Inventory & Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park

View across field at Pea Ridge National Military Park
Fencing and cannons at Pea Ridge National Military Park

NPS-Photo

Pea Ridge National Military Park is located three miles west of the town of Garfield in Benton County, Arkansas. The park was established in 1956 to preserve, commemorate, and interpret events associated with the March 1862 battle that occurred on the site. The park is comprised primarily of deciduous hardwood forests (3,600 acres), but also includes ledges and bluffs, riparian vegetation, restored prairies, a limestone and sandstone glade, and fields. Forests, cultivated fields, or abandoned fields at different stages of ecological succession are present throughout the park. Restoration and reconstruction of a prairie is underway in the western quarter of the park. The park's hardwood forest vegetation varies with site conditions. Distinct forest types include post oak/blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) forest, oak/hickory forests, and mixed forest types typical of the region (James 2008).
The wildlife species found in the park are typical of northwest Arkansas. Animal populations vary among the different plant habitats. Sixty-three species of breeding birds are confirmed through ongoing monitoring efforts with 16 being species of continental importance (Peitz 2009). The yellowthroated vireo (Vireo flavifrons) was the most commonly occurring species during the breeding season, and indigo bunting and northern cardinal were common. Three grassland obligate species were recorded, the eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna), grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), and Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) (Peitz 2009).

Natural Resource Updates

Showing results 1-7 of 7

  • Deer Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas, 2023

    • Locations: Pea Ridge National Military Park
    • Offices: Heartland Inventory & Monitoring Network
    A deer standing in the snow in a woodland.

    The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network has monitored deer at Pea Ridge National Military Park since 2005. Deer are charismatic creatures that were nearly extinct in the early 1900s. Now deer overpopulation is a significant problem that can lead to overbrowsing of park trees and other plants, increasing deer-vehicle collisions, and the spread of disease. We monitor deer to help the park make management decisions that protect deer, park ecosystems, and people.

  • Pea Ridge National Military Park

    Plant Community Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park

    • Locations: Pea Ridge National Military Park
    Deciduous trees and a measuring tape stretched across a leaf-covered forest floor.

    Pea Ridge National Military Park focuses on restoration of plant communities that were present at the time of the Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862. Open woodlands and native species are the goal. Heartland I&M Network monitors plants and climate to understand how they may be changing over time and to assess how effective restoration management actions are. Ground flora have increased over time, but woodlands still have high canopy cover despite prescribed burns.

  • Pea Ridge National Military Park

    Bird Community Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park, 2021

    • Locations: Pea Ridge National Military Park
    A black and white woodpecker perched outside a hole in a tree trunk.

    Birds are great indicators of environmental change. The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network has monitored the diverse bird community at Pea Ridge National Military Park since 2008 to understand how it may be changing over time. Knowing how birds are doing helps us protect park habitat.

  • Pea Ridge National Military Park

    Deer Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park

    • Locations: Pea Ridge National Military Park
    A deer at Pea Ridge National Military Park.

    The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network surveys for deer using nighttime spotlight surveys. Monitoring deer populations helps us understand how they may be changing over time.

  • Pea Ridge National Military Park

    Problematic Plant Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park

    • Locations: Pea Ridge National Military Park
    Chunks of sawn tree trunk next to a pile of cut tree branches.

    The term "problematic plants" refers to plant species that are exotic, invasive, or pest plants. We monitor Pea Ridge National Military Park for problematic plants and have found 38 species since 2006. Park managers can develop management actions and track the success of their control efforts using the information from our surveys.

  • Pea Ridge National Military Park

    Bird Community Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park

    • Locations: Pea Ridge National Military Park
    Barred Owl in a tree at Pea Ridge National Military Park

    Birds are an important part of the world we live in. They eat pests, disperse seeds, pollinate plants, feed us, and provide us with activities.

  • Pea Ridge National Military Park

    Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park

    • Locations: Pea Ridge National Military Park
    Winton Spring Branch at Pea Ridge National Military Park

    Scientists track aquatic invertebrates to assess water quality. Invertebrates include insect larvae, worms, crayfish, and other animals without backbones.

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Source: Data Store Saved Search 3507 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Source: Data Store Collection 4260 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.



Check out the links below for other interesting science information about your park:

Air Quality in Parks
Learn about the air quality at your park and how it has changed over time.

NPS Geodiversity Atlas
An interactive map to explore the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in your park.

NPSpecies
Find out what plants and animals are present in your park or other parks.

Last updated: October 15, 2018

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