Animals

Birds

Habitat for the federally listed endangered Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is found within the Lakeshore. Plovers have nested within the park, most recently in the early 1990's in Grand Marais on the beach north of the Grand Marais Ranger Station. However, the nest was vandalized, and plovers have not nested on park lands since.

Nesting habitat for the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), a State of Michigan Endangered species, is also found in the Lakeshore. Peregrine Falcons were released in the Lakeshore in 1989 and 1991 as part of a Midwest peregrine reintroduction program and have nested successfully in the park for several years since, as well as on nearby Grand Island.

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nests within the Lakeshore. Three nest territories are known.

State-listed avian species present in the Lakeshore include Common Loon (Gavia immer), Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulean), and Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

There have been 176 species of birds documented at the Lakeshore. Some reside in the park all year, some are present only in the summer, and others are only observed during migration.

Avian species of interest found within the Lakeshore include upland species such as Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), Spruce Grouse (Dendragapus canadensis), Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), and American Woodcock (Scolopax minor); as well as wading birds and waterfowl, including Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), and several species of the orders Anseriformes (geese, ducks and mergansers), Podicipediformes (grebes), and Charadriiformes (gulls and shorebirds). Grouse and woodcock are popular species with Upper Peninsula hunters.

Besides the previously mentioned threatened or endangered species (Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin and Osprey) several species of raptors are found within the park. These species include Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus), Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Barred Owl (Strix varia), and other hawk and owl species.

Other common avian species include Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) with its slightly V-shaped appearance while soaring, several species of Orders Piciformes (woodpeckers) and Passeriformes (perching birds), including numerous warblers and other songbirds.

Amphibians

As would be expected at this northern latitude, herpetofauna are not numerous. Only 5 reptilian and 11 amphibian species are known to exist within the Lakeshore.

Among species present are American toad (Bufo americanus), spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), spring peeper (Hyla crucifer), leopard frog (Rana pipiens), painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), and northern redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata).

Animals

Though animal life is abundant within the Lakeshore, visitors often do not see many animals during their visit beyond chipmunks and perching birds. A walk down park trails may reveal bear scat, a pile of pine cone bracts from a feeding red squirrel, or the chatter of a chipmunk.

Animal life in this varied habitat of wetland, sand dune, cliff, and northern hardwood forests includes white-tailed deer, black bear, wolves, and an occasional moose. Smaller animals include a variety of migratory and nesting perching birds as well as bald eagle, osprey, raven, and barred owl and broad-winged hawks. Fisher, mink, marten, beaver, skunk, red squirrel, and numerous species of small mammals such as shrews and mice inhabit various Lakeshore habitats.

Other Invertebrates (corals, sponges, worms, etc.)

Zooplankton communities vary among the lakes. In addition, these communities vary seasonally and with depth within the same lake. To date, 35 taxa of cladocerans, 11 species of calanoid and cyclopoid copepods, and two genera of rotifers have been identified from eight lakes in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

As is typical, one cladoceran species, one calanoid copepod species, and one cyclopoid copepod species dominate the zooplankton community in a lake, with other species occurring at much lower relative frequencies. Dominant zooplankton taxa include the cladocerans Bosmina longirostris, Eurycercus lamellatus, Daphnia galeata mendotae, Holopedium gibberum, and Pseudochydorus globosus; the calanoid copepods Skistodiaptomus oregonensis, Epischura lacustris; the cyclopoid copepods Cyclops vernalis and Diacyclops bicuspidatus thomasi; and rotifers of the genus Keratella.

Mammals

The federally endangered gray wolf (Canis lupus) is found occasionally within the Lakeshore during snow-free seasons; however, no established individuals or packs are known to reside in for any length of time or breed in the park.

Other mammals of interest include moose (Alces alces), lynx (Lynx canadensis), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), river otter (Lutra canadensis), fisher (Martes pennanti), badger (Taxidea taxus), star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata), and beaver (Castor canadensis).

Moose are uncommon in the Upper Peninsula due to the meningial worm transmitted from deer, and are rarely seen in the lakeshore. Lynx are uncommon.

Otter, marten, and fisher were virtually extirpated in the area but have made a comeback. Badger expanded their range from the western prairies as settlement cleared forests; records in the Upper Peninsula are rare. Beaver are common and are important for the major changes their activities have on the forest ecosystems near streams.

Other common mammals include black bear (Ursus americanus), coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mink (Mustela vison), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), skunk (Mephitis mephitis), raccoon (Procyon lotor), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), and eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). Bear and deer are the primary prey species for Upper Peninsula hunters. Porcupine frequently attack park structures, seeking minerals from plywood and salt-impregnated wood.

Extirpated mammalian species include caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and wolverine (Gulo gulo). Caribou historically ranged throughout the Upper Peninsula, but were rare by 1850 and last seen around 1910 probably disappearing due to habitat changes brought about by human activity.

Fish

The lakes and streams of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore support populations of cool water game fish and trout, and can supply a limited amount of fish for angler consumption. Major cool water game species include smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui), northern pike (Esox lucius), walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and non-native smelt (Osmerus mordax).

Typical trout species found in the lakeshore are brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), lake trout (Salvelinus namycush), and non-native rainbow trout or "steelhead" (Salmo gairdneri). The white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), common in the diet of Bald Eagles, a variety of minnows, darters, sculpin and dace, and sun fish are also common.

In all, 59 species are present in Lakeshore waters. From 1997 to 2005 coaster brook trout, a life form variant of brook trout that spends much of its life cycle in Lake Superior, was experimentally re-introduced in the Mosquito River, Sevenmile Creek, and Hurricane River, in concert with a Lake Superior-wide restoration program. Research is providing data about the movement of brook trout and their stream habitats.

Prior to the establishment of the national Lakeshore, many species were stocked into (including non-natives) and removed from waters of the area by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The NPS is now seeking to manage for a more natural fishery, and stocking of fish no longer occurs.