Biology
Several habitats are found within the parks. Originally most of the land was forested with large eastern white pines, but was denuded by loggers. Most of the vegetation today is second-growth forest, with some sections dominated by maples and basswoods and others by eastern white pines. Drier areas support oak savanna while wetter areas bear floodplain forest. The driest hilltops even support prickly pear cactus. Early successional species take hold on the exposed basalt rocks. Over 400 species of ferns and flowering plants have been catalogued in the Wisconsin park.
Mammals found in the parks include white-tailed deer, foxes, raccoons, gray squirrels, otters, mink, muskrats, and beavers, and 150 species of birds have been identified in the park, of whom at least 75 species are known to nest in the area.
Read more about this topic: Interstate Park
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