Fernhill is a great place to see the connections between water, plants, birds and wildlife. The diversity of native plants at Fernhill provide long-lasting benefits for aquatic invertebrates, pollinators, amphibians and reptiles, waterbirds, songbirds and raptors, and mammals. Learn more about the birds of Fernhill.

Wildlife

Below are some examples of wildlife you might see (or see signs of) at Fernhill. Learn more about Pacific northwest species and their habitats from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Reptiles

Amphibians 

NativeRough-skinned Newt  Long-toed Salamander Pacific chorus Frog/Pacific tree Frog Red-legged FrogNon-native & InvasiveBullfrog

Native

Rough-skinned Newt
Long-toed Salamander
Pacific chorus Frog/Pacific tree Frog
Red-legged Frog

Non-native & Invasive

Bullfrog

NativeGarter Snakes Turtles: Western Pond and Western Painted (both in decline)Non-native & InvasiveSnapping Turtle Red-eared Slider

Native

Garter Snakes
Turtles: Western Pond and Western Painted (both in decline)

Non-native & Invasive

Snapping Turtle
Red-eared Slider

Fish

Mammals

NativeBrown Bat Black-tailed deer Weasel Striped Skunk River Otter Common Raccoon Brush Rabbit American Beaver Common Muskrat Ground Squirrel Tree Squirrel Townsend’s Mole Coyote BobcatNon-native & InvasiveNutria (South America)

Native

Brown Bat
Black-tailed deer
Weasel
Striped Skunk
River Otter
Common Raccoon
Brush Rabbit
American Beaver
Common Muskrat
Ground Squirrel
Tree Squirrel
Townsend’s Mole
Coyote
Bobcat

Non-native & Invasive

Nutria (South America)

Non-native & InvasiveMosquito fish Bullhead Catfish Carp*Salmon, trout and other migratory fish are not present at Fernhill. Fish that do find their way to Fernhill, are washed in by Tualatin River flood waters.

Non-native & Invasive

Mosquito fish
Bullhead Catfish
Carp

*Salmon, trout and other migratory fish are not present at Fernhill. Fish that do find their way to Fernhill, are washed in by Tualatin River flood waters.

Native plants

Key to the water quality treatment functions of natural treatment systems (NTS) is the capacity of native wetland plants to filter and absorb nutrients. Vast plantings of emergent and open water wetland species along with native trees and shrubs add species and structural diversity. See how plants support our treatment as water is transferred to the atmosphere by evaporation and from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants. Below are species you'll see along the trails and in the Water Garden as well as in the NTS.  

Shrubs

Trees

NativeDouglas Fir Oregon Ash Large leaf Maple Western Red-Cedar Cottonwood (Black) Cascara Pacific Dogwood Oregon oak Pine (Shore, Ponderosa)

Native

Douglas Fir
Oregon Ash
Large leaf Maple
Western Red-Cedar
Cottonwood (Black)
Cascara
Pacific Dogwood
Oregon oak
Pine (Shore, Ponderosa)

NativeOregon Grape Willow (Geyer, Pacific, Scouler’s, Sitka) Pacific Ninebark Vine Maple Indian Plum Elderberry (Red and Blue) Thimbleberry Snowberry Salmonberry Serviceberry Red-flowering Currant Mock Orange Oceanspray Chokecherry Nootka Rose Dougl…

Native

Oregon Grape
Willow (Geyer, Pacific, Scouler’s, Sitka)
Pacific Ninebark
Vine Maple
Indian Plum
Elderberry (Red and Blue)
Thimbleberry
Snowberry
Salmonberry
Serviceberry
Red-flowering Currant
Mock Orange
Oceanspray
Chokecherry
Nootka Rose
Douglas Spirea
Red-twig Dogwood/Red-osier Dogwood
Twinberry

Herbaceous

Forbes

Fern

NativeAquatic Emergents: Sedges, Rushes, Hard-stem Bullrush, Common Tule

Native

Aquatic Emergents: Sedges, Rushes, Hard-stem Bullrush, Common Tule

NativeYarrow Camas Wapato Yellow Violet Oregon Sunshine Douglas Aster Milkweed Lupine

Native

Yarrow
Camas
Wapato
Yellow Violet
Oregon Sunshine
Douglas Aster
Milkweed
Lupine

NativeSword Licorice Deer Maidenhair

Native

Sword
Licorice
Deer
Maidenhair