Please Support The Prairie Enthusiasts!

Some may have noticed that several of the bluff prairies around La Crosse are looking better each year. This might be during a hike in Hixon Forest or while mountain biking on some of the shared-use trails. Or it could be in the comfort of your car. For example, here is Stry Prairie on Miller Bluff as recently seen from highway 16 heading north towards Onalaska:

Many might remember that, until recently, this prairie was being overrun by brush and trees. Like many of our bluff prairies, it was slowly being lost. But, Friends of the Blufflands stepped in a few years ago and with much support from the City, the Stry Foundation, members, and volunteers, led the effort to restore this prairie as well as several others. Although there is still a lot of work to be done, it is now in much better shape!

The Coulee Region Chapter (CRC) of The Prairie Enthusiasts has been a key partner in this success. Over the past few years, Friends has collaborated with this chapter on joint work days, achieving significant results. Their most notable contribution, however, has been planning and conducting prescribed burns. Prairies are considered fire-dependent because they require burning to flourish. The CRC has been the driving force behind these burns, which are provided at no cost! Yes, no cost for a service that would otherwise cost the City several thousands of dollars if a contractor were hired. These burns are crucial for maintaining healthy prairies and providing this unique and essential habitat for all kinds of life, including many birds and insects. It is well known that many pollinators, such as monarch butterflies, are experiencing rapid declines. A major factor in this decline is believed to be the lack of suitable habitat.

Some may have noticed a conspicuous white line around the prairie in the photo above as outlined in blue below:

This is a part of a burn break put in by a team from the CRC. A brush cutter with a metal blade is used to cut all vegetation close to the ground along a path on the edge of the burn unit about 6 feet in width. Then a leaf blower is used to clear the cut grass and other plants off the break making an effective barrier to contain the fire. Very hard work on very steep slopes!

Hopefully conditions will be conducive for a burn this winter or spring. Other burns that are in the planning stages on City-owned land are Lookout Prairie and Savanna, Mathy Bluff Prairie, and perhaps Juniper Tract Prairie. FBL hopes that the CRC will continue to have the interest and ability to provide this service for years to come. Please do what you can to support them by donating to The Prairie Enthusiasts at https://theprairieenthusiasts.org.

Lastly, FBL acknowledges that many have been overwhelmed with donation requests lately. We kindly ask you to treat this as a special appeal for The Prairie Enthusiasts from Friends of the Blufflands. Thank you!