The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey compiles breeding bird count data from areas around the county. A route in Galesburg (#49035) has been monitored from 1966 to 1986. The results can be viewed by species list or count totals for the route. A 1976 study of the Kalamazoo-Black-Macatawa-Paw Paw River Watersheds identified endangered and threatened species in the basins and common species of the Kalamazoo region of the Kalamazoo River Watershed.

Species of the Kalamazoo-Black-Macatawa-Paw Paw River Basins:

Extinct	Passenger Pigeon
Disappeared from Region	Raven Timber Wolf Osprey
Endangered Species	Kirtland's Water Snake
Threatened Species	Marbled Salamander Bald Eagle Lesser Siren Barn Owl Copperbellied Water Snake Loggerhead Shrike Black-crowned Night Heron Least Shrew Cooper's Hawk Southern Bog Lemming Red-shouldered Hawk Pine Vole Prairie Vole
Rare or Scare Species	Four-toed Salamander Spotted Salamander Five-line Skink Ring-necked Snake Smooth Green Snake Pilot Black Snake Spotted Turtle Silvery Haired Bat Hoary Bat Badger Gray Fox Bobcat Coyote River Otter Beaver

Species of the Middle Kalamazoo Subbasin of the Kalamzoo-Black-Macatawa-Paw Paw River Basin:

Amphibians	Mudpuppy - not common Chorus Frog - common Newt - not common Spring Peeper - fairly common Spotted Salamander - not common Gray Tree Frog - not common Blue-spotted Salamander - not common Wood Frog - not common Tiger Salamander - fairly common Leopard Frog - fairly common Red-backed Salamander - fairly common Pickerel Frog - not common American Toad - common Bullfrog - fairly common Fowler's Toad - not common Green Frog - common Cricket Frog - not common
Reptiles	Musk Turtle - fairly common Blue Racer - not common Snapping Turtle - fairly common Pilot Black Snake - not common Spotted Turtle - not common Milk Snake - not common Blanding's Turtle - fairly common Queen Snake - not common Eastern Box Turtle - not common Common Water Snake - common Painted Turtle - not common Ribbon Snake - not common Softshelled Turtle - not common Common Garter Snake - common Hognose Snake - not common Massasuga - not common
Mammals	Opossum - common Red Fox - not common Eastern Mole - fairly common Coyote - rare Starnose Mole - not common Woodchuck - common Masked Shrew - fairly common Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel - common Least Shrew - not common Eastern Chipmunk - fairly common Shorttail Shrew - common Red Squirrel - fairly common Little Brown Bat - fairly common Gray Squirrel - not common Sliver-haired Bat - rare Southern Flying Squirrel - not common Red Bat - fairly common Beaver - rare Hoary Bat - not common Deer Mouse - fairly common Big Brown Bat - fairly common White-footed Mouse - common Raccoon - fairly common Bog Lemming - not common Longtail Weasel - not common Meadow Vole - fairly common Least Weasel - not common Muskrat - fairly common Mink - not common House Mouse - fairly common Badger - rare Norway Rat - fairly common Striped Skunk - not common Meadow Jumping Mouse - not common

Source: Western Michigan University. Institute of Public Affairs. Environmental Assessment of the Kalamazoo-Black-Macatawa-Paw Paw Basin. April, 1976.

The Champion Tree Program, which identifies the largest (based on height and circumference) trees of each species in each state and in the nation, lists eight state champions in Kalamazoo County, the state leading county.

State Champion Trees of Kalamazoo County

Common Name	Latin Name	Location	Height (feet)	Girth (inches)	National Champion?
River Birch	Betula nigra	3743 Gull Road		77
Red Buckeye	Aesculus pavia	Vicksburg Prudential Nursery	64	91	yes
Yellow Buckeye	Aesculus octandra Marsh	Gull Lake	62	102
European Mountain Ash	Sorbus aucuparia	Gull Lake	45	45
Bebbs Oak	Quercus bebbiana	Fort Custer	108	155	yes
Pecan	Carya illinoensis	Gull Lake	70	174
Inland Shining Sumac	Rhus copallina	Vicksburg Prudential Nursery	33	20	yes
Sycamore	Platanus occidentalis	King Highway, Comstock		72

More information about plants and animals of Kalamazoo can be found at:

• The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, which works to protect wildlife habitat in Kalamazoo County and surrounding counties.
• The biological resources page of the Kalamazoo County Government.
  

back to top