Maryland system Interoperable departments Field article Flora & fauna profile

Flora profile

Red Maple

Red maple is useful because it crosses boundaries. It can help readers move from forest to wetland, from season to habitat, and from color to ecological context.

Read this plant as part of a Maryland system: habitat, season, water, cover, insects, birds, mammals, and low-impact field observation.

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Flora profile Maryland habitat context for Red Maple
This habitat-context image supports the Red Maple profile. Red Maple is most useful when read through habitat structure and wildlife relationships, not just as a standalone name.

Professional guide

By Maryland Wilderness Editorial TeamWritten/reviewed by Michael W. Deem

Reviewed for Maryland-specific habitat context, seasonal timing, low-disturbance field use, public education value, and clear boundaries around official rules or licensed work.

Reviewer background

Reviewer background includes current Wildlife Damage Control Operator (WDCO) work through the Maryland DNR Wildlife & Heritage Service framework, ten years of wildlife-conflict experience since 2016, licensed private-applicator experience, practical entomology and pesticide knowledge, nuisance-pattern prevention, insects and attractants, habitat reading, and public education across Maryland wildlife topics.

Maryland Wilderness does not replace emergency services, veterinary care, legal advice, health departments, public-land managers, or Maryland DNR / Wildlife & Heritage Service decisions. Verify current rules, closures, permits, seasons, and protected-species requirements with the official manager before acting.

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Profile details

How to read Red Maple in Maryland.

Common name

Red Maple

Scientific name

Acer rubrum

Field type

Forest and wetland tree

Maryland habitat lens

wet woods, stream edges, mixed forest, swamp margins, lowlands, and adaptable upland sites

Best timing

spring flowers, autumn color, and strong value as a seasonal marker in many habitats

Fauna connections

early-season insects, songbirds, cavity users, wet-woods wildlife

Interconnected reading

Where this profile should send the reader next.

Paired guide

Wetlands

Use this next step to connect Red Maple with wildlife, habitat, timing, or field method.

Paired guide

Spring

Use this next step to connect Red Maple with wildlife, habitat, timing, or field method.

Paired guide

Autumn

Use this next step to connect Red Maple with wildlife, habitat, timing, or field method.

Use standard

Observe without collecting or exposing sensitive locations.

Use this page to improve field reading. Do not remove plants, seed, bark, flowers, fruit, nests, eggs, shells, or animals from public land unless current rules clearly allow it. For plant nativity, county records, rare status, and regulated handling, verify with official Maryland sources before publishing location-specific claims.

Official reference Field ethics Glossary

Term paths

Use glossary terms to move between wildlife, habitat, and service pages.

Blue dotted glossary terms open quick definitions. These hubs collect the vocabulary that helps readers find the right department faster.

Wildlife glossary Animal signs, behavior, health, and structure-use terms Tracks, scat, home range, den sites, rabies-vector language, and wildlife-conflict terms. Flora & fauna glossary Ecology, habitat, food-web, and biodiversity terms Use this path for environmental science vocabulary that connects species to habitat. Site search Search a term, animal, place, service, or activity Use search when the glossary popup is not enough and a page-level route is needed.

Interoperable guide system

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