Selinger Marsh
Abandoned oxbow marsh surrounded by steep slopes and ravines

Why You Should Visit
Selinger Marsh lies in the rain shadow of the Appalachian Mountains--this area receives the least rainfall in Maryland.  Springs on the surrounding slopes, however, provide the water for the Marsh, making it an unusual wetland in a otherwise very dry region.  Selinger Marsh is open year round to the public for birdwatching and nature walks.  Admission is free.

Location
Three hour drive from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., near Flinstone.

How to Get the Most from Your Visit

• Bring plenty of drinking water, sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses), rain gear, and bug protection. Binoculars, field guides, and a camera may be useful.
• Pets are not allowed on Conservancy preserves or field trips. 
• Smoking is not permitted. 
• Please do not remove any plants, animals, or rocks.
• Wear socks and closed-toe footwear. Wearing light colors will help you spot and remove ticks.

Please help us maintain this unique natural environment by taking home everything that you bring, including biodegradable materials.
For more information, please contact the Maryland/DC Chapter office at 301-897-8570 or akasakitis@tnc.org.

TICK AND MOSQUITO ALERT
When you get home, plan to drop your clothing directly in the laundry and do a tick check before you shower. Deer ticks, the type that carry lyme disease, are about the size of a pinhead and tend to attach in hair, under ears, underarms, trunk of the body, groin, and backs of the knees. Remove them by gently pulling with tweezers and wipe the skin near the bite with a mild disinfectant. If, within 7-10 days after exposure, you experience a rash (especially an expanding "bull's eye" rash), chills, fever, headache, stiff neck, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and/or aching joints and muscles, contact your doctor. You can find more information on lyme disease at www.lyme.org or www.aldf.com, or by calling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (404) 332-4555.

Directions

• From Washington's Capital Beltway (I-495), take I-270 North.  Take I-70 West: 
• From Baltimore (I-695), take I-70 West:
• Near Hancock, take I-68 West.  Take the Flinstone exit.   From the center of Flintstone continue about.5 mile east to intersection at Town Creek Road.  Turn right across metal bridge onto Town Creek Road.  In about 1.5 miles bear left (stay on pavement) and cross a second metal bridge.  The preserve is 2 miles on the right.  There is no parking available, so please contact the Conservancy before making plans to visit this preserve.

What to See: Plants

• State-rare fringe-tipped gentian.
• Arrowhead, monkey-flower, cardinal flower, New England aster, great blue lobelia, water plantain, blue flag, silky dogwood, alder, and elderberry.

What to See: Animals

• Selinger Marsh is an important haven in this otherwise dry region for several amphibians, including the upland chorus frog and the Jefferson salamander.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Selinger Marsh is a rare wetland in this dry region of the state; its importance as a breeding ground for amphibians makes the site a priority in order to maintain viable populations of these species in this part of Maryland.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing Here
Protected by The Nature Conservancy since 1985, Selinger Marsh's 85 acres continue to be areas for research and monitoring, and the Conservancy acts as a steward to ensure that the site maintains its ecological viability.