wildwood preserve highlights - metroparks...

Please use this as a supplement to information provided on the Wildwood Preserve Metropark map.

Messages for InterpretationA Park for and by the people, Wildwood Preserve bal-ances respect for ecologically rich natural areas with historical, cultural and recreational opportunities.• Mostlysurroundedbysuburbandevelopment,Wild-woodPreserveisanoasisfornativenaturalcommu-nities and rare species that need protection.

• Fromestatetopreserve,Wildwood’shistoryissteepedineducation,communityInvolvement,grass-rootscitizenactionanddevotedvolunteerism.

• Wildwood’sextremepopularityrequireseveryone’sunderstanding and cooperation to support, restore, and preserve its sensitive natural and cultural integ-rity.

What’s in the Name? FollowingapublicnamingcontestforthisnewparkinMayof1975,acommitteeselectedWildwoodPre-serve–achoicemadebyEleanorMaddyandJenniferWinslow–fromover360suggestions.

Natural and Human HistoryOttawaRiverfloodplain,uplandwoods,ravinesandprairiesareallsignificantnaturalfeaturesofthepopu-lar Wildwood Preserve.

SandandavariablewatertablehelpdefineWildwood’sprairie/savannacommunitiesthatsupporthighbiodiver-sity as part of the globally rare Oak Openings Region.

The sand along the Purple, Orange and Yellow trails wasdepositedabout12-13,000yearsagoasaresultofglaciation.

The large, forested section of Wildwood is one of the mostsignificantcontiguouswoodlandsinLucasCountyand critical habitat for interior dwelling species such as woodthrush,wildturkeyandred-backedsalamanders.

TheOttawaRiverbeginsattheconfluenceoftheTenMileandNorthTenMilecreeksinSylvania.TheOttawaRiverWatershedisabout220squaremiles.

WildwoodPreservebeganaMetroparkastheresultofa1974citizenscampaignandlevytosavepropertyfor-merlyownedbyRobertA.Stranahanfromdevelopment.

Wildwoodfeaturestheformerlate1930sestatewithitsstatelyManorHouseandhistoricallysignificantEllenBiddleShipmanGardensopenforpublicvisitation.

TheoldestbuildingonWildwoodPreserve’spropertyisthe1880FarmHouseoriginallybuiltandownedbyGeorgeAlbon.

Wildwood Preserve Highlights

Theoneroom,OakGroveSchoolwasbuiltin1897andmovedin1998toWildwoodfromitsoriginallocation¼milenorthonCoreyRoad.

Volunteer opportunities at Wildwood Preserve include rarespeciesmonitoringaswellasgardeningandstew-ardshipprojectsandprogrammingassistance.

ResourcemanagementtomaintainhealthyhabitatsatWildwoodincludesmowing,streambankstabilizationthroughplantings,andinvasiveplant/thicketremoval.

Inrecentyearsextensivemanagementalsohasbeenimplementedtocontroloakwilt,afungusthatquicklykillsredandblackoaksandthreatensWildwood’sunin-terrupted woodlands.

Plant LifeSpringwildflowersinclude:Round-lobed hepatica BloodrootTrout lily Purple cressSpringbeauty WildbluephloxWildginger Swampbuttercup

FloodplainTrees/shrubsinclude:Americansycamore RedoakEasterncottonwood SilvermapleOhio buckeye Burr oakSpicebush Paw-paw

Fringed gentianBloodroot

Maidenhair fernAmerican goldfinch on Rough blazing star

Somemammalsinclude:Foxsquirrel GroundhogRedsquirrel EasternchipmunkSouthernflyingsquirrel MinkEasternmole RaccoonEasterncottontailrabbit White-taileddeer Coyote RedfoxSeveralbatspecies,includingtheNorthernlong-eared,now federally threatened.

Staying on the trails will protect park visitors and pets from:Poisonivy AmericandogticksChiggers StingingnettleMosquitoes

Protection also includes covering up with lightweight clothing and using insecticide when necessary.

TherearenovenomoussnakesorPoisonOakhere.

Dusted skipper

Barred owl

Uplandwoodstrees/shrubsinclude:White oak Black oak Sassafras Black cherry Witchhazel Americanhazelnut

Nativeprairiespeciesinclude:Littlebluestem(grass) Bigbluestem(grass)Indiangrass CommonmilkweedBlack-eyedSusan WildbergamotTall coreopsis Tall ironweedDense and Rough blazing star

Wildwoodishometoaboutthreedozenplantsthatarestate-listed as rare in Ohio, including Wild lupine, Virginiameadowbeauty,FringedgentianandRound-leaved dogwood.

NotinmanyotherMetroparks,MaidenhairferngrowsonWildwood’sbluetrail.

WildlifeYearroundresidentbirdsinclude:Mourningdove Red-belliedwoodpeckerBlack-cappedchickadee NortherncardinalTuftedtitmouse AmericangoldfinchWhite-breasted nuthatch Wild turkey Red-tailedhawk Cooper’shawkEasternscreechowl NorthernbarredowlGreathornedowl

Nestingmigrantsinclude:Blue-gray gnatcatcher Red-eyed vireoBaltimoreoriole AmericanrobinRed-wingedblackbird IndigobuntingWood thrush Turkey vultureBroad-winged hawk

Wildwood prairie areas are critical habitat for ground nestingsongbirdssuchasEasterntowhees,Fieldspar-rows,CommonyellowthroatsandAmericanwoodcock.

Notableinsectsinclude: Bald-facedhornet Ebonyjewelwing Cicadaspecies CicadakillerwaspsTruekatydid OakwormmothandBlister beetles caterpillar Americancopper(staterare)Dustedskipper(statethreatened)UnexpectedCycnia(stateendangered)

Notablereptilesandamphibiansinclude:Greenfrog NorthernleopardfrogAmericantoad Red-backedsalamanderGraytreefrog Easterngartersnake Easternfoxsnake andmelanisticformEasternhognosesnakeNorthernring-necked Snapping turtle snakeMidlandpaintedturtleBlanding’sturtle(Ohiorarespecies)Easternboxturtle(Ohiorarespecies)

Blister beetle

Eastern box turtle

Ebony jewel wing

Eastern hognose