Volo Bog

Description

This preserve, designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974, is located within Volo Bog State Natural Area. Volo Bog is the only site in the Illinois Nature Preserve system which contains all the stages of classic bog succession. Located in the Valparaiso Moraine of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division, the landscape of the area was shaped 12,000 years ago during the Woodfordian Stage of the Wisconsinan Glaciation. As the massive glaciers melted, numerous depressions were left behind. These eventually developed into lakes. Volo Bog was one of these lakes until it began filling with vegetation about 6,000 years ago. As the thick vegetation died and decomposed, a peat mat formed. The combination of sphagnum moss and stagnant water resulted in acidic conditions within the bog community. Wetland communities include graminoid bog, low shrub bog, forested bog, tall shrub bog and pond. Upland communities include dry-mesic forest and mesic savanna. This great diversity of habitats has benefited many plants. Notable plant species found in the graminoid bog are marsh shieldfern, bottlebrush sedge and sensitive fern. Tamarack, starflower, water arum and highbush blueberry can be seen in the forested bog, while winterberry holly, poison sumac, red-osier dogwood and marsh cinquefoil occur in the tall shrub bog. Animals in the area include little brown bat, muskrat, beaver, veery and sandhill crane. During the winter, Volo Bog is a good site to look for northern owls and finches.