MDC urges southeast Missouri landowners to identify rare sand prairie habitat

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

BENTON, Mo., (KBSI) — The Missouri Department of Conservation is encouraging landowners in southeast Missouri to look for signs of rare remnant sand prairie habitat on their property.

Officials say this unique habitat exists only in southeastern Missouri, with fewer than 2,000 acres of medium- to high-quality sand prairie and savanna remaining.

One example of the habitat can be found at Sand Prairie Conservation Area in Scott County, a 200-acre site managed for sand prairie, sand savanna and sandy wetland ecosystems.

Conservation partners, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, are working to preserve these habitats through programs such as the Sand Prairie Restoration Program. The program offers technical and financial assistance to landowners in several southeast Missouri counties to help protect qualifying land through permanent easements.

Sand prairies provide critical habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, including doubleform snoutbean, sand hickory and jointweed, as well as wildlife such as northern bobwhite quail and prairie racerunners.

MDC officials say much of the remaining habitat has been altered by agriculture, making preservation efforts increasingly important.

Landowners are encouraged to look for indicators such as prickly pear cactus, splitbeard bluestem or jointweed, which may signal the presence of remnant sand prairie. Those who identify potential habitat are urged to contact MDC’s Private Land Conservation staff to discuss management options and available cost-share programs.