The Irving Nature Park supports a diverse abundance of invertebrates! Invertebrates are animals that do not have a spine or bony skeleton. These animals range from land to aquatic forms and include species such as butterflies, spiders, sponges, beetles, crayfish, worms, mussels, dragon fly nymphs, and the list goes on! Find these animals by flowers in the park, tidal pools, the saltwater marsh, and the Children’s Forest pond.

The aquatic invertebrates found at the Irving Nature Park can tell us a lot about the health of our wet areas! Aquatic invertebrates are excellent indicators of watershed health, as they live in water for most of their lives, stay in areas that are suitable for their survival, and differ in their tolerance to types of pollution. These critters are critical to wetland food chains, as they are the food source for frogs, fish, waterfowl, songbirds, and other invertebrates. Look for aquatic invertebrates swimming in the water column, crawling on the mud below the water, under rocks, and hiding in vegetation!