About • Location • Activities • Ecology
About |
Ownership |
Links |
Overview |
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History |
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Management |
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Comments |
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Activities |
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Hiking Biking Mountain biking Horseback riding Picnicking Camping Backpacking Rock climbing and bouldering Swimming Boating Canoeing Birding Nature photography Geocaching Cross country skiing Skate-skiing Winter hiking Snowshoeing Snowmobiling |
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Trails |
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Hunting and Fishing |
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No hunting. The park may hold one or more managed hunts in the fall. In most cases, Minnesota residents do not need a permit to fish in Minnesota State Parks. |
Ecology |
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Ecological Classification |
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Ecological Province | ![]() |
Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province |
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Ecological Section | ![]() |
Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal |
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Ecological Subsection | ![]() |
St. Paul-Baldwin Plains and Moraines |
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Land Type Association | Maplewood Moraine Stillwater Alluvial Plain |
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Native Plant Communities* |
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Black Ash - (Red Maple) Seepage Swamp Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Southern) Northern Rich Fen (Basin) Oak - (Red Maple) Woodland Sand Beach/Sandbar (River): Permanent Stream Subtype Silver Maple - (Virginia Creeper) Floodplain Forest Southern Seepage Meadow/Carr Tamarack Swamp (Southern) |
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* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources | |||||
Natural Features |
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Visitor Photos |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Park entrance |
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Visitor center parking |
Interpretive sign | |
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Visitor center |
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Wedge Hill Savanna Trail |
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Mist-shrouded Lake Alice |
Shallow lake on Prairie Overview Trail A park bench is conveniently located where this photo was taken. |
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Prairie |
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Prairie |
Savanna | |
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Trails |
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Trails |
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Park office and solar installation |
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Park office and solar installation |
Slideshows |
William O’Brien State Park |
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William O’Brien State Park |
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William O’Brien St Pk |
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William Obrien State Park |
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About
William Obrien State Park, MN |
William O’Brien State Park |
About
Uploaded on Jun 2, 2008 William O’Brien State Park in Minnesota with music by Glen Hansard and the Frames |
William O’Brien State Park, Minnesota |
About
Published on Oct 30, 2013 Favorite Sites: 1, 3, 13, 20, 22, 35, 37, 39, 46, 47, 50, 55, 70, 74, 84, 90, 117 |
Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
William O'Brien State Park, Minnesota |
About
Mar 20, 2022 Located in a northern suburb town of Stillwater called Marine of St. Croix. Campers of all shapes, sizes, models, and tenters are welcome here and are sure to bring your four-legged friend because there are a lot of trails to hike. The park is divided into two sections that I refer to as upper and lower. Upper has a lot of camping sites as well as many trails, both short and long, that encompass the entire park. The lower level is where the water is as well as Lake Alice, picnics, and a trail that follows the lake, it is also the location to bring your canoe or kayak to take out on Lake Alice. Don't have one of your own? This park rents out both, check in at the office for more details. Easy to get to but also a very popular park, if looking to avoid crowds, go early. Enjoy The Day! |
William O'Brien State Park - Trail along the St. Croix River |
About
Jul 13, 2020 This is a short walk on the trail that runs alongside the St. Croix River in William O'Brien State Park in Minnesota. June 29, 2020 |
William O'Brien State Park, Minnesota 4k! (August) (2020 |
About
Sep 21, 2020 Hey!! Thank you for watching my video! If you enjoyed the video please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!! This was Riverside Trail Loop! The Trail was really easy and flat. Was really surprised with how empty it was on the trail. https://linktr.ee/Brutalis |
William O'Brien State Park - MN - November 2019 |
About
Dec 1, 2019 William O'Brien State Park is about 25minutes from Mpls. The park is nestled along the St. Croix River. In this video we hiked the upper area which is where the main campground is located. The trails we hiked are turned into ski trails in the winter. They have winter cabins for rental and plenty of electric and non-electric sites. Most of them are not hammock friendly. This park is good for a day hike |
William O’Brien State Park Campground sites 48 - 60. |
About
Published on Mar 26, 2012 William O’Brien State Park, MN. Attempt of video is to simply show campground accomodations at the parks "Riverway Campground." Some sites are electric and some are non. No water hook-ups are available at this park, however a water-fill and dump station is available when the park is fully open. |
William O'Brian State Park |
About
Uploaded on Aug 15, 2008 My Tour of the park |
Visitor Sightings |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
Visits |
6/6/2000 2/22/2011 9/5/2011 5/21/2012 10/15/2014 |
Amphibians |
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Birds |
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American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens) Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Green Heron (Butorides virescens) House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) |
Fishes |
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Fungi and Lichens |
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Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa) Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata) |
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Insects and Arachnids |
