Download Wetland Life in LaPorte County Parks

Wetlands
are important natural
habitats. Many plants and animals live
in wetlands. They find food, water,
and shelter all within the boundaries
of this unique habitat. Some animals
find shelter in other locations and
visit these areas to find water and
food. Migratory birds, especially
waterfowl, use wetlands as resting and
feeding areas along their journeys.
Wetland LaPorte County Parks are called home
by a wide variety of wildlife. Many
Life
unique plants and animals can be found
In
LaPorte
County Parks
Wetlands are also natural filters. As
water enters and passes through the
dense vegetation, debris is blocked
from going further into the water
ways. Many chemicals are also
absorbed as plants absorb water
needed for survival. Water transpires
from the plant through its leaves and
evaporates into the air completely
clean of chemicals and pollution.
Wetlands
can come in many forms.
The following are types of wetlands and
characteristics of them.
Bog-A peat-accumulating wetland that has no
Attention: No animals can
be taken from the park, except
fish that are of legal size and
number. Nor can any animals
be released into the park.
Dogs must be on leashes at all
times.
Thank You
living in or visiting the wetlands. This
pamphlet does not include all the
wildlife found in the wetlands, but it
will describe some of the most common
types of life that can be seen. If you
have any questions about any wetland
plants or animals, contact the Naturalists
at the Nature Center in person or by
phone at (219) 324-5855. Enjoy your
visit to Luhr County Park!
LaPorte County Parks
Department
Canada Lodge & Administrative Office
0185 South Holmesville Road
LaPorte, IN 46350
(219) 873-7014 Ext 223 or (219) 325-8315
Luhr County Park Nature Center/Naturalist Office
(219) 324-5855 TTY/TDD/Voice
www.alco.org/countyparks
significant inflows or outflows and supports
acidophillic mosses such as sphagnum.
Bottomland-Lowlands along streams and
rivers, usually on alluvial floodplains that are
periodically flooded and often forested.
Fen-A peat-accumulating wetland that receives some drainage from the surrounding
soil and supports marsh like vegetation.
Kettle-Depressional wetlands formed from
glacial ice deposits.
Marsh-A frequently or continually flooded
wetland with herbaceous vegetation.
Slough-A swamp or shallow lake system.
Swamp-Wetland dominated by trees and
shrubs.
Vernal Pool– Seasonal wetlands during wet
spring periods and drying up in summer.
Plants
Black Willow Tree
Relatively tall with dark colored
bark. Long narrow leaves attached
to long drooping branches. Cottony
seeds are spread by wind. Wood
has been used to make baskets.
Staghorn Sumac
Short tree from 7-10 feet tall with
hairy branches. Leaves are pinnate
with around 13 leaflets. Sometimes
mistaken as Poison Sumac. Clusters
of red hairy berries are used to make
a tart drink.
Cattails
Very fleshy plants that can reach
6-8 feet. Roots are usually
submerged in water and are high in
starch. Brown seed clusters are the
female flower. Cottony seeds are
spread by wind.
Arrowhead
Arrow shaped leaves emerge from
the water becoming a ladder for
some aquatic insects as they
become adults. Roots are located
underwater and are high in starch.
Water Lilies
Broad round leaves lay like blankets
on the water’s surface. Roots are
underwater. Flowers range from
yellow to white. Animals can be
seen laying on top of leaves while
sunning themselves.
Duckweed
Looks like tiny lily pads floating on
water. Can be so dense that they
cover the entire water’s surface.
Thin roots dangle down into the
water, not needing soil to survive.
Birds
Great Blue Heron
Tall and long-legged heron. Long
bill to feed on aquatic animals.
Gray-blue body and white head
with black marking on its head.
Flies with “S” curve to its neck.
Canada Goose
Larger than a duck. Brown body
and black neck with white cheek
mark. Well known for flying in a
“V” formation and honking.
Commonly seen feeding with
goslings in fields and water.
Wood Duck
Nest mostly in dead trees. Nails on
the end of their webbed feet help
them climb. Colorful blue-green
iridescent ducks with a tuft of
feathers on back of their head.
