WI Wildlife Rocks

American Carrion Beetle

As it’s name suggests this beetle has a fondness for carrion (dead animals). American Carrion Beetles are decomposers, a large part of their diet consists of decaying animals, they also consume rotting fruit and even maggots and other insect larva. Their gruesome diet helps to return nutrients to the environment. These little beetles are part of nature’s clean up crew.

Calligrapha Beetle

These beetles are the jewels of nature the can be red, orange, green, yellow and anywhere in between. They are named for the intricate symmetrical patterns on their elytra (wing coverings), these lines, dots, and dashes resemble beautiful calligraphy (an intricate writing art). These beetles eat leaves and can eat all the leaves of a small plant.

White Spotted Pine Sawyer

Often mistaken for the invasive Asian Long Horned Beetle, this species is a smaller cousin and native to Wisconsin. The antenna or “horns” of this beetle can sometimes be three times as long as their bodies. The females lay their eggs on decaying evergreen trees, and can often be found in evergreen forests.

Fiery Searcher Caterpillar Hunter

As their name suggests these beetles are voracious caterpillar hunters. These predatory beetles are a gardener’s best friend eating many caterpillars that would harm their crops. Adults can live up to three years, often overwintering and emerging in the spring.

Eastern-Eyed Click Beetle

This beetle’s large “eye” spots to scare predators. These beetles can flip themselves over if stuck on their backs making a loud “click” noise. As adults these beetles consume other insect larva.

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

This beetle is a ambush predator like its namesake. Hunting and stalking it’s prey, this beetle sits on vegetation often on the side of trails waiting for an unsuspecting insect to cross its path.

Although these rocks are not officially WI Wildlife rocks, they deserve a place here. These were some of my warm up rocks. Hidden in the Sculpture park 3/21/2021.

WI Wildlife Rocks Info

When you find a WI Wildlife rock in its natural habitat look it up on the page and learn about the animal on the rock. Feel free to post a picture of the rock! These rocks are catch and release, please rehide the rock for others to discover.

***PLEASE DO NOT hide rocks in state or national parks. Hiding a painted rock in a state park is not allowed by the DNR. These areas should be kept in their natural state***

Feel free to hide WI Wildlife Rocks in public parks, outside stores, and restaurants.

Please be respectful of trails don't go off trail to hide a rock or put a rock in a dangerous place to retrieve. Do not hide a rock where it could potentially harm wildlife.

DO NOT hide rocks indoors, in lawns, or on cars.

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ROCKS

Some hints all wildlife rocks were hidden in the sculpture park. Good luck!

Painted Turtle


Habitat: marshes, ponds, shallow lakes and clam rivers

Diet: aquatic plants, crayfish, insects, and small fish

Weird fact: in the winter painted turtles will spend their time at the bottom of frozen ponds, lakes, and rivers. The cool temperatures slow down their body functions allowing them to stay under water with little to no oxygen for months.

Eastern Screech Owl

Habitat: eastern screech owls will live anywhere trees are abundant. These small owls nest in tree hollows dug by other animals and even nest in nest boxes placed by humans.

Diet: small mammals, small reptiles, insects such as large moths and grasshoppers, crayfish, and small birds.

Weird fact: Eastern screech owls come in different colors, red phase, grey phase and sometimes a more brown color. Makes and females can be any color and have many different colored chicks.

Blue jay

Habitat: blue jay are not picky when it comes to habitat. You can find them in neighborhoods, as well as various types of forests throughout North America.

Diet: blue jays are omnivores, they eat seeds, nuts, insects, meat, and berries.

Weird fact: blue jays are part of the corvid family which means they are related to crows!