Hixon Forest Blooming Prairie Tour

The remnant prairies of Hixon Forest are in full bloom and the pollinators are hard at work. Join Friends of the Blufflands on a visit to Zoerb Prairie and Lookout Prairie & Savanna on Saturday July 29 at 10 a.m. Meet at the Upper Hixon Forest parking lot, N2875 County FA, La Crosse.

Four years of restoration has left these prairies as “showcase prairies” for what the area looked like when European settlers arrived in La Crosse. This is increasingly imperiled habitat. Less than 1% of Wisconsin’s original dry prairies remain today. Of the eight state listed species identified in the forest in 2005, five are restricted to prairie and the other three are closely associated with prairie. The hike will be led by prairie experts who can provide insights into the ecological significance of these remnant prairies. They will identify plants and wildlife of the prairie, including blooming flowers and their pollinators.

Plan on walking about two miles of rolling hills on forest trails. All ages are welcome. We recommend bringing water along.
About Friends of the Blufflands: The nonprofit Friends of the Blufflands is a dedicated group of nature enthusiasts and conservationists committed to the preservation and protection of Coulee Region blufflands.

Contact: Patrick Wilson, 608 397 2531, friendsoftheblufflands@gmail.com, www.friendsoftheblufflands.org.