Nature Watch: Mysteries of the Dark Water
About the author: Steve Ellis is a naturalist and Land Trust member who enjoys sharing his love of the natural world. His blog series, “Nature Watch,” will appear each month in “Habitchat,” chronicling native plants and wildlife you can expect to see during that particular time of year. We thank Steve for sharing his passion, illustrating the importance of island conservation.
Overview
You’re following a trail that winds its way through a forest, and the trail veers sharply to avoid a pool of dark water. Something stirs beneath the surface – a tadpole, perhaps? You stare into the pool, wondering what mysteries it might hold.
Definitions of forested wetlands are as squishy as the muck that surrounds them. Generally, it’s a forest with soils that are saturated for at least a portion of the growing season and the vegetation is dominated by trees that tolerate wet conditions.
Local tree species that thrive in wet soils include Pacific willow, red alder, western redcedar, Sitka spruce, western hemlock and shore pine. Smaller flora in and around wet areas include lady fern, mosses, sedges, and wildflowers such as coltsfoot and skunk cabbage.
Several varieties of forested wetlands occur on Whidbey and Camano Islands, including bogs, pooled water, ponds, saturated soils and riverine.
The rarest is riverine, as watersheds large enough to produce rivers are in short supply. Trees towering over riverine wetlands are important for salmon and other fish. They reduce silt and shade the water in summer to keep temperatures cool. They also drop leaves and other material into the water, items which are eaten by aquatic insects, which in turn are preyed upon by young salmon. The two main examples of streams on our islands are Kristoferson Creek on Camano and Maxwelton Creek located on Whidbey.
Forested wetlands marked by standing water in the form of pools and surrounded by thick vegetation are much more prevalent. These are the haunts of Pacific Wrens and Song Sparrows. A flash of yellow during the breeding season betrays the presence of a Wilson’s Warbler. Along with shrews, salamanders and frogs, small birds are attracted by the prey base of invertebrates such as millipedes, spiders, beetles, snails and slugs that can be found there.
The category of saturated soils is the most common of our forested wetland types. These areas support a good deal of tree growth. Many giant western redcedars owe their size to these particular locations.
There are other habitats – mudflats for example – which are far richer in resources, but wildlife species are able to rely on our forested wetlands through all the seasons. Amphibians lay eggs in spring. Summer attracts much bird and mammal activity as the ephemeral water sources in more open situations are evaporating. Food resources at this time include an explosion of invertebrate numbers, and fruit in the form of salmonberry berries. Fall and winter bring slashing rainstorms that pummel fields and meadows, so birds such as Hermit Thrushes, Fox Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets find refuge in the forest.
Of all the wetland types, it’s the pooled water that draws one close. Surrounded by ferns, moss and thickets, the pools are always dark and mysterious from the tannins and other compounds leaching from the surrounding trees. I always check ponds and pools for amphibian egg masses and to see what creatures have left tracks behind in the damp soil. Often there are deer, raccoon and rodent tracks. If the conditions are right, you might spot where a frog or salamander approached and then entered the water.
It’s best to stay on dry ground and not to slog through a bog, because you might damage delicate plants or harm wildlife habitat. But this caution shouldn’t stop the child in you from peering into a mysterious pool and wondering what creatures may be living in, on or around it.

Western Skunk Cabbage leaves are the largest of any native plant in the Puget Sound area. Photo by Martha Ellis.
Flora: Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanum)
Nearly everyone is aware of skunk cabbage, the quintessential wetland plant. Its bright yellow sheaths bring color to the otherwise drab surroundings of late winter.
Skunk cabbage leaves are the largest of any native plant in our area, reaching a length of up to 3 feet and a width of 18 inches in just one spring season’s growth. The leaves are supported on short stalks growing from long rhizomes. Prior to the advent of its leaves, a greenish-yellow spike (spadix) appears, partially shielded by a bright yellow sheath (spathe). The numerous tiny flowers on the spike smell of rotting flesh – skunk cabbage would never win any prizes for its aroma!
The rank odor emitted by the flowers entices beetles and scavenging flies hoping for a meal of dead flesh. Instead, they are tricked into pollinating the skunk cabbage’s flowers. The partially enveloping sheath offers protection from the weather for the pollinators to entice them to tarry among the flowers.
Deer occasionally browse the young leaves and muskrats eat the stalks and rhizomes. Skunk cabbage seeds are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks and deer mice. Small amphibians find shelter under the leaves, particularly in forest wetlands.
Skunk cabbage is a true wetland obligate, meaning it can’t grow in dry soil. It does tolerate full or partial shade. Look for the colorful spathes and huge leaves of these remarkable plants along ditches and in various wetland areas in many of our Land Trust and State Park lands.

Northwestern Salamander’s are best observed on rainy nights in February and March. Photo by Martha Ellis.
Fauna: Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile)
Northwestern salamanders are creatures of forested wetlands, ponds and lakes.
This is our islands’ largest salamander, having a body length of 4.25 inches and a tail that can reach an additional 5.25. They are heavy-bodied for a salamander and have smooth, moist skin. Color can vary, but for the most part they are brown with lighter areas behind the eyes.
Adults of this species are nocturnal, spending days in old rodent burrows or under logs. They venture out at night to track down insects, spiders, millipedes, worms and other small invertebrates. They rely on their sense of smell to locate prey.
Spawning starts in February. Adults migrate at night from the wet forests to permanent ponds and lakes. Egg masses are attached to underwater plants including grasses.
Breeding ponds may hold different age classes as the larvae change from juveniles to subadult to full adulthood. Their diet at this time consists of snails, worms, aquatic insects and tadpoles.
Northwestern salamanders have few predators owing to poisonous glands behind the eyes and along the back and tail. When disturbed, a sticky substance is emitted with a thrashing of the tail. The salamander may also give out warning ticking sounds. Their main predator is the Barred Owl, which seems undeterred by the mild poison.
Look for these salamanders on rainy nights in February and March as they troop to breeding ponds. You’ll need a good headlamp to help spot these migrants. Please drive slowly if you’re passing a known breeding pond or lake. Road kills are a major cause of mortality at this time of year.