The great blue heron standing on a bank.

Wildlife

The Cumberland Plateau is the heart of biodiversity in North America. Coal Creek Farm is right in the middle of the region. Because we’re trying to improve and sustain the environmental quality of the farm, we commissioned a biodiversity inventory to understand the various habitats and the plants and critters that live there. On the farm, scientists have found a new species of plant—from the sunflower family—Eupatorium, and a new species of grasshopper— Melanoplus lindemanni.

The results of the ongoing study are impressive.

  • 599 plant species,
  • 59 species of trees,
  • 43 shrubs,
  • 13 woody vines,
  • 348 forbs (herbs),
  • 109 graminoids (grasses, sedges, rushes)
  • 27 ferns and fern allies
  • 109 Fungi
  • 13 Amphibians
  • 14 Reptiles
  • 77 Birds
  • 93 Butterflies and Moths
Ginseng leaves

Plants

Turtle walking on rocks

Animals

A blue grosbeak sitting on a branch

Birds

Yellow mushroom growing on a mossy bank

Fungi

Spangled Skimmer sitting on a thin plant.

Insects