Prairie Plants BioBlitz

CITIZEN SCIENTISTS INVITED TO HELP TRACK PRAIRIE BIODIVERSITY
Join a community of nature enthusiasts and experts for a BioBlitz at Holland Sand Prairie

LA CROSSE, WI – Citizen scientists of all ages are invited to participate in the Prairie Plants
BioBlitz that will be held at Holland Sand Prairie State Natural Area on June 14, 2025, between
10 a.m. and noon. This community-driven event brings together local experts and nature
enthusiasts for guided field expeditions focused on tracking and recording the biodiversity in the
region.
As part of the Driftless Area BioBlitz (DABB) series, this expedition invites citizen scientists to
use their cell phones or cameras to upload as many plant observations as possible. The more
participants involved, the richer the data collected—helping researchers, conservationists, and
everyday nature lovers gain valuable insights into the Driftless ecosystem.
Protected by a conservation easement forever, roughly 150 species of plants have been identified
at the Holland Sand Prairie nature preserve, some of which are state threatened species or species
of special concern. Large, mature patches of relatively rare plants such as prairie smoke, silky
prairie clover, and sand dropseed are scattered throughout the prairie.
This event is part of the Conservancy’s 2025 “Linked to the Land” series of outdoor experiences
on the many nature preserves it protects for wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, outdoor learning and
recreation in the Driftless Area, and is generously sponsored by Olson Solar Energy and WXOW
News19. Thanks to a unique collaboration between a number of La Crosse organizations
—Strive 2 Thrive Coulee Region, The Nature Place, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, the UW-La
Crosse Biology department, and La Crosse City Parks, Recreation and Forestry — these events
give participants an opportunity to meet naturalists, get guidance on sharing discoveries on
iNaturalist and learn more about the natural world and particularly the Driftless Area’s incredible
biodiversity. 

Advance registration is preferred by June 11 for this free event, and the event will be weather-
dependent, so signing up will ensure that participants are notified in the event of a cancellation.
Register online at MississippiValleyConservancy.org/events. For any questions, contact Karen
Solverson at karen@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 8.