Mounds View Grassland Is an Amazing Land Trust Nature Preserve in Southwest Wisconsin

by Thea Kaufman, age 10

Mounds View Grassland is not considered a state or national park, but it is a really lovely habitat for endangered species like birds and highly threatened animals like bison. The preserve has been running for at least 35 years. There are numerous activities that people can do including hiking, birdwatching, and cross-country skiing.

The Mounds View Grassland is a 500-acre preserve owned by the Prairie Enthusiasts. In the prairie, there are a couple of oak groves, cold water streams, and areas of dense brush. The Mounds View Grassland is gradually being restored to preserve wildlife and highly threatened ecosystems. There, you can find Wisconsin's state animal: the badger. You can also find animals like coyotes, red-headed woodpeckers, yellow-breasted chats, and more friendly creatures. In the Mounds View Grassland, if you listen carefully, you can hear the whistle of the upland sandpiper. If you were to bring a pair of binoculars, you can see birds and bison in the area. It is located in southwestern Wisconsin near Barneveld and Blue Mounds.

A larger part of Mounds View Grassland, the Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area (MRPHA), spans over 95,000 acres of grassland in southwest Wisconsin. This area is home to 14 uncommon bird species. It has over 60 prairie remnants, which is one of the most concentrated areas of grasslands in the Midwest. The Mounds View Grassland contains the most important prairie sod and grassland bird habitats inside the MRPHA. Mounds View Grassland protects the regal fritillary butterfly (Speyeria idalia) and other endangered avian species, including the bobolink, upland sandpiper, and the bell’s vireo.

The Mounds View Prairie is a beautiful place that supports animal life. This amazing place is a habitat that will help endangered animals thrive in their new life.

[Sources: Wisconsin DNR; Prairie Enthusiasts; Wisconsinbirds.org; Knowles Nelson]