Red Oak Bottoms

State Natural Area (No. 523)

Location: Within the Wood County Forest. T22N-R4E, Section 17. 25 acres.

Access: No direct public access. From the intersection of Highway 80 and 54 nearly one mile south of Dexterville, go east on 54 4.4 miles, then north on Hemlock Trail 1.6 miles to the railroad tracks. Walk west 1.2 miles to Hemlock Creek. Walk north into the site.

Description: Situated along Hemlock Creek, Red Oak Bottoms supports an old-growth floodplain forest, which contains an unusual abundance of red oak in the canopy. While large floodplain forests occasionally have a red oak component, it is quite unique to have red oak co-dominant in these situations. Along with silver maple, this one and three-quarter mile reach of the creek supports basswood and some swamp white oak. The 35-mile Hemlock Creek is a soft-water stream that flows in a southerly direction and joins the Yellow River south of Babcock. Sand, gravel, and rubble are the dominant bottom types, but boulders, bedrock, and silt are also present. Fish include walleye, northern pike, bluegill, rock bass, bullheads, perch, and pumpkinseed. Migrating ducks use the creek and mallard, teal, and wood ducks nest along the stream. The large maple and red oaks provide important habitat for the state-threatened red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) and numerous cavities offer nesting sites for prothonotary warblers and brown creepers. Red Oak Bottoms is owned by Wood County and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.