Panther Hollow
Location
Ecological and Physical Description
Panther Hollow RNA includes two hollows. Panther Hollow is narrow with adjacent sandstone cliffs and outcroppings. Buckhart Hollow is broader and the upper reaches contain exposed sandstone bedrock which forms an intermittent stream. The southwestern bluff tops of both hollows contain dry and xeric upland forest and sandstone glade communities. The RNA contains three uncommon plant species: early saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis), white basswood (Tilia heterophylla) and strawberry bush (Euonymous americanius).
Annual precipitation averages about 46 inches and ranges from about 32 to 70 inches. Average annual snowfall is 10-15 inches.
Closest weather station is in New Burnside, 36 miles west of Panther Hollow.
Bedrock is sandstone, shale, and siltstone. Uplands have a deep veneer of silty loess. Most of the soils are stony and shallow.
Panther Hollow contains an intermittent stream with waterfalls and plunge pools.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smilax bona-nox | Greenbriar | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Vaccinium aboreum | farkleberry | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Claytonia Virginica | spring beauty | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Dicentra cucullaria | Dutchman's breeches | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Sanguinaria canadensis | bloodroot | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Trillium spp. | trilliums | Common Herbaceous Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odocoileus virginianus | White-tailed deer | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Canis latrans | coyote | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Urocyon cinereoargenteus | gray fox | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Procyon lotor | raccoon | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Didelphis marsupialis | opossum | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Sciurus carolinensis | gray squirrel | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Richmondena cardinalis | Cardinal | Common Bird Species | ||
| Coccyzus americanus | yellow-billed cuckoo | Common Bird Species | ||
| Zenaidura macroura | mouning dove | Common Bird Species | ||
| Polioptila cerulea | blue-gray gnatcatcher | Common Bird Species | ||
| Buteo jamaicensis | red-tailed hawk | Common Bird Species | ||
| Cyanocitta cristata | blue jay | Common Bird Species | ||
| Hylocichla mustelina | wood thrush | Common Bird Species | ||
| Cathartes aura | turkey vulture | Common Bird Species |