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Species
trees
Within Blair County, there are about 400 total species of plants and 600 total species of animals. Below are some of the more common native and non-native trees, shrubs, and flowers along the Lower Trail and within Williamsburg.
Trees
White Mulberry
morus alba
American Sycamore
platanus occidentalis
Northern Red Oak
quercus rubra
Red Maple
acer rubrum
Flowering Dogwood
cornus florida
Tree-of-Heaven
ailanthus altissima
Staghorn Sumac
rhus typhina
Tulip Poplar
liriodendron tulipifera
Fun fact: The tree-of-heaven is a non-native, invasive tree that populates about 10 or so more trees when cut down. To prevent the spread of this invasive tree, conservationists must cut hatches every couple of inches and spray herbicides in the hatches. This method of removing tree-of-heaven trees is being used and can be seen along the trail.
Shrubs
Common Ninebark
physocarpus opulifolius
Butterfly Bush
buddleja davidii
Common Privet
ligustrum vulgare
Black Elderberry
sambucus canadensis
Multiflora Rose
rosa polyantha
Northern Spicebush
lindera benzoin
Arrowood
viburnum dentatum
American Honeysuckle
Lonicera canadensis
Fun fact: Common privet is a type of non-native, invasive hedge that grows quickly and thickly covering other plants, preventing them from getting the nutrients they need. There are some sections along the Lower Trail where visitors can not see the river due to a thick blanket of privet.
Shrubs
Flowers
Woodland Sunflower
helianthus hirsutus
Red Deadnettle
lamium purpureum
Tall Goldenrod
solidago altissima
Bloodroot
sanguinaria canadensis
Coltsfoot
tussilago farfara
Dutchman's Breeches
dicentra cucullaria
Purple Coneflower
echinacea purpurea
Fun fact: Tall Goldenrod is a native wildflower that helps honeybees and native pollinator plants thrive.
Flowers
Insects
Boxelder Bug
boisea trivittata
Chinese Mantis
tenodera sinensis
Northern Walkingstick
diapheromera femorata
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
cicindela sexguttata
Monarch
danaus plexippus
Imperial Moth
eacles imperialis
Green Stink Bug
chinavia hilaris
Fun fact: The Imperial Moth is a common moth that is easy to find amongst the trail since it is as big as your hand.
Insects
Birds
Bald Eagle
haliaeetus leucocephalus
Kingfisher
megaceryle alcyon
Carolina Wren
thryothorus ludovicianus
Mallard
anas platyrhynchos
Tree Swallow
tachycineta bicolor
Bluebird
sialia sialis
Tufted Titmouse
baeolophus bicolor
Pileated Woodpecker
dryocopus pileatu
Fun fact: Bluebird and Tree Swallows nesting boxes are placed along the trail. Both bluebirds and tree swallows are extremely territorial, so alternating nesting boxes prevent these birds from competing over places to nest.
Birds
Mammals
Common Raccoon
procyon lotor
American Mink
neogale vison
River Otter
lontra canadensis
Eastern Gray Squirrel
sciurus carolinensis
Woodland Vole
microtus pinetorum
White-tailed Deer
odocoileus virginianus
Fun fact: You will see plastic tubes among the trees along the trail. The reason is due to trees not having a strong enough trunk to withstand the wind and buck rub. Bucks tend to use young Staghorn Sumac trees to rub the velvet off their growing antlers in the summer.
Mammals
Reptiles and Amphibans
Garden Snail
cornu aspersum
American Toad
anaxyrus americanus
Snapping Turtle
chelydra serpentina
Red Salamander
pseudotriton ruber
Black Rat Snake
pantherophis obsoletus
Wood Frog
lithobates sylvaticus
Fun fact: In the spring, hundreds of wood frogs sit in pools of water near the river calling. From a distance, this chorus can sound like a gathering of ducks.
Reptiles andAmphibans
Fish
Fish
Brown Trout
salmo trutta
Carp
cyprinus carpio
Smallmouth Bass
micropterus dolomieu
Redbreast Sunfish
lepomis auritus
Chain Pickerel
esox niger
White Sucker
catostomus commersonii
Fun fact: Brown trout are stocked in 45 states as it is a popular game fish.
*Pictures credited to iNaturalist and Google
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