Prairie Restoration Field Day

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Prairie Reconstruction Initiative cordially invite you to an in-person day of learning at Hole-in-the-Mountain Wildlife Management Area (HIM WMA)!

Hole-in-the-Mountain Wildlife Management Area near Lake Benton, MN, is 638 acres of remnant and reconstructed prairie where people are working together to try and improve prairie health. Those efforts include reintroducing a rare butterfly, the federally threatened and state endangered Dakota skipper. Prairie restoration and management, rare species natural history and recovery, and invertebrate response to management actions are all complex. Pooling collective expertise at HIM WMA has led to a well-rounded approach and the potential recovery of Dakota skippers in an iconic Minnesota landscape.

The Field Day will feature small group discussions with wildlife managers and other natural resource professionals. We will take a deep look at conservation grazing in two different applications (patch-burn-graze and adaptive management grazing), managing for rare species, overcoming the challenges of managing Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome, and vegetation and insect monitoring. Join us on the prairie at HIM WMA to learn about ways to utilize grazing to manage prairie and benefit insect pollinators in prairie reconstruction. Space is limited. Please register here.

Specific details about the field day including directions, what to bring, site information, maps, agendas, and information handouts will be sent to you by the class administrator prior to the field day. Please send questions about this course to Megan Benage (megan.benage@state.mn.us).

Individuals who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Megan Benage (megan.benage@state.mn.us, 507-233-1256) by June 30, 2022 or call using your preferred Telecommunications Relay Provider.