Explore a wetland

When the first settlers came to Ohio, they found lots of areas of shallow water and soggy soil filled with plants, fish, waterfowl and other wildlife.

Today, these areas are known as wetlands. Explore an Ohio wetland to learn all about its unique plants and animals.

Ohio wetlands

Ohio wetlands vary by the amount of water, soil and plant life they contain and include marshes, swamps, bogs and fens:

• Marsh: flooded grasslands
• Swamp: flooded woodlands
• Bog: spongy “floating carpet” of land (on top of water)
• Fen: a wetland that receives its water from underground springs

Inhabitants of a wetland

During your visit to a wetland, try to spot some of the common animals and plants, such as frogs, ducks, dragonflies, water lilies and ferns.