Prairie Skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis), a Special Concern species in Wisconsin, prefers sandy soils in bracken grasslands or pine barrens. They are also found on open sandy banks along rivers and streams. Their range in Wisconsin is restricted to a small number of counties in the northwestern portion of the state, but they are more commonly found west of Wisconsin in the Great Plains. They are active from May through September, breeding takes place soon after emerging from their communal overwintering sites. During the breeding season, males exhibit bright orange chins, lips, and throats. Prairie skinks maintain burrow systems enabling them to escape from predators that include hawks, owls, ground squirrels, raccoons, and snakes. In the fall, with the onset of cold temperatures, prairie skinks will lengthen their burrows and overwinter there. A prairie skink's diet is made up of numerous terrestrial insects such as spiders, crickets, beetles, and grasshoppers.
