At the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age, a vast wetland, known as the Big Spring Prairie, covered much of northwestern Ohio. Today, Springville Marsh, a State Nature Preserve, protects a 160 acre remnant of that ecosystem; characterized by flat terrain and abundant ground water, this relic has survived drainage, forest encroachment and the farmer's plow.
Accessed by a 1-mile trail, most of which crosses the marsh as an elevated boardwalk, this fascinating preserve is on Township Road 24 (west of U.S. 23), 4 miles north of Carey, Ohio. Visitors will find an extensive cat-tail marsh, with patches of twig rush, sedge and phragmites; islands of willow and shrubby dogwood dot the wetland, adding to the floral diversity. Rare species, such as Kalm's lobelia, bottle gentian, shrubby cinquefoil and fen orchids may be seen along the boardwalk.
Wetland residents include a variety of herons, egrets, soras, mink, long-tailed weasels, raccoons and red fox; spotted turtles, threatened in Ohio, may also be found. Open ponds, viewed from a duck blind or observation tower, attract a variety of waterfowl, especially during spring and fall migrations.
