North American Prairie Conference

Field Trip Information Summary


Wednesday, August 6, 2008




• The Whitewater Wildlife Management Area is the largest area of
public land in southeastern Minnesota.
• It has a host of wildlife habitat
ranging from bluff prairies to wetlands.
• This fieldtrip would focus on
bluff prairie and oak savanna restoration.
• The bluff prairie is a
beautiful south and west facing slope that at times is riddled with a
wide array of native prairie plants.
•  In August, you may see such species
as blazing stars, prairie lily, hairy gramma grass, yellow downy paint
cup, western sunflower, flowering spurge, puccoon, butterfly milkweed,
and many others.
• The oak savanna is one of many sand benches in the WMA that is being managed as an oak savanna.
• You will see a savanna in
various stages of restoration, as well as habitat for the federally listed Karner Blue Butterfly (they may still be flying in early August).

• Other species include eastern towhee, pileated woodpecker, maybe a
red-headed woodpecker, field sparrows, and several other savanna
species.
• Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Restoration at Whitewater Wildlife Management Area

• Round trip walking distance from bus: 3 miles

• Rigor of field trip: rigorous to very rigorous if we walk up the bluff, which is recommended

• Potential hazards at site: Steep rough terrain, high temps in the valley, poison ivy, ticks