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Mississippi Palisades State Park Plants and Wildlife
Mississippi Palisades State Park Plants and Wildlife
Bird Checklist for Mississippi Palisades State Park.pdfIn the table below:
Click on the Plant, Bird, Reptile and Amphibian, Insect and Arachnid, and Mammal tabs at the bottom of the table to scroll through the lists.
These lists are based on species identified during site visits and sightings submitted using the link in the sub-bullet point below. Submitted species are added to the table as time allows.
Click here if you would like to submit records of plants or wildlife you have seen at this location.
Bloom periods are based on those provided by the Illinois Plants Database.
About this natural area
About this natural area
Palisades is the word used to describe a line of lofty, steep cliffs usually seen along a river, and Mississippi Palisades, 3 miles north of Savanna in Carroll County, handsomely lives up to its name. Caves are evident as are dangerous sink holes--limestone caves that go straight down. Erosion has carved intriguing rock formations, including Indian Head, with its aquiline characteristics, and Twin Sisters, a pair of humanoid figures on the bluff tops. The U.S. Interior Department recognized the remarkable nature of this area in 1973 when it designated acreage here as a national landmark.
Wooded ravines, whose brilliant hues splash the cliffs with color each autumn, dissect the unglaciated terrain. Ferns dot the deep ravines, while in the park’s northern region, white birch leaves of ripple in the wind. Each spring and summer the valleys and slopes are dappled with the blooms of trillium, bluebell, lobelia, shooting star and yellow ladies’ slipper.
Animal life, within the park and the river areas immediately adjoining it, is varied. Waterfowl and shorebirds are numerous, as are wild turkeys. Striking pileated woodpeckers make their home in the park, and depending on ice conditions, eagles feed at the river in January and February. Because so many birds migrate along the river, their lyrical songs can be heard at the Mississippi Palisades each spring.
But not all that’s fascinating about Mississippi Palisades’ wildlife is in the skies. White-tailed deer, gray squirrel, skunk, muskrat and weasel can be viewed in the park, as can mink, gray and red fox, woodchuck and, occasionally, badger.
Click here for more information from the IDNR regarding this site.
Amenities
Amenities
Trails, camping, boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking, rock climbing, cross county skiing. Picnic shelters, overlooks, and modern toilets' are available.
Literature and links
Literature and links
Click here to view a Google Scholar search for additional literature using the pre-filled search terms of "Mississippi River Palisades State Park"
Click here to view the IDNR's webpage for this location.
Click here to view the StateParks.com webpage for this location.
Click here to view the AllTrails.com webpage for this location.
Click here to view the StateParks.com webpage for this location.
The Vascular Flora of the Mississippi Palisades State Park, Carroll County, Illinois. Wunderlin, R.P. 1966. Posted on January 19, 2014 by Transactions Editor Webmaster.
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