Nature & Science

Black & Yellow garden spider.  Click on picture for a bigger version with more detail.

NPS Photo / T. Engberg

Whether flying, crawling, swimming, or walking, many animals rely on the diverse array of habitat present at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Habitat types include eastern deciduous woods, fallow agricultural fields, riparian areas, native grasslands, and wetlands. National Park Service staff and volunteers are continuously monitoring native and invasive plants, birds, amphibians, mammals, insects, mussels, fungus, and reptiles. Restoration efforts are ongoing for native grasses and forbs in order to establish quality habitat for grassland nesting birds. Scroll down for quicklinks to the various pages within the natural resources division of the park.

 

Quicklinks

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  Wild about mounds

  Animals

  Learn about the different types of animals that make use of this park's lands.

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  Flora for all

  Plants

  Read about myriad fauna that comprise the natural areas of the park's 1,100+ acres.

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  Shelter from the storm

  Environmental Factors

  Learn about the environmental zone that the park lies in and what kinds of precipitation the area receives.

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  River of life

  Natural Features & Ecosystems

  What's an ecoregion, and what type of ecoregion is the park in?

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  The good, the bad and the ugly

  Other Life Forms

  Fungi play beneficial roles in the environment and can be fun and tasty to "hunt" for too.

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  Stayin' Alive!

  Vital Signs Monitoring

  Staff continually monitor the condition of the flora and fauna within the park boundaries. Read more about this daunting task.