As you look out at the creek, look for the beaver lodge and dam in the water. The dam, made of grass, rocks, sticks, and mud, slows down the flow of water in a stream. In this calmer water, the beavers will build a lodge to live in, a domed structure made of sticks and mud that protects them from predators. These dams and ponds help control soil erosion and reduce flooding. They are also important habitats for other wetland... read more

In the pond, the active beaver dam can be seen. Piles of sticks and mud slow the flow of water from upstream, forming a shallow pool of water. Other evidence of beaver activity include tree stumps that have been gnawed into a triangular point. In this area, there may also be snapping turtles moving through the depths of the water. Painted turtles, red-eared sliders, or northern red-bellied cooters may be basking on fallen logs. read more

This spot is the first overlook of the Beaver Pond, where the remnants of an old beaver dam can be seen. Over time, beavers expand their range and territory, building new dams and lodges further upstream. Evidence of an active dam can be seen further upstream along the Beaver Trail. read more

Right off the trail stands a large American beech tree. Its leaves turn golden in the fall and do not fully drop in the winter, a phenomenon called marcescence. Scattered on the forest floor you may find the edible beechnut - brown, triangular-shaped nuts covered in a spiny husk. read more

This wetland area surrounds the Burning Basin, where Bethlehem Steel drained the water in 1942 to allow burning and scuttling of the WWI ships. Several freshwater marsh plants can be found along the water’s edge, such as pickerel weed, tuckahoe, cattails, and wild rice. These species serve as important habitats and a food source for many species. read more

In addition to the paw paw, another native tree with edible fruit at Mallows Bay is the common persimmon. The sweet, orange fruit ripens in autumn and attracts wildlife such as deer, raccoons, and several bird species. Persimmon trees are also a host plant for the caterpillars of several moth species, such as the luna moth, a large green moth that has been documented at Mallows Bay but is rarely seen due its short one-week lifespan as an adult. read more

Also known as ground cedar or crows foot, fan clubmoss is a type of perennial evergreen plant that can be seen on the forest floor, even through the winter. They tend to be found in wooded areas where oak trees and conifers are also found. Populations were once threatened by their popularity as Christmas greenery, but have recovered. read more

You may notice mounted bird boxes scattered throughout the park. These boxes are designed for the Eastern bluebird, a native songbird. Bluebirds seek tree cavities or woodpecker holes to nest in, but competition is high for these limited sites. A well-placed nest box can help boost populations. read more

A handful of eastern red cedars line the road leading into the park. Not a true cedar, the species actually belongs to the juniper family. Fruits grow in the late summer and are consumed by many kinds of wildlife, including the cedar waxwing, which is named for this tree. read more

Also known as ground cedar or crows foot, fan clubmoss is a type of perennial evergreen plant that can be seen on the forest floor, even through the winter. They tend to be found in wooded areas where oak trees and conifers are also found. Populations were once threatened by their popularity as Christmas greenery, but have recovered. read more

At low tide, one of the ghost ships may be visible next to the shoreline. In this marshy area, plants have taken over the wreckage and provide habitat for many species. Here, you’ll find several species of native plants that thrive in moist habitats, such as yellow passionflower, desert false indigo, and common sneezeweed. These plants all attract various butterflies, moths, bees, and other pollinators, who rely on the plants as a source of food. Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles,... read more

In the fall, the trail is full of goldenrod - one of the most important plants for biodiversity, providing an important source of late-season nectar and pollen in the late summer and early fall. Also in this area, numerous nesting birds will build their nests in trees along the water. read more

Though the meadow is filled with predominantly native plants, sometimes non-native species take root, such as the yellow flag iris. Its resistance to deer and other wildlife led to its popularity as an ornamental plant and its introduction in the late 1700s. It expands quickly and can replace and crowd out valuable aquatic plants like cattails and other native irises, such as the Dwarf-crested iris and the Blue Flag iris. read more

Much of our habitat across the U.S. has been disturbed and replaced with invasive plant species. Many can be found here at the park, such as Japanese wineberry, an invasive shrub related to raspberries and blackberries. It is prolific throughout the park, easily identified by its red stems that form thickets along the forest floor. Aggressive and fast-spreading, it replaces native vegetation and reduces wildlife habitat. read more

While many trees may look similar to each other in the summer, certain distinctions can be seen in other seasons. In early spring, look for the trees with red tops - they are red maples, with small, hanging clusters of bright red flowers that appear in spring before the leaves, while most other trees are still bare. Their early bloom makes them an important source of pollen. read more

The start of the Nature Loop passes through a meadow that is full of flowers during the spring, summer, and fall. This meadow is an important habitat for pollinators, such as Maryland’s 400+ species of ground-dwelling bees that leave nesting holes throughout the meadow. Charles County Parks will soon enhance this area by introducing 14 native herbaceous plant species that will act as host plants for bees, butterflies, and other insects. read more

The start of the Nature Loop passes through a meadow that is full of flowers during the spring, summer, and fall. This meadow is an important habitat for pollinators, such as Maryland’s 400+ species of ground-dwelling bees that leave nesting holes throughout the meadow. Charles County Parks has enhanced this meadow by seeding 19 native plant species that provide food and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other insects. read more

