Dakota County

Ecosystem Overview

The Dakota County ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 92 taxonomic genera. Located in Dakota County, Minnesota, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 21 frequently observed species and 19 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. This location ranks #3 for species diversity among 17 Dakota County County natural areas, placing it in the 82th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

100

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 17 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#3 of 17 locations

82th percentile for diversity

vs. Eagan

0% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 100 total documented species.

Odocoileus virginianus

Key Deer

Very Common53 obs.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald Eagle

Very Common50 obs.

Anas platyrhynchos

mallard

Very Common32 obs.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Very Common32 obs.

Tringa flavipes

lesser yellowlegs

Very Common19 obs.

Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow

Common18 obs.

Molothrus ater

Brown-headed Cowbird

Common17 obs.

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Common16 obs.

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Common16 obs.

Acer negundo

ash-leaved maple, box-elder

Common15 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Common15 obs.

Zenaida macroura

Mourning Dove

Occasional14 obs.

Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed Hawk

Occasional14 obs.

Spatula discors

Blue-winged Teal

Occasional14 obs.

Dryobates pubescens

Downy Woodpecker

Occasional13 obs.

Anaxyrus americanus

American Toad

Occasional12 obs.

Meleagris gallopavo

Turkey

Occasional12 obs.

Spinus tristis

American goldfinch

Rare12 obs.

Chrysemys picta

Eastern Painted Turtle

Rare11 obs.

Pseudacris maculata

Boreal Chorus Frog

Rare11 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Dakota County. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Dakota County. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+138%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Dakota County County, Minnesota

Nearby Natural Areas

Eagan

Importance: 0.45

100 species

0% vs. current

Burnsville

Importance: 0.43

95 species

+5% vs. current

Apple Valley

Importance: 0.42

24 species

+317% vs. current

Lakeville

Importance: 0.42

100 species

0% vs. current

Farmington

Importance: 0.41

1 species

+9900% vs. current

Lake Rebecca

Importance: 0.35

7 species

+1329% vs. current

McDonough Lake

Importance: 0.35

7 species

+1329% vs. current

Jensen Lake

Importance: 0.35

5 species

+1900% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Dakota County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+138%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Dakota County County, Minnesota

Nearby Natural Areas

Eagan

Importance: 0.45

100 species

0% vs. current

Burnsville

Importance: 0.43

95 species

+5% vs. current

Apple Valley

Importance: 0.42

24 species

+317% vs. current

Lakeville

Importance: 0.42

100 species

0% vs. current

Farmington

Importance: 0.41

1 species

+9900% vs. current

Lake Rebecca

Importance: 0.35

7 species

+1329% vs. current

McDonough Lake

Importance: 0.35

7 species

+1329% vs. current

Jensen Lake

Importance: 0.35

5 species

+1900% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

100

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 17 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#3 of 17 locations

82th percentile for diversity

vs. Eagan

0% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 100 total documented species.

Odocoileus virginianus

Key Deer

Very Common53 obs.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald Eagle

Very Common50 obs.

Anas platyrhynchos

mallard

Very Common32 obs.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Very Common32 obs.

Tringa flavipes

lesser yellowlegs

Very Common19 obs.

Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow

Common18 obs.

Molothrus ater

Brown-headed Cowbird

Common17 obs.

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Common16 obs.

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Common16 obs.

Acer negundo

ash-leaved maple, box-elder

Common15 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Common15 obs.

Zenaida macroura

Mourning Dove

Occasional14 obs.

Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed Hawk

Occasional14 obs.

Spatula discors

Blue-winged Teal

Occasional14 obs.

Dryobates pubescens

Downy Woodpecker

Occasional13 obs.

Anaxyrus americanus

American Toad

Occasional12 obs.

Meleagris gallopavo

Turkey

Occasional12 obs.

Spinus tristis

American goldfinch

Rare12 obs.

Chrysemys picta

Eastern Painted Turtle

Rare11 obs.

Pseudacris maculata

Boreal Chorus Frog

Rare11 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 100 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.