Wetlands

What are wetlands? Land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. There are many different types of freshwater wetlands: marsh, bog, and swamp. These places can look very different, but because they are all areas with wet soil, they are considered wetlands.

Marsh marshes have mostly grassy plants.

Bog Bogs are spongy, mossy wetlands where plants pile up faster than they can rot away. All those plants form thick layers of peat.

Swamp Swamps have mostly trees or shrubs

So wetlands are always wet, right? Wetlands are places where there is shallow water or very soggy soil at least part of the time.

Are lakes wetlands too? Not really—they're too wet. Well, lakes are mostly too deep for plants to grow right up out of them. That goes for oceans and most ponds, rivers, and streams, too.

Wetland Plants Duckweed extends its roots down into the water to absorb nutrients and is not attached to the bottom.

Wetland Plants Pickerelweed

Wetland Plants White water lily

Wetland Plants Cattails and sedges are common plants that grow up from the soil through the water.

Wetland Animals All kinds of amphibians (frogs, toads and salamanders) can be found. Amphibians require water in which to lay their eggs and for the tadpoles to grow to adulthood.

Wetland Animals Raccoon

Wetland Animals Bluegill

Wetland Animals Softshell turtle

Wetland Animals Dragonfly

Wetland Animals Mosquito Fish

Wetland Animals Snail

Birds Wetlands are home to an amazing number of birds. Many birds would go extinct without wetland habitat in which to breed, build nests, raise young, feed and rest along migratory routes.

Birds Snowy Egret

Birds Mottled duck

Birds Common gallinule

Birds Great blue heron

Birds Red-winged blackbird

People and Wetlands Wetlands provide very valuable services to people. They provide fish to eat and flood protection during storms. They also filter our water, giving us clean water to drink. Because of these valuable services, it is important that we work to conserve our wetlands.