A visit to the kettle ponds provides a chance to connect with nature and an opportunity to see the wide variety of plant and animal life supported by the pond ecosystem. Visitors of all ages can enjoy the beautiful natural areas around the ponds and will be delighted at the opportunity to glimpse some of the plants and animals that make the kettle ponds their home.
To help maintain this natural habitat and have the best chance of spotting pond creatures, walk slowly, speak softly and observe carefully. Please follow all posted signs. Dogs, where allowed, must be leashed at all times. Bicycles are not allowed on nature trails.
Please see below for some additional information and resources regarding pond life.
Wildlife
Birds love the ponds and surrounding areas. Regular inhabitants, like mallards, wood ducks, redwing blackbirds, herons, cardinals, Baltimore orioles and sandhill cranes and their families are commonly spotted. Owls, hawks and eagles are commonly seen as well. Look for a wide variety of migrating waterfowl using the ponds as travel stops in the spring and fall.
Amphibians abound in our ponds. Bull frogs, peepers, toads and tree frogs are commonly heard and often seen in and around the ponds as well.
The ponds are home to many painted and snapping turtles. In the early summer, as they leave the ponds to lay their eggs, they can be found traveling through nearby neighborhoods. Please heed the turtle crossing signs and use caution on the roadways around the ponds during laying season. If you do encounter a turtle on the road, you can help make sure it gets across safely by following the information in the link here:
https://www.giveshelter.org/assets/documents/Contain_a_Turtle.pdf
Mammals like muskrats, rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks are common kettle pond residents. Raccoons, opossums and redtail foxes can often be sighted enjoying the pond ecosystem as well.
Plant life
The plant life surrounding the ponds varies widely and ranges from towering oaks and woodland plants to prairie restorations and wetlands filled with marsh grasses, cattails, and lily pads. In the spring and early summer, you can help hold space for desirable native species by helping to pull invasive garlic mustard. In the summer, be on the lookout for stinging nettle and wild parsnip which can cause painful skin irritation if touched.
Garlic Mustard References
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/GarlicMustard.html
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/garlic-mustard
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/files/2014/11/Garlic-Mustard.pdf
Additional Resources
http://www.earthskids.com/ek_science-pond-wetland.htm
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/WildParsnip.html
https://wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu/taxa/index.php?taxon=5303