant and Collins, 1991). 


Common animals that can be encouraged and protected by adding wetland habitat.
 
Insects
The Odonata consists of two groups, the dragonflies (Anisoptera) and the damselflies (Zygoptera). Both groups are well known due to the medium to large size of adults have a tail consisting of three flat to spiky processes, a slender to robust body and are usually slow moving. Despite this, the aquatic larval stage is the dominant life history phase. Both dragonflies and damselflies are found in a wide range of habitats including both rivers and wetlands. The presence of aquatic vegetation seems to be very important. The Larvae are usually found amongst wetland vegetation or within wetland sediments.  

Amphibians

This is a rather large salamander reaching lengths of 6 to 7 3/4 inches long. Adults have a black, bluish black, or gray ground color with two rows of round yellow or orange spots running lengthwise down the back. The rows of spots may be irregular or straight. The spots run from the eyes to the tail tip. Some individuals have two bright orange spots on the head that stand out against the bright yellow spots on the body and tail.

Often there is silver flecking present on the sides; there are four toes on the front feet and five toes on the back feet. Larvae are olive green above, lighter colored below, and have no strong markings except near the tail tip. They also have bushy gills. There are no recognized subspecies of the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum.  Spotted salamanders require woodland habitat with mature deciduous forest.  Fish free ponds are very important for breeding due to the more limited predation on eggs.


The Green Frog Rana clamitans melanota
Green Frog Rana clamitans
Green Frogs are primarily nocturnal and not as wary as many other species of frog. A Green, bronze or brown frog of approximately 2 1/8-4" long that is characterized by a large external eardrum, and prominent dorsolateral ridges that do not reach groin. Typically green on upper lip. Belly white with darker pattern of lines or spots. Male has yellow throat and swollen thumbs. The advertisement call of the male is an explosive, throaty "gunk!” likened to the sound made by plucking a loose banjo string. Calls often delivered in a series that drops slightly in pitch and volume: "Goonk! -Gunk! -Gunk!"

Reptiles
Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta)
Red-eared Slider gets it its name from broad red band behind the eye. The Red-eared slider’s carapace varies in color from olive to brown or dark brownish, and is marked with a pattern of yellow and black bands and stripes. Red-eared Sliders are common and have been known to live in almost any permanent water body such as slow-flowing rivers, shallow lakes, ponds, swamps, ditches, sloughs, and reservoirs. Red-eared sliders prefer water deep enough to swim in (two feet or more in depth), and rarely venture far from the water. 


Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina

The Common Snapping Turtles grow up to 18 inches long, and can weigh up to 45 pounds. Snapping turtles have a large head with a hooked jaw. Their colors are usually dull brown to black. They have webbed feet with long claws and a very long tail.

Snapping turtles are mostly nocturnal. They will feed underwater during the day, ambushing prey. These turtles are very shy in the water, but on land they are very aggressive, and can also release a foul odor from a gland on the underside of its body when threatened. Snapping turtles prefer muddy lakes and ponds, as well as slow-moving rivers. They usually live 30-40 years. The Common Snapping Turtle will eat just about anything, including: aquatic plants, fish, frogs and tadpoles, salamanders, insects, snails, leeches, worms, snakes, small mammals, and baby ducks and goslings. They will also eat carrion.

Birds


Red-winged blackbird is aproximtly 7.25 inches tall and has a sharply pointed bill. Red-winged blackbirds frequent marshy habitats in summer, open habitats at other times of year Often flocks with other species of blackbirds the adult male has bright red patch on wings bordered by yellow (border missing in some races) and black plumage. Immature males similar to adult male but have a pale supercilium and brown edges to black feathers. Adult females have a pale supercilium, heavily streaked under parts, and the upper parts brown and white. The females are similar in appearance to the juveniles but sometimes have a yellow tinge to face and throat


Mammals

This rabbit weighs three to four pounds at maturity. The marsh rabbit breeds frequently and has five or six litters each year. It builds a nest on the ground of dry grass that is lined with the undercoat of the female. Young marsh rabbits remain with the female until weaned. The marsh rabbits diet consists of grasses, cane, cattails, bark, leaves and twigs. Marsh rabbits prefer coastal marshes, bottomlands, swamps, lake borders, coastal waterways, sounds, or isolated islands.

The uses of exotic plants to perform remediation functions in constructed wetlands can be problematic due to the possibility of the plant escaping and displacing indigenous species in natural systems

The raccoon, Procyon lotor, is an omnivorous nocturnal mammal with a heavy gray, black and brown coat, a black mask and black-ringed tail. The raccoon has adapted to civilization and frequently forages for food in suburban trash cans. In the watershed the raccoon prefers to inhabit trees, preferably near wetlands, streams, springs or rivers. Raccoons also hunt at night, feeding on mice, insects, fish and frogs.
UVM NR260: Wetlands Ecology and Management
Contact: mcunning@uvm.edu, University of Vermont
Page created/updated: 02/10/2006