Special Habitats of Hawk Mountain 

Importance of Wetlands
Many amphibians travel long distances over rugged terrain to breed in vernal ponds located on or near the Sanctuary. Traffic on the road that bisects the Sanctuary has been documented to kill as many as 100 amphibians per night as they make this journey. Their movements occur on rainy nights between late March and mid-May. The Sanctuary educates and encourages drivers to watch the road during this time to protect our nocturnal terrestrial spring migrants and reduce amphibian deaths.

Knothole Moss
The knothole moss, found only at two sites across our land holdings, has a unique niche and is a rarity. It grows only in moist, rotten knotholes of trees or on the bark of older tree trunks or downed logs.

Respect the Rattlesnake
Remote rocky outcroppings are often used by timber rattlesnakes to bask and breed, although they need a variety of habitats to survive. For instance, they may travel over one mile during summer to low-lying streams and ravines for water and relief from the heat. Rattlesnakes are docile by nature and a Pennsylvania Species of Special Concern.

The North Slope 
The hemlock-covered talus-slope below North Lookout that descends to the Little Schuylkill River harbors a rich diversity of lichen, ferns, plants, and bird life, some of it unique to this section of the Sanctuary. Other uncommon species, such as worm-eating warblers, nest in the thick mountain laurel cover and on rocky slopes. This area is closed to the public and difficult to traverse, offering ideal habitat.