Wake County

Ecosystem Overview

The Wake County ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 93 taxonomic genera. Located in Wake County, North Carolina, 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 #1 for species diversity among 31 Wake County County natural areas, placing it in the 97th 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 31 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#1 of 31 locations

97th percentile for diversity

vs. Apex

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.

Ficaria verna

Lesser Celandine

Very Common137 obs.

Anolis carolinensis

Green anole

Very Common126 obs.

Procyon lotor

raccoon, northern raccoon

Very Common125 obs.

Odocoileus virginianus

Key Deer

Very Common106 obs.

Danaus plexippus

monarch

Very Common106 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common99 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Common98 obs.

Sciurus carolinensis

Grey squirrel

Common89 obs.

Didelphis virginiana

Virginia-Opossum

Common82 obs.

Apis mellifera

Western Honey Bee

Common80 obs.

Papilio glaucus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Common79 obs.

Polystichum acrostichoides

dagger fern

Occasional77 obs.

Xylocopa virginica

Carpenter bee

Occasional75 obs.

Plathemis lydia

Common Whitetail

Occasional68 obs.

Buteo lineatus

Red-Shouldered/Broad-Winged Hawk

Occasional68 obs.

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Occasional63 obs.

Fagus grandifolia

American Beech

Occasional62 obs.

Hylephila phyleus

Fiery Skipper

Rare59 obs.

Harmonia axyridis

Harlequin ladybird

Rare59 obs.

Anaxyrus americanus

American Toad

Rare58 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 Wake County. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+104%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Wake County County, North Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

Apex

Importance: 0.41

100 species

0% vs. current

Morrisville

Importance: 0.41

47 species

+113% vs. current

Fuquay-varina

Importance: 0.40

55 species

+82% vs. current

Garner

Importance: 0.40

25 species

+300% vs. current

Holly Springs

Importance: 0.40

67 species

+49% vs. current

Knightdale

Importance: 0.40

8 species

+1150% vs. current

Lake Johnson

Importance: 0.35

45 species

+122% vs. current

Yates Mill Pond

Importance: 0.35

43 species

+133% 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 Wake 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

+104%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Wake County County, North Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

Apex

Importance: 0.41

100 species

0% vs. current

Morrisville

Importance: 0.41

47 species

+113% vs. current

Fuquay-varina

Importance: 0.40

55 species

+82% vs. current

Garner

Importance: 0.40

25 species

+300% vs. current

Holly Springs

Importance: 0.40

67 species

+49% vs. current

Knightdale

Importance: 0.40

8 species

+1150% vs. current

Lake Johnson

Importance: 0.35

45 species

+122% vs. current

Yates Mill Pond

Importance: 0.35

43 species

+133% 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 31 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#1 of 31 locations

97th percentile for diversity

vs. Apex

0% species diversity

Most Common Species

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

Ficaria verna

Lesser Celandine

Very Common137 obs.

Anolis carolinensis

Green anole

Very Common126 obs.

Procyon lotor

raccoon, northern raccoon

Very Common125 obs.

Odocoileus virginianus

Key Deer

Very Common106 obs.

Danaus plexippus

monarch

Very Common106 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common99 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Common98 obs.

Sciurus carolinensis

Grey squirrel

Common89 obs.

Didelphis virginiana

Virginia-Opossum

Common82 obs.

Apis mellifera

Western Honey Bee

Common80 obs.

Papilio glaucus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Common79 obs.

Polystichum acrostichoides

dagger fern

Occasional77 obs.

Xylocopa virginica

Carpenter bee

Occasional75 obs.

Plathemis lydia

Common Whitetail

Occasional68 obs.

Buteo lineatus

Red-Shouldered/Broad-Winged Hawk

Occasional68 obs.

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Occasional63 obs.

Fagus grandifolia

American Beech

Occasional62 obs.

Hylephila phyleus

Fiery Skipper

Rare59 obs.

Harmonia axyridis

Harlequin ladybird

Rare59 obs.

Anaxyrus americanus

American Toad

Rare58 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.