At Patuxent Wetlands Park there is a small beach area and a canoe/kayak launch platform. This site offers trash cans but no restrooms are available. The launch platform accesses the Patuxent River north of Jug Bay with an open vista. The winds are generally calm. Parking is available. During low tides there is a danger of boats grounding on the mud flats. The tidal wetlands plant species found in the area include arrowhead and cattails. One of the most important plants in the tidal wetlands is wild rice that provides food for thousands of waterfowl, game birds and songbirds. Just some of the birds living here are the Red Tailed Hawks, Great Horned Owl, Bald Eagles, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, warblers and seven varieties of woodpeckers. In the waters there may be catfish, sunfish, killifish, perch and rockfish that travel up river to spawn. Reptiles in the area include the Eastern Painted Turtle, Red Bellied Turtle, and a few non-poisonous snakes. The wetlands are also home to river otters, muskrats and beavers. |
