Prairie Refuge in Prairie City

As we travel through different states, we sometimes look for things off the beaten path.  We have gotten information from the Internet, pamphlets we've picked up at visitor centers and people we've talked to.  It doesn't matter....if it sounds interesting and we can fit it into our schedule, we go for it.  We had picked up a Silos and Smokestacks Visitor's Guide at the Iowa Historic Museum the other day.  The article about this refuge sounded interesting, and it was only about a half an hour's drive from our campground. 

   

This wildlife refuge is located in Prairie City, just south and east of Des Moines. 

Rolling hills of prairie grasses welcomed us as we drove on the narrow road towards the visitor/learning center.

In the late 1800's prairies covered 85% of Iowa.  As people settled down and established farms, most of the tall grasses were obliterated. Today, only 1/10 of 1% of the prairie remains.  This refuge was established in 1990 to restore the prairie system in this part of Iowa.  Congress authorized the acquisition of 8600 acres of land, and slowly the corn fields were turned back into grasses and sedge meadows.  Volunteers gathered grass seeds from old cemeteries, roadsides and railroad tracks for use in the reconstruction.

We first headed to the Prairie Learning Center to get some basic information.  The learning center is an educational hub for people of all ages and there is no admission charge.  Inside the center are numerous places where we sat down and watched short films regarding different aspects of the prairies, savannas and how they are affected and renewed by wildfires.  There is also an excellent 15 minute film called "Return to the Wilderness" shown on a huge, 3 part screen in the auditorium.

The refuge has re-introduced bison and elk, which are in an enclosed area of the park.  Currently, there are 86 bison and 24 elk abiding there.  At least, that is the count that was posted on the white board yesterday as we entered into the center.  No visit here would be complete without a chance to see buffalo.  They were not close at all, but Don changed out the lens on the camera to the telephoto lens and captured the shot of the buffalo while sitting in the truck.  

So, that was our afternoon.  The morning was partly taken up with doing laundry.  Who wants to read about that mundane task?!  Not me, that's for sure!