Herrick Lake Forest Preserve offers much more than just a place for recreation. Thirteen fish species, six amphibian, five reptile, 19 mammal and 108 bird species have been spotted here. More than 300 native plant species thrive in the environment of this preserve.
The meadows of European grasses may stand as a testimony to years under the plow, but they, too, provide a habitat for many wild animals. Roaming the fields are white-tailed deer and red fox; dickcissels, savanna sparrows, bobolinks and eastern meadowlarks nest among the fescue grasses.
Slowly emerging on the fields are young forests of American elm with smaller maples, oaks, lindens and hickories in the understory. Viburnums, dogwoods, roses and blackberries are common in these immature upland woods. Many birds inhabit this ecosystem including black-crowned night herons, eastern wood peewees and American woodcocks.
Black ash and buttonbush make up the wetland woods community along the preserve's pothole marshes and streams. Raccoons, woodchucks, northern orioles, wood thrush, and various frogs and toads dwell in this habitat. Carpeting the forest floor in splashes of color are swamp buttercup and wild iris.
A large marsh of cattails and reeds is located in the middle of the preserve, where eastern tiger salamanders, northern leopard frogs, pied-billed grebes, blue-winged teals, yellow-headed blackbirds, minks and muskrats live. The beauty of the marsh's shoreline and reflective pools provides a feeling of serenity for the occasional passerby.