Mallard
Very common duck. Males have
iridescent green head and blue
wing patch. Feed by filtering water
through bristles in their bills.
Commonly seen with ducklings
following close by.
Green Heron
Small heron not much larger than a
crow. Feeds on aquatic animals
using its spear-like bill. Yellow legs
and dark green body. Rarely seen
with group of Green Backed
Herons.
Belted Kingfisher
Dives into water head first, and
usually emerges with a fish in its
long bill. Blue body with white
neck ring. Blue head tuft like
cardinal’s.
Red-winged Blackbird
Males have red shoulder on their
mostly black bodies. Commonly
seen calling from their perch on
cattails where they nest.
Reptiles
Snapping Turtle
Largest turtle in Indiana, it can
weigh 35 pounds. Has a long neck
and sharp bill. Nearly spiked shells
can be 12 inches long. Eats plants
and animals.
Marsh Wren
Painted Turtle
Small brown bird with long tail. Can
easily be heard with its quick bubbly
chit chat. Feeds on bugs, and nests in
small bushes.
Smooth dark shell with red
markings. Usually around 5-6 inches
long. Often seen sunning itself on
floating logs. Lays eggs in May that
hatch in September. Feeds on live or
dead small animals and plants.
Amphibians
Bullfrog
Largest Frog in North America. Can
easily be heard calling “jug-a-rum.”
Stays as tadpole for nearly 2 years.
Adults have slimy green skin. Feeds
on birds and other small animals.
Green Frog
Very common frog with slimy green
body about 3 inches long. Ears are
circles just behind eyes. Calls in the
summer time with a sound similar to
plucking a banjo string. Feeds on
bugs.
Northern Water Snake
Non-poisonous snake. Has a dark
brown thick body with darker bands
across its body. Often mistaken as
Water Moccasins. Swims very good
and feeds on small animals it finds
on or under water.
Gartersnake
Very common non-poisonous snake.
Usually has two light marks down
its dark bodied back. Eats bugs and
worms. Often seen on rocks sunning
itself on warm days. Many snakes
are mistaken as Gartersnakes.
Mammals
Insects
Diving Beetle
Shiny brown-black body. Is a strong
swimmer and flier. Positions itself
with its head underwater when
feeding on aquatic bugs and small
animals. More than 300 types in
North America.
Dragonfly
Starts its life underwater like
amphibians. Crawls out of water
using emerging plants and sheds its
skin to become an adult. Adults eat a
lot of mosquitoes. There are many
varieties of dragonflies.
Giant Water Bug
Large bug about 2 inches long.
Feeds on other bugs and small
animals by using a poison secreted
as it bites. Males carry clusters of
eggs on their back until they hatch.
Rarely uses its wings.
Water Strider
Also called Pond Skater. Has a
slender body and long legs that use
the surface tension of water to stay
just above the water. Feeds on small
gnats usually in groups. Adults don’t
have wings.
Raccoon
Chorus Frog
Small frog about 1 inch long. Three
dark stripes down its back. Calls in
early spring and sounds like
dragging a finger over comb teeth.
Can survive during long droughts.
Spring Peeper
Small tan frog with brown “X” on its
back. Calls in spring with a “peep”
sound. Can climb trees and even
windows. Rarely seen or heard
outside of mating season.
Curious mammal with dark fur.
Identified by its black mask and
striped tail. Eats anything it can
catch with its sensitive hands.
Usually feeds and is active during
low-light hours.
Water Boatman
Small slender bug. Has long back
legs used like paddles to move
through the water. Young and adults
look alike except adults can use their
wings. Feeds on decaying plants and
bottom sludge.
Muskrat
Smaller than a beaver but often
mistaken for one. Has thick,
waterproof fur covering body except
its thin long bald tail. Lives in
burrows on the banks and eats
mostly aquatic plants.
Mosquito
Unmistakable insect with its
annoying high-pitched buzz. Only
females are bloodsuckers. Young
mosquitoes start life living
underwater like amphibians.