Rest Stop
Wetlands
are often used as resting places for migrating birds. Other animals, like
fish and crabs, lay their eggs in wetlands. Young fish and crabs
spend their early life in wetlands, where there is lots of cover from predators. When they grow older, they will move out to more open waters.
Disappearing Wetlands
About half of the wetlands that were in the United States two centuries ago are now gone. Most were drained and used for farmland or filled in so roads and towns could be built on them. This development has put a strain on species that depend on wetlands for survival. It is estimated that close to 35 percent of the animals and plants on the U.S. endangered or threatened species list depend on wetlands for at least part of their life cycle.
Variety
is the Spice of Life
Not all wetlands
are the same. They all have unique characteristics!
Bogs, Fens, and Pocasins
These three types of wetlands all have peat in them, but they are different in many ways.
Prairie Potholes, Vernal Ponds, and Playas
When it rains, these wetlands come to life.
Freshwater Marshes
Cattails, bulrushes and lots of wildlife make freshwater marshes dynamic ecosystems.
Swamps
These forested wetlands are often found near rivers and lakes.
Wetlands are an important part of the environment. They help control flooding by soaking up water during storms. Wetlands also act as natural filters for water pollutants and they trap sediment that can clog rivers, streams and lakes. In fact, wetlands are often compared to kidneys because of their ability to clean up the water supply! 
Wetlands
are often used as resting places for migrating birds. Other animals, like
fish and crabs, lay their eggs in wetlands. Young fish and crabs
spend their early life in wetlands, where there is lots of cover from predators. When they grow older, they will move out to more open waters.
About half of the wetlands that were in the United States two centuries ago are now gone. Most were drained and used for farmland or filled in so roads and towns could be built on them. This development has put a strain on species that depend on wetlands for survival. It is estimated that close to 35 percent of the animals and plants on the U.S. endangered or threatened species list depend on wetlands for at least part of their life cycle.