Deer grazing in front of the Mansion

Borderland offers visitors an opportunity to explore a variety of ecological communities. Rabbits, squirrels, and geese are common sights; otter, deer, fox and raccoon are some of the mammals living in the park. The park is a great place to see migratory birds; great blue heron and even osprey are spotted on occasion. The diversity of vegetation throughout the park provides forage to sustain these and many other species.

Most of Borderland's woodlands consist of white and red oak trees. Pocket areas of white pine, hemlock and beech trees can be found in the park. Borderland has over 35 acres of agricultural fields which have been maintained for hay for over 300 years. A wonderful array of wildflowers within the hayfields can be seen in July and August, along with dragon-flies and other insects. Please leave the flowers for others to enjoy.

The Blandings Turtle is one of the creatures to be found at Borderland.  It prefers water but it also lives in marshes, where it feeds on insects, worms and various plants.

The park’s six ponds are a rich habitat for fragrant water lilies and blue-flowered pickerelweed, and are home to a variety of freshwater fish including perch and largemouth bass. The ponds are in various stages of succession. The abundance of floating vegetation in some indicates that they are in the process of changing from pond to marsh. As plant material decays, it is added to the layers of organic matter on the bottom. Eventually this debris is deep enough to support swamp shrubs. The shrubs, in turn, rapidly absorb available moisture; as the swamp dries out, trees will take root and a swamp forest will develop.

Borderland hosts hundreds of vernal pools. These special habitat areas or "Big Puddles" are very important for amphibians such as toads, salamanders, frogs. Look for programs in the early spring related to this habitat.