Big Oak Tree State Park

Big Oak Tree State Park This is the OFFICIAL page for Big Oak Tree State Park in East Prairie, Mo. The state park system is composed of 92 parks and historic sites managed by the Dept.

Big Oak Tree State Park is home to the only remaining large tract of uncut bottomland hardwood forest and cypress swamp in the state. With countless floral and faunal species unique to these habitats, it is an ecological gem offering us a glimpse of pre-settlement Southeast Missouri. of Natural Resources for the benefit of all Missourians. This forum is for speech related to Missouri State Parks. The views, opinions and positions expressed by users providing comments on this page are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Missouri State Parks or any employee thereof.

Ironweed is blooming around the park! A member of the Aster family, Ironweed is a burst of bright color in the late sum...
09/12/2026

Ironweed is blooming around the park! A member of the Aster family, Ironweed is a burst of bright color in the late summer landscape. It is an important source of pollen and nectar for a wide variety of insects, including beetles, butterflies, and bees. It is the host plant for several moth species, and the American Lady butterfly. Look for it in the park in the day use area along the forest edge.

Leaves are falling along the boardwalk already! Cottonwoods are beginning to drop their leaves. Cottonwoods typically st...
09/12/2026

Leaves are falling along the boardwalk already! Cottonwoods are beginning to drop their leaves. Cottonwoods typically start losing their leaves in September to protect from heat and drought stress. This is a survival mechanism and does not mean the tree is ailing. While their cotton-like tufts of airborne seeds in early summer can be a nuisance to humans, cottonwoods are an important host plant for tiger swallowtail, viceroy, mourning cloak, and red-spotted purple butterflies!

Green herons are another bird that can be seen near water sources. They are a stocky, dark heron with yellow legs. Small...
09/05/2026

Green herons are another bird that can be seen near water sources. They are a stocky, dark heron with yellow legs. Small and secretive, you may not even see them as you go by. They prey on aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians. They can be identified by their greenish grey iridescent feathers and short stature.

Photos courtesy of Wikipedia

One more egret! Cattle egrets are the smallest of the egrets in Missouri at 18” high. These egrets are not originally na...
09/04/2026

One more egret! Cattle egrets are the smallest of the egrets in Missouri at 18” high. These egrets are not originally native to Missouri and have expanded their range over time. The cattle egret is true to it’s name and is often seen foraging near livestock, feasting on insects. They tend to be seen on land rather than near water. They have yellow legs (blackish in juveniles) and a yellow bill, and their plumage takes on a yellowish tint during breeding season.

More Egrets! Another species of egret that we have in Missouri is the snowy egret. They are also a species of concern in...
08/29/2026

More Egrets! Another species of egret that we have in Missouri is the snowy egret. They are also a species of concern in Missouri. Snowy egrets can be distinguished from great egrets by their smaller size, shorter legs, black bills, and yellow feet. Snowy egrets are about 2 feet tall, so much shorter than great egrets. They also have a more active feeding style and will pursue prey, while other egrets will stand still while hunting. Both species were heavily hunted for their breeding plumage, which was used as decoration in ladies hats in the late 1800's and early 1900's. In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed, which banned commercial hunting of native birds and their feathers.

Photos courtesy of Chuck Homler and Will Parson

Egrets-we have a few! The largest egret in Missouri is the great egret, which is a species of conservation concern in Mi...
08/28/2026

Egrets-we have a few! The largest egret in Missouri is the great egret, which is a species of conservation concern in Missouri. They are large white birds with a yellow bill and long black legs and feet. Growing to over three feet tall and with a wingspan of more than four feet, they are a sight to see! They eat fish, amphibians, crayfish, and small mammals. Look for them in bodies of water in the Bootheel, and other areas where herons are typically seen.

Photos courtesy of Stlouisaudobon.org and Roy Lukes

Did you know that some dragonflies migrate? The common green darner dragonfly travels through North America over several...
08/22/2026

Did you know that some dragonflies migrate? The common green darner dragonfly travels through North America over several generations. Individual insects fly for hundreds of miles north in the spring, and successive generations travel south in the fall. To complete the migratory cycle, it takes three generations. Though little is known about these travels, recent research has shown that insect migrations are more common than we think!

Photos courtesy of Judy Gallagher and Mark Chappelle

Mississippi Kites are small raptors that not many people are familiar with. A species of conservation concern in Missour...
08/22/2026

Mississippi Kites are small raptors that not many people are familiar with. A species of conservation concern in Missouri, they are slowly making a comeback in the Mississippi River valley. Adults are gray with a black tail and black wingtips. While most raptors focus on small animals as prey, Kites hunt for large insects both on the ground and in the air. Though they historically occurred in the bootheel only, they have expanded their range and now occur in many areas of Missouri. Their call is a two-syllable whistle that can be heard high above the treetops.

Photos courtesy of allaboutbirds.com

Bullfrogs are the largest frogs in Missouri, and the official state amphibian. They can weigh up to a pound and reach up...
08/15/2026

Bullfrogs are the largest frogs in Missouri, and the official state amphibian. They can weigh up to a pound and reach up to 8 inches in body length. These large members of the frog family range in color from green to brown, and their long back legs have brown bars. Their call is a deep, resonating “jug-o-rum, jug-o-rum” and can be heard up to a half mile away! They hunt insects, fish, crayfish, other amphibians, and even small mammals. Bullfrogs can be found in the park along the Cypress trail, near the water.
Fun facts: Bullfrogs can jump more than 10 times their body length!
A group of bullfrogs is called an army
Female bullfrogs can lay up to 25,000 eggs at a time
Photos courtesy of Alan D. Wilson naturespicsonline and KBIA

You may have seen large gatherings of butterflies on wet gravel, mud, or even carrion! This is called puddling. Butterfl...
08/13/2026

You may have seen large gatherings of butterflies on wet gravel, mud, or even carrion! This is called puddling. Butterflies use their proboscis (a long mouthpart like a straw) to obtain important nutrients that are missing from their diets. Male butterflies puddle more frequently than females, and it is believed that sodium gained from puddling helps improve flight and courtship displays. Males have even been observed head butting each other to compete for the perfect spot in the puddle! Next time you see a group of butterflies puddling, take a moment to appreciate this interesting behavior!

Top photo courtesy of Birds and Blooms

Address

13640 S Highway 102
East Prairie, MO
63845

Opening Hours

Monday 6am - 7pm
Tuesday 6am - 7pm
Wednesday 6am - 7pm
Thursday 6am - 7pm
Friday 6am - 7pm
Saturday 6am - 7pm
Sunday 6am - 7pm

Telephone

+15736493149

Website

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