Water, woods, wildflowers, and whompers are featured within Wheatley's Lake Erie shoreline.

The lush Carolinian forest is commonly found much farther south. An unusual component of the woods is the shagbark hickory, a southern tree species with shaggy bark and grows straight and slender with few, low branches.
The dense forest contains oak and hickory stands. The forest floor is alive with the colours and fragrances of trilliums and other spring wildflowers. Unusual plants such as cardinal flower, royal fern, grape fern, cinnamon fern, and shining club moss can also be found. In the open fields near the park entrance, observe samples of agrimony, ragged orchids, spike-rush, wild bergamot and big bluestem grasses.

Many species of butterfly and bird have frequented the region for centuries. The zebra mussel, a small, sebra-striped mollusc, is a newcomer in the animal group. Its rapid infestation of Great Lakes waters has been called one of the worst ecological disasters in North America this decade. The shells of dead zebra mussels often wash ashore, so be careful when walking barefoot.

In summer, painted and snapping turtles, spectacular herons and egrets wade in the creek shallows. The harmless eastern fox snake also called a whomper is often encountered.