Nature & Science

Bedrock Terrace Xeric Savanna is a rare habitat with sparse plants and abundant lichen.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Winding along the Potomac River, the George Washington Memorial Parkway protects far more than scenic views and historic landmarks. Across its 4,580 acres lies one of the region’s richest natural landscapes. The Parkway supports an exceptionally rich mix of wildlife and plant life across its forests, rivers, wetlands, and meadows.

Hundreds of animal species live here, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and many smaller groups like crustaceans, mollusks, and insects. The parkway’s plant life is equally diverse, with thousands of documented species across trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, and non-flowering plants, many of them native to the region.

Some species are common and widely seen, while others are rare, seasonal, or found only in specific streams or habitats. The Parkway is home to at least 81 rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species in Virginia and Maryland. Hidden within rugged cliffs and forested ravines of the Potomac Gorge are habitats and ecosystems found in only a handful of locations.

Alongside plants and animals, the parkway also supports complex communities of fungi and parasites that play important roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and maintaining ecological balance.

Together, these interconnected habitats make the parkway one of the most biologically diverse natural areas in the region.

 

Among the numerous mammals that call the George Washington Memorial Parkway home are deer.

NPS/M. Maloy

The parkway’s biodiversity is still revealing surprises. Scientists continue to document species that call these natural areas home, and some corners remain only partially studied. In 2011, researchers discovered a caddisfly new to science, Neophylax virginica, in Turkey Run Park. This is a reminder that even in one of the nation’s busiest metropolitan areas, nature still holds secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Discover more about the Parkway’s remarkable natural resources through the articles on this page, and explore the many plant and animal species that call these landscapes home.

With more than 20 park sites to visit, the Parkway offers countless opportunities to experience forests, rivers, wetlands, and wildlife in one of the richest natural areas surrounding the nation’s capital. Get outside, explore, and see what you can discover.

 

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

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George Washington Memorial Parkway

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Species attribute definitions

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  Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

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  Great Falls Park

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  At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep jagged rocks.

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  Turkey Run Park

  Turkey Run Park

  Turkey Run Park preserves a vertical slice of the Potomac Gorge ecosystem.