Vilas

Ecosystem Overview

The Vilas ecosystem supports 90 documented wildlife species across 84 taxonomic genera. Located in Dane County, Wisconsin, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 19 frequently observed species and 17 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Dane County nearby has 10% more documented species, Vilas offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #14 for species diversity among 115 Dane County County natural areas, placing it in the 88th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#14

Regional Rank

Out of 115 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common19 species

Common27 species

Occasional27 species

Rare17 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#14 of 115 locations

88th percentile for diversity

vs. Dane County

-10% 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 90 total documented species.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Very Common43 obs.

Anas platyrhynchos

mallard

Very Common14 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Very Common14 obs.

Spatula clypeata

Northern Shoveler

Very Common13 obs.

Aix sponsa

wood duck

Very Common11 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Common10 obs.

Sciurus carolinensis

Grey squirrel

Common9 obs.

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Common8 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common7 obs.

Quiscalus quiscula

Common Grackle

Common6 obs.

Ondatra zibethicus

Muskrat

Common5 obs.

Passer domesticus

House Sparrow

Occasional4 obs.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Occasional4 obs.

Sturnus vulgaris

starling

Occasional4 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Occasional3 obs.

Persicaria virginiana

American Jumpseed

Occasional2 obs.

Zenaida macroura

Mourning Dove

Occasional2 obs.

Chrysemys picta

Eastern Painted Turtle

Rare2 obs.

Sylvilagus floridanus

Lapin A Queue Blanche

Rare2 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Rare2 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

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

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

+38%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Dane County County, Wisconsin

Nearby Natural Areas

Dane County

Importance: 0.42

100 species

-10% vs. current

City Of Middleton

Importance: 0.41

100 species

-10% vs. current

Fitchburg

Importance: 0.39

100 species

-10% vs. current

Stoughton

Importance: 0.37

70 species

+29% vs. current

Oregon

Importance: 0.36

18 species

+400% vs. current

City Of Verona

Importance: 0.35

18 species

+400% vs. current

Deforest

Importance: 0.35

13 species

+592% vs. current

Madison

Importance: 0.35

100 species

-10% 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 Dane 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

Species Count

+38%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Dane County County, Wisconsin

Nearby Natural Areas

Dane County

Importance: 0.42

100 species

-10% vs. current

City Of Middleton

Importance: 0.41

100 species

-10% vs. current

Fitchburg

Importance: 0.39

100 species

-10% vs. current

Stoughton

Importance: 0.37

70 species

+29% vs. current

Oregon

Importance: 0.36

18 species

+400% vs. current

City Of Verona

Importance: 0.35

18 species

+400% vs. current

Deforest

Importance: 0.35

13 species

+592% vs. current

Madison

Importance: 0.35

100 species

-10% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#14

Regional Rank

Out of 115 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common19 species

Common27 species

Occasional27 species

Rare17 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#14 of 115 locations

88th percentile for diversity

vs. Dane County

-10% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 90 total documented species.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Very Common43 obs.

Anas platyrhynchos

mallard

Very Common14 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Very Common14 obs.

Spatula clypeata

Northern Shoveler

Very Common13 obs.

Aix sponsa

wood duck

Very Common11 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Common10 obs.

Sciurus carolinensis

Grey squirrel

Common9 obs.

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Common8 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common7 obs.

Quiscalus quiscula

Common Grackle

Common6 obs.

Ondatra zibethicus

Muskrat

Common5 obs.

Passer domesticus

House Sparrow

Occasional4 obs.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Occasional4 obs.

Sturnus vulgaris

starling

Occasional4 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Occasional3 obs.

Persicaria virginiana

American Jumpseed

Occasional2 obs.

Zenaida macroura

Mourning Dove

Occasional2 obs.

Chrysemys picta

Eastern Painted Turtle

Rare2 obs.

Sylvilagus floridanus

Lapin A Queue Blanche

Rare2 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Rare2 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 90 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.