Shawnee State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area lies in the Glaciated Region a few miles northwest of Topeka. The surrounding landscape is characterized by big and little bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, and a profusion of prairie animals. Songbirds, such as eastern meadowlarks, dickcissels, and grasshopper sparrows, can be heard and seen. Red-tailed hawks, mourning doves, ring-necked pheasants, and greater prairie chickens are common. In late spring listen for western chorus frogs. Reptiles include ornate box turtles and six-lined racerunners. Sliders and painted turtles are often observed sunning on water snags on summer days. Great blue herons, beaver, and muskrats can be viewed around the reservoir. Eastern cottontails and white-tailed deer are also common. Of geological interest are pink quartzite rocks that were plowed up in South Dakota and carried to Kansas by huge glaciers.