Mericle Woods State Preserve

Mericle Woods State Preserve is a 132-acre area of mature oak forest. It is located three miles northwest of Toledo in southern Tama County. 

Two separate tracts of land comprising this preserve (110 acres and 22 acres) were donated to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 1984 by Burrell and Nellie Benjamin and were dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1986. 

The Benjamins named the preserve “Mericle Woods” as a memorial to Nell’s parents, who had a great interest in the preservation of wildflowers.

About the Land

The gently sloping, dissected topography of the preserve is representative of the Southern Iowa Drift Plain near its border with the Iowan Surface landform region. The areas are representative of a mature hardwood forest. 

Both parcels contain several trees that are over 200 years old. The dominant vegetation is mature upland oak forest. The upper slopes and ridges are dominated by white oaks, with some blue beech occurring in the understory. Red oaks are dominant mainly on the slopes, along with basswood on the steeper and more mesic sites. 

In the northern parcel, the bottomland forest includes a small stream whose floodplain is dominated by bur oak. 

Ironwood is very common throughout both forested areas.

Directions

1. From Tama/Toledo, take Highway 63 north 1.5 miles to 290th Street. 
2. Turn west (left) and go 2 miles to the larger parcel of the preserve (sign: Mericle Woods State Preserve) on north side of the road. 
3. To reach the smaller parcel, continue west on 290th Street to “H” Avenue (a T-intersection), then continue north another 0.1 mile to the preserve on the west side the road (signs: State Preserve boundary).

Plants

Approximately 130 plants have been identified in the preserve. Early blooming wildflowers include:

• Bluebells
• Bellwort
• Toothwort 

They are followed by:

• Virginia waterleaf
• Starry false Solomon’s seal
• Jacob’s ladder 
• Moonseed 

Birds & Species

Over ninety species of birds have been noted at the preserve, including:

• Barred owl
• Swainson’s thrush
• American redstart
• Tennessee warbler
• Blackpoll warbler
• Solitary vireo

Visitor Information

Another natural area in the vicinity is Casey’s Paha State Preserve.