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Park Overview
Wildlife
Birds
Birds are excellent indicator species for evaluating habitat quality and making inferences about that habitat for other species. Data on breeding birds has been collected by park staff over many years. A statewide effort, the Maryland Breeding Bird Atlas Project, recently culminated a five- year intensive effort in which 85 species of birds were detected as breeding in the park. The list includes 17 forest interior dwelling species including red-shouldered hawk, barred owl, hairy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, black-and-white warbler, redstart, worm-eating warbler, ovenbird, Louisiana waterthrush, Kentucky warbler, and scarlet tanager, indicating that LBRP protects large areas of a high quality forest.
Moundbuilder Ants
In a number of the old farming fields, Appalachian moundbuilder ants have amassed numerous colonies. At least one threatened and three watch list plant species have been documented in these fields, and the ants help play a role in maintaining the open habitats suitable for these plants.
Moundbuilder anthills are fairly common in the Park; here are some along Bennett Ridge Trail.
Other Terrestrial Wildlife
Little Bennett Regional Park is home to an impressive diversity of other terrestrial wildlife species including at least 30 species of mammals, 15 reptiles, 15 amphibians and over 60 butterflies.
Fish
Fish have been sampled in Little Bennett Creek and several of its tributaries within the park in recent years. Between 1991 and 2004, 27 species of fish were found in the park. Three of the species found within the park brown trout (Salmo trutta), northern hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans), and Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are considered intolerant of pollution and indicative of good water quality. The Little Bennett Creek system supports a modest population of brown trout, with some natural reproduction. The population is augmented with periodic stocking of fingerlings. While somewhat sparse, the trout population is sufficient to support a modest recreational fishery.
A modest population of brown trout such as these are found in Little Bennett Creek indicating very good water quality.
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