The abundance of resources makes wetlands one of the best habitats to view wildlife in the parks.
By Megan Hart, Park Biologist
Wetlands have been misrepresented as wasted space, smelly, and undesirable. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Society is beginning to realize their value and productivity. These “biological supermarkets” produce large amounts of food for a diverse group of species. This abundance of resources makes wetlands one of the best habitats to view wildlife in the parks.
Wetlands are home to tenacious insect predators: dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies are robust, aggressive flyers with wings that are held out to the side when they are at rest. Damselflies are far daintier and more delicate with wings held together when they land on nearby vegetation. Dragonflies are especially talented flyers that can turn on a dime in pursuit of prey or rivals. If you take the time to observe dragonflies, you will witness these aerial chases as they battle over the water. Dragonflies and damselflies can also be quite colorful. Some like widow skimmers, twelve-spotted skimmers, and common whitetails have bold patterns on their wings. Others like Eastern amberwings, violet dancers, slaty skimmers, spatterdock darners, and ruby meadowhawks have vivid body colors.
Blue dasher dragonfly
Insects are not the only predators that stalk the verdant wetlands of northeast Ohio. Amphibians and reptiles are always on the hunt for snacks. Green frogs, bullfrogs, northern spring peepers, and pickerel frogs can often be found among the sedges and grasses at the edge of wetlands or partially submerged in the water on the lookout for mates or food. Snakes like the Northern watersnake, Eastern garter snake, and Dekay’s brown snake can often be found hunting for small mammals, invertebrates, and amphibians. Common snapping turtles and midland painted turtles can be found sunning themselves on logs or rocks when they are not waiting for invertebrates and fish to feed on.
Northern watersnake
A variety of birds also call wetlands home. Green herons, great blue herons, and great egrets all take advantage of wetlands for hunting and breeding grounds. They are often seen standing like statues while peering into the water for fish or frogs. When prey passes by, they strike with speed and precision to spear a meal. Bald eagles can be seen soaring over wetlands and staking out surrounding tree line to hunt for ducks and turtles. The presence of eagles often sets wood ducks, mallards, Canada geese, and hooded mergansers on edge. As a result, they tend to be wary and secretive when an eagle is in the neighborhood. Among the vegetation of the wetlands, the secretive Virginia rail and sora search the mud for food while hiding in the dense grasses and cattails. Small birds like swamp sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, and marsh wrens serenade the wetlands with their songs as they flit among the buttonbush and swamp rose mallow in search of insects to feed their young chicks at the nests.
Green heron
Mammals also are common residents of wetlands. Muskrats readily make these pools their homes. They dig tunnels into wetland banks or build houses out of grass and sticks to shelter their young. American beaver can create wetlands from scratch by damming up streams and flooding the surrounding areas. They are usually the original architects of natural wetlands and are considered a keystone species because of their beneficial impact on other wildlife species. Raccoon and Virginia opossum prints can often be found in muddy spots from their search for midnight snacks along the water’s edge. If you’re lucky, you may get a glimpse of an American mink as it runs past on its way to find a bird’s nest or frog to snack on.
American beaver
This article just scratches the surface on what you can find in local wetlands. You can experience the magic and wildlife of the wetlands in Lake Metroparks at Penitentiary Glen Reservation along the Red Fox Loop, Girdled Road Reservation on the Green Darner Trail, Hidden Lake on the Birder’s Loop Trail, Arcola Creek Park from the viewing platform, Pete’s Pond Preserve, Hidden Valley Park along the Crooked Tree Loop Trail, and River Road Park.