Prairie Pollinators Walk

Capture a rare glimpse of the rolling grassland and wildflowers that once carpeted much of this area on a guided walk of Borah Creek Prairie, a Wisconsin State Natural Area. Gary Eldred, a founder of The Prairie Enthusiasts, will guide participants and identify native grasses and flowers to show where prairie restoration efforts have created more habitat for pollinators such as butterflies and bees. This event is part of the Conservancy’s 2019 “Linked to the Land” series of outdoor experiences on the many nature preserves it protects for wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, education, and recreation in the Driftless Area.

Borah Creek Prairie includes 181 acres of scenic remnant prairie that was prevalent throughout the area 200 years ago. The property is a boon for native plant, bird, and butterfly enthusiasts. Grasses include big and little bluestem, Indian grass, side-oats grama, and prairie dropseed, interspersed with wildflowers such as pasque-flower, cream wild indigo, rattlesnake master, rough blazing star, yellow coneflower, bird’s-foot violet, downy gentian, and the Great Plains ladies-tresses orchid. The site has at least eight rare and protected plant species. Birders will be treated to a cacophony of grassland birds, including bobolinks and eastern meadowlarks.

Borah Creek Prairie was discovered by local prairie enthusiast Gary Eldred, who noticed the abundance of native wildflowers on the site and worked with the landowner to manage the prairie with prescribed fire and invasive species control. Borah Creek Prairie was acquired with funding from the Wisconsin DNR's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Today, the property is owned by The Prairie Enthusiasts and maintained by their Southwest Wisconsin Chapter. Partners in the permanent protection of the site also include Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

SIGN-UP IS REQUIRED (below) for this FREE event. With questions, contact Carol Labuzzetta at [email protected] or call 608-784-3606 ext 7.

WHAT TO WEAR OR BRING (optional): water, good walking shoes/sneakers/boots, binoculars, camera, bird guide book

Sign up

Advance registration helps us tread lightly on the land and show funders the value of our Outreach & Education programs. Thank you.