On this part of the trail you’ll start to see a mixture of tree species, both deciduous and evergreen. This increases the diversity of bird species you can view. This is ideal habitat for the ruby-crowned kinglet, a small native bird that can be spotted in this area during the winter. read more

Mountain laurel is a native flowering evergreen shrub, with waxy green leaves that remain through the winter and pinkish-white flowers when it blooms. While highly toxic to humans if ingested, it is a food source for white-tailed deer, eastern cottontails, and other wildlife, especially during winter forage. It can also provide a source of cover for white-tailed deer, eastern screech owl, and various song bird species. read more

Look to the forest floor for small, native wildflowers, such as Cut-leaf Toothwort, Pennywort, Yellow Trout Lily, Bloodroot, Virginia Spring Beauty, and Showy Orchid. These woodland flowers require a forest habitat to survive, and are dependent on the trees surrounding them. They appear in early spring and soak up as much sunlight as they can before the large deciduous trees leaf out and cover the forest floor in shade. read more

An osprey nest at the top of a tree is one of the best places to see a nest from land in the park. Ospreys, blue herons, bald eagles, cormorants, and gulls are all frequently seen in this area, as it is an easy place to catch fish. Owls are common as well, with great horned owls being one of the biggest predators of osprey chicks during the nesting season. read more

This damp habitat contains a cluster of paw paw trees, a small understory tree that produces the largest edible fruit native to the United States. Raccoons, squirrels, opossums, and other small mammals are attracted to the mango-like fruit. Paw paws are also critical to the life cycle of the zebra swallowtail butterfly, whose larvae feed exclusively on paw paw leaves. read more

The papaya, papaw, or pawpaw is the plant species Carica papaya, one of the 21 accepted species in the genus Carica of the family Caricaceae. It was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, within modern-day southern Mexico and Central America. In 2020, India produced 43% of the world's supply of papayas. read more

In the spring and summer months, the creek at the bottom of the hill may be surrounded by smelly Eastern skunk cabbage. One of the first freshwater wetland plants to emerge in early spring, its strong odor attracts flies and beetles as pollinators but deters hungry deer and other animals from munching on it. Skunk cabbage also has a unique ability to produce heat that allows it to emerge and bloom even when the ground is still frozen - up... read more

The standing dead or dying trees, or “snag” trees, in this area are an ideal place to see several woodpecker species, such as the downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, and northern flicker. Woodpeckers create new cavities in these snags while searching for insects to eat, and several other bird species, such as Louisiana Waterthrush, Prothonotary Warbler, Carolina Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds, and White-breasted Nuthatch, will later nest in these cavities. read more

Snake holes are scattered amongst the mushrooms and moss growing in the rich soil of the trail. Mallows Bay is home to several species of snakes, such as the common watersnake, the rough green snake, and the venomous copperhead. They typically shelter inside tree hollows, under leaf litter, or in holes dug by rodents or other animals. read more

The landscape along this part of the trail is dominated by stands of young trees, with very few mature trees, hinting at generations of this land's use for farming. As the land returns to its natural state, it is colonized by secondary succession trees, such as sweet gum. The ground will be scattered with spiky fruits called burr balls or gum balls. Sweet gum seeds are a food source for many species, such as sparrows, finches, wild turkeys, squirrels, and... read more

The landscape along this part of the trail is dominated by stands of young trees, with very few mature trees, hinting at generations of this land's use for farming. As the land returns to its natural state, it is colonized by secondary succession trees, such as sweet gum. The ground will be scattered with spiky fruits called burr balls or gum balls. Sweet gum seeds are a food source for many species, such as sparrows, finches, wild turkeys, squirrels, and... read more

The downed trees along the trail are known as tree-of-heaven, a native Chinese species that has become a widespread invasive species across North America. Easily identified by its large seed pods, it reproduces quickly, crowds out native species, and secretes a toxic chemical into the soil that can kill nearby plants. The tree has also advanced the spread of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that lays its eggs on the trees, and feeds on and damages many native trees. read more

This forested upland is dominated by pines, with minimal undergrowth. Upturned trees reveal a tiny ecosystem, home to the bees, wasps, spiders, beetles, and other insects - all beneficial to pollination and the food web here. Upturned trees and logs also provide an ideal habitat for several species of wood-decaying fungi, such as turkey-tail, trembling crust, and beefsteak polypore. These species grow on the decaying wood of upturned trees and logs, playing an important role in breaking down plant matter... read more

Where the forest thins, enjoy the expansive view of the wetland that the creek feeds. This wetland is a transition zone between land and water and is teeming with life. In the early spring, you can observe several amphibians, such as the northern cricket frog, leopard frog, spring peeper, green frog, American toad, and Fowler’s toad. Their loud calls indicate an active breeding season that is reliant on the ephemeral streams and ponds left behind by winter snowmelt and rain. read more

In addition to the osprey, eagles, and songbirds frequently seen at Mallows Bay, it is also home to the Eastern wild turkey. Turkeys use forests for roosting and nesting, as well as grassy fields, like this one, for insect foraging. Over the past 50 years, Maryland’s wild turkey population has significantly rebounded with a flourishing population in Southern Maryland supported by large expanses of natural areas like Mallows Bay Park. read more