Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Sterling Price

The water quality in Wilson's Creek has improved since the 1960s, but urbanization still threatens streams in the park. We monitor aquatic invertebrates at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield to understand water quality conditions in streams. They provide an early warning system for potential water quality problems. Some invertebrates can live in poor-quality water, while others need cleaner water to survive.

Heartland Network scientists began surveying for birds at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield in 2008. We have found 119 different bird species in 13 years of surveys. Unfortunately many bird species are in decline in the region. We measure changes in birds and their habitats to determine the health of bird communities and park ecosystems.

Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios.

Deer are charismatic creatures at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. Without natural predators, deer can become overpopulated and die of disease and starvation, as well as have a negative effect on trees and other plants by overbrowsing. The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network has monitored deer on the park since 2005 to help park managers manage deer, conserve park ecosystems, and assess safety risks to visitors.

Route 66 and the National Park Service have always had an important historical connection. Route 66 was known as the great road west and after World War II families on vacation took to the road in great numbers to visit the many National Park Service sites in the Southwest and beyond. That connection remains very alive and present today. Take a trip down Route 66 and Find Your Park today!

Scientists have been monitoring fish populations since 2006 in Wilson’s Creek and two tributaries. Fish are measured and inspected for diseases and abnormalities. Monitoring fish allows scientists to determine which species are in the park and how well they are doing in the streams.

You can be a Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network Junior Scientist! Explore what it is like to be a scientist that monitors plants, animals, and their habitats national parks. You will explore the 15 parks of the Heartland Network, make observations, identify animals and plants, and learn why scientists use scientific names for organisms. Visit a Heartland Network Park to complete the activities in the booklet or download the booklet here.

Elongated bullets, lack of equipment, unsterilized instruments, and live gun fire were just some of the issues hindering medical efforts for Civil War field hospitals and surgeons. Many soldiers were wounded in the Civil War but even more perished from disease. Learn about the medicine and medical professionals who served on the front lines.