Hythecker Prairie SNA

 

 

     
 
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History

 
 

 

 
     
 

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Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

Detail map (MN DNR)

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

40 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

N44 1.374, W93 2.160

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Dodge County  
          Southeast Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

No maintained trails

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province

   
  Ecological Section    

Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Oak Savanna

   
  Land Type Association    

Blooming Prairie Till Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Southern Wet Prairie

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           
 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Parking

 
    Hythecker Prairie SNA   Hythecker Prairie SNA  
           
    Hythecker Prairie SNA      
           
 

Wood Routed Sign

 
    Hythecker Prairie SNA   Hythecker Prairie SNA  
    2008   2011  
           
    Hythecker Prairie SNA   Hythecker Prairie SNA  
    2012   2020  
           
 

Early Summer

 
    Hythecker Prairie SNA   Hythecker Prairie SNA  
           
 

Late Summer

 
    Hythecker Prairie SNA      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Hythecker Prairie
Joshua Mayer
 
  Hythecker Prairie  
  Hythecker Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Brian
 
  Hythecker Prairie Scientific and Natural Area  
   

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Hythecker Prairie Scientific and Natural Area Virtual Hike
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
 
   
 
About

Dec 4, 2020

Depending on your perspective, this native prairie remnant could be considered small or large. A map of Minnesota prairie at the time of the Public Land Survey (1847-1908) shows Dodge County with over 203,000 acres of prairie. Measured against this history, the 26.1-acre remnant preserved at Hythecker Prairie is small indeed. Yet it ranks among the largest of the surviving bits of prairie scattered across the county today.

mndnr.gov/snas/sna01038

 

 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

8/12/2000

  8/25/2011   7/8/2012   7/2/2020    
 
 

Amphibians

 
  northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens)   northern leopard frog  
 

Birds

 
 

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)

 

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Ruffed Grouse

 
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

cabbage white (Pieris rapae)

clouded sulphur (Colias philodice)

common eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis)

common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala)

dog day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis)

eastern tailed-blue (Cupido comyntas)

eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

eyed brown (Lethe eurydice)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

great spangled fritillary (Argynnis cybele)

Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina)

meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)

seven-spotted lady beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)

twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

white-lined sphinx (Hyles lineata)

widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)

 

clouded sulphur

dog day cicada

monarch

twelve-spotted skimmer

viceroy

 
 

Mammals

 
  plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)   plains pocket gopher  
 

Plants

 
 

Four plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Threatened

edible valerian (Valeriana edulis var. ciliata)

largebract ticktrefoil (Desmodium cuspidatum var. longifolium)

tuberous Indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum)

Special Concern

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Southern Wet Prairie WPs54

     
 

 

alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum)

American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus)

American common reed (Phragmites australis ssp. americanus)

American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

American elm (Ulmus americana)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima)

blue giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

blue vervain (Verbena hastata)

bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

Buxbaum’s sedge (Carex buxbaumii)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Canadian tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica)

catnip (Nepeta cataria)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

dark green bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)

downy phlox (Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida)

Dudley’s rush (Juncus dudleyi)

edible valerian (Valeriana edulis var. ciliata)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

field thistle (Cirsium discolor)

four-flowered yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora)

foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum)

giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

green foxtail (Setaria viridis var. viridis)

heavy sedge (Carex gravida)

hedge nettle (Stachys sp.)

hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana)

hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

hoary vervain (Verbena stricta)

hybrid cattail (Typha × glauca)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Kalm’s lobelia (Lobelia kalmii)

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis)

largebract ticktrefoil (Desmodium cuspidatum)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)

mountain death camas (Anticlea elegans)

narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard (Crepis tectorum)

narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba var. alba)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern blue flag (Iris versicolor)

pale bulrush (Scirpus pallidus)

palespike lobelia (Lobelia spicata)

pineapple-weed (Matricaria discoidea)

prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)

prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya)

prairie cordgrass (Sporobolus michauxianus)

prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

pussy willow (Salix discolor)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea)

redtop (Agrostis gigantea)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

rough oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra)

round-leaved dogwood (Cornus rugosa)

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

sandbar willow (Salix interior)

sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus)

silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

slender willow (Salix petiolaris)

smooth brome (Bromus inermis)

smooth rose (Rosa blanda var. blanda)

smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum)

soft wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. mollis)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

swamp betony (Pedicularis lanceolata)

swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata)

timothy (Phleum pratense ssp. pratense)

tuberous Indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum)

tussock sedge (Carex stricta)

Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)

Virginia pepper grass (Lepidium virginicum var. virginicum)

water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides)

white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)

wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis ssp. canadensis)

wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

yellow avens (Geum aleppicum)

yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)

yellow marsh marigold (Caltha palustris var. palustris)

yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

 

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Acer saccharinum (silver maple)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Agastache foeniculum (blue giant hyssop)

Agrostis gigantea (redtop)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anemone cylindrica (candle anemone)

Anticlea elegans (mountain death camas)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Arnoglossum plantagineum (tuberous Indian plantain)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus)

Berteroa incana (hoary alyssum)

Bromus inermis (smooth brome)

Caltha palustris var. palustris (yellow marsh marigold)

Carex buxbaumii (Buxbaum’s sedge)

Carex gravida (heavy sedge)

Carex stricta (tussock sedge)

Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)

Cirsium discolor (field thistle)

Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)

Cornus rugosa (round-leaved dogwood)

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood)

Crepis tectorum (narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard)

Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Desmodium canadense (Canadian tick-trefoil)

Desmodium cuspidatum (largebract ticktrefoil)

Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber)

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Equisetum laevigatum (smooth scouring rush)

Erigeron annuus (annual fleabane)

Erigeron strigosus (prairie fleabane)

Fragaria virginiana (wild strawberry)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Gentiana andrewsii (bottle gentian)

Geum aleppicum (yellow avens)

Helianthus grosseserratus (sawtooth sunflower)

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (rough oxeye)

Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alumroot)

Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum (foxtail barley)

Iris versicolor (northern blue flag)

Juncus dudleyi (Dudley’s rush)

Lepidium virginicum var. virginicum (Virginia pepper grass)

Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)

Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum (wood lily)

Lithospermum canescens (hoary puccoