Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve
Encyclopedia
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve is a 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) nature preserve
located in Evansville, Indiana
. It is a National Natural Landmark
and a State Nature Preserve owned by the City of Evansville and operated by the non-profit Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve Society.
The preserve consists of over 190 acre (0.7689034 km²) of virgin bottomland hardwood
forest complemented by an additional 50 acres (202,343 m²) of younger forest, field, and pond. The woods consist of sweetgum, sugar maple
, tuliptree, shumard oak
, and green ash
throughout. It is the largest tract of virgin forest located inside any city limits in the United States
.
The oldest trees are over 400 years old. Among the largest of their species are 24 state champions and two national champion trees. One of the tallest trees in the state is a tulip poplar located within the park. It is 147 feet (44.8 m) tall with a 13.2 feet (4 m) circumference and 81 feet (24.7 m) canopy.
Animal species include squirrels, racoon
s, gray foxes
, coyote
, and whitetail deer. The woods also serves as a refuge for a variety of woodpeckers and owls
.
A nature center welcomes visitors with exhibits, events, wildlife observation areas, a library, and gift shop. The amphitheater near Odonata Pond may also be rented for outdoor activities.
The Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve Society also manages Howell Wetlands, a 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) wetlands property located at 1400 S. Tekoppel Avenue in the urban western area of Evansville.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
located in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. It is a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
and a State Nature Preserve owned by the City of Evansville and operated by the non-profit Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve Society.
The preserve consists of over 190 acre (0.7689034 km²) of virgin bottomland hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
forest complemented by an additional 50 acres (202,343 m²) of younger forest, field, and pond. The woods consist of sweetgum, sugar maple
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas...
, tuliptree, shumard oak
Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii, the Shumard Oak, Spotted Oak, Schneck Oak, Shumard Red Oak, or Swamp Red Oak, is one of the largest of the oak species in the red oak group...
, and green ash
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica is a species of ash native to eastern and central North America, from Nova Scotia west to southeastern Alberta and eastern Colorado, south to northern Florida, and southwest to eastern Texas....
throughout. It is the largest tract of virgin forest located inside any city limits in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The oldest trees are over 400 years old. Among the largest of their species are 24 state champions and two national champion trees. One of the tallest trees in the state is a tulip poplar located within the park. It is 147 feet (44.8 m) tall with a 13.2 feet (4 m) circumference and 81 feet (24.7 m) canopy.
Animal species include squirrels, racoon
Racoon
Racoon is a Dutch rock band, formed in 1997. Their first big appearance was at the 1999 Noorderslagfestival. First album Till Monkeys Fly appeared in January 2000, produced by Michael Schoots . The first single, Feel Like Flying, became a hit and got a lot of airplay on the Dutch radiostation 3FM...
s, gray foxes
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, and whitetail deer. The woods also serves as a refuge for a variety of woodpeckers and owls
OWLS
OWLS is a mnemonic used by general aviation airplane pilots to assess an unprepared surface for a precautionary landing.Like all mnemonics this check has become part of aviation culture and folklore.OWLS:* Obstacles* Wind direction...
.
A nature center welcomes visitors with exhibits, events, wildlife observation areas, a library, and gift shop. The amphitheater near Odonata Pond may also be rented for outdoor activities.
The Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve Society also manages Howell Wetlands, a 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) wetlands property located at 1400 S. Tekoppel Avenue in the urban western area of Evansville.