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American emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii) American lady (Vanessa virginiensis) common green darner (Anax junius) eastern giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) eastern tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma americana) forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria) goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis) goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) green sharpshooter (Draeculacephala antica) Harris’ checkerspot (Chlosyne harrisii) mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) northern crescent (Phyciodes cocyta) orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme) question mark (Polygonia interrogationis) red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) silver-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) spring field cricket (Gryllus veletis) summer azure (Celastrina neglecta) twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) |
Mammals |
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American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) |
Plants |
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Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List |
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Plants frequently found in: Black Ash - (Red Maple) Seepage Swamp WFs57a Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Southern) UPs13b Northern Rich Fen (Basin) OPn92 Oak - (Red Maple) Woodland FDs37a Sand Beach/Sandbar (River): Permanent Stream Subtype RVx32b2 Silver Maple - (Virginia Creeper) Floodplain Forest FFs68a |
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Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana) American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) American elm (Ulmus americana) American hazelnut (Corylus americana) American highbush cranberry (Viburnum opulus var. americanum) American hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata) American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana) American plum (Prunus americana) American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus) American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis) American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana) American woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca ssp. americana) Bell’s honeysuckle (Lonicera × bella) bigleaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla) bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus) black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina) black medick (Medicago lupulina) black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii) bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis) bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo) bristly greenbrier (Smilax tamnoides) bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa) Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense) Canada moonseed (Menispermum canadense) Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) Canadian horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) Canadian woodnettle (Laportea canadensis) chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana) common blue violet (Viola sororia) common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) common burdock (Arctium minus) common cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex) common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale) common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum) common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) common motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca) common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus) common plantain (Plantago major) common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) common sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) cream pea (Lathyrus ochroleucus) Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) cut-leaved coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata) downy arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum var. rafinesqueanum) downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) drooping trillium (Trillium flexipes) early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata) eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana) eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) fragrant bedstraw (Galium triflorum) garden yellowrocket (Barbarea vulgaris) giant chickweed (Myosoton aquaticum) glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) golden alexanders (Zizia aurea) green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) hairy puccoon (Lithospermum caroliniense var. croceum) hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana) hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens) Howell’s pussytoes (Antennaria howellii ssp. neodioica) interrupted fern (Claytosmunda claytoniana) jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) June grass (Koeleria macrantha) kidney-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus) large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) late goldenrod (Solidago altissima) leafy spurge (Euphorbia virgata) limber honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica) little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Maryland black snakeroot (Sanicula marilandica) Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) mouse-ear hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum) narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia) narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) northern blue flag (Iris versicolor) northern hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum) northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) northern prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) northern red oak (Quercus rubra) pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) paper birch (Betula papyrifera) Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus) pineapple-weed (Matricaria discoidea) prairie smoke (Geum triflorum var. triflorum) purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum) quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) red clover (Trifolium pratense) red maple (Acer rubrum var. rubrum) red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea) rough oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra) round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) scouring rush horsetail (Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine) sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) silvery cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea) slender cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis) smooth Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum) spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum) steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida) sugar maple (Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum) sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis var. perennis) tall tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) upright carrionflower (Smilax ecirrhata) variegated yellow pond lily (Nuphar variegata) Virginia pepper grass (Lepidium virginicum var. virginicum) Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum) water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) western bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum) western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii) western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) white campion (Silene latifolia ssp. alba) white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens) white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida) white rattlesnake root (Nabalus albus) white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana) white wild indigo (Baptisia alba var. macrophylla) wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea) yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)
Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder) Acer rubrum var. rubrum (red maple) Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum (sugar maple) Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed) Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata (hog peanut) Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone) Antennaria howellii ssp. neodioica (Howell’s pussytoes) Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane) Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine) Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla) Arctium minus (common burdock) Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage) Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum (northern lady fern) Baptisia australis (blue wild indigo) Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (white wild indigo) Barbarea vulgaris (garden yellowrocket) Berteroa incana (hoary alyssum) Betula papyrifera (paper birch) Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed) Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd’s purse) Celtis occidentalis (northern hackberry) Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood) Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood) Corylus americana (American hazelnut) Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover) Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower) Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye) Equisetum fluviatile (water horsetail) Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine (scouring rush horsetail) Erigeron canadensis (Canadian horseweed) Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane) Euphorbia virgata (leafy spurge) Eurybia macrophylla (bigleaf aster) Fragaria vesca ssp. americana (American woodland strawberry) Frangula alnus (glossy buckthorn) Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash) Galium boreale (northern bedstraw) Galium triflorum (fragrant bedstraw) Geranium maculatum (wild geranium) Geum triflorum var. triflorum (prairie smoke) Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy) Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (rough oxeye) Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum (Virginia waterleaf) Iris versicolor (northern blue flag) Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar) Koeleria macrantha (June grass) Laportea canadensis (Canadian woodnettle) Lathyrus ochroleucus (cream pea) Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca (common motherwort) Lepidium virginicum var. virginicum (Virginia pepper grass) Lespedeza capitata (round-headed bush clover) Lithospermum canescens (hoary puccoon) Lithospermum caroliniense var. croceum (hairy puccoon) Lonicera × bella (Bell’s honeysuckle) Lonicera dioica (limber honeysuckle) Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle) Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle) Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil) Lupinus perennis var. perennis (sundial lupine) Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal) Maianthemum stellatum (starry false Solomon’s seal) Matricaria discoidea (pineapple-weed) Medicago lupulina (black medick) Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover) Menispermum canadense (Canada moonseed) Myosoton aquaticum (giant chickweed) Nabalus albus (white rattlesnake root) Nuphar variegata (variegated yellow pond lily) Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose) Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern) Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely) Claytosmunda claytoniana (interrupted fern) Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam) Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel) Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine) Pilosella officinarum (mouse-ear hawkweed) Pinus strobus (eastern white pine) Plantago major (common plantain) Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain) Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum (smooth Solomon’s seal) Populus grandidentata (bigtooth aspen) Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) Potentilla argentea (silvery cinquefoil) Potentilla gracilis (slender cinquefoil) Potentilla simplex (common cinquefoil) Prunus americana (American plum) Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry) Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry) Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum (western bracken fern) Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak) Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak) Quercus rubra (northern red oak) Ranunculus abortivus (kidney-leaved buttercup) Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn) Rubus allegheniensis (Allegheny blackberry) Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry) Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata (cut-leaved coneflower) Rumex acetosella (common sheep sorrel) Sambucus canadensis (American elderberry) Sanicula marilandica (Maryland black snakeroot) Saponaria officinalis (bouncing bet) Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort) Silene latifolia ssp. alba (white campion) Sisymbrium altissimum (tall tumble mustard) Smilax ecirrhata (upright carrionflower) Smilax tamnoides (bristly greenbrier) Solidago altissima (late goldenrod) Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod) Spiraea tomentosa (steeplebush) Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion) Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue) Thalictrum thalictroides (rue anemone) Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress) Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood) Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy) Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard) Trifolium hybridum (alsike clover) Trifolium pratense (red clover) Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover) Trillium flexipes (drooping trillium) Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail) Ulmus americana (American elm) Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle) Uvularia grandiflora (large-flowered bellwort) Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein) Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root) Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American highbush cranberry) Viburnum rafinesqueanum var. rafinesqueanum (downy arrowwood) Vicia americana ssp. americana (American vetch) Viola pubescens (downy yellow violet) Viola sororia (common blue violet) |
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Reptiles |
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common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) |
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