Six-foot tall bumps covered with native grasses and wild flowers that dot the landscape south of Olympia.
Importance in the Web of Life:
Mima mounds are home to a wide variety of prairie vegetation, including grasses, mosses, lichens and herbs.
Cool Facts:
No one knows what formed the Mima mounds. Some scientists think it was shaking from earthquakes. Others say it was the severe freezing and thawing that followed the departure of glaciers some 10,000 to 15,000 years ago.
Threats:
Conversion of habitat into housing developments poses a danger to the mounds, as does the invasion of non-native plants such as Scotch Broom, and the encroachment of Douglas fir trees and foreign grasses.
Where in Washington Can I See One?
Visit the Department of Natural Resources' Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve near Littleton. The preserve is open year-round during daylight hours and offers hiking trails and an interpretive kiosk to learn more about this fascinating phenomenon.
What Can I Do to Help?
Discourage your parents from planting Scotch Broom in your yard. Help eliminate this invasive plant from your neighborhood by pulling, cutting or mowing it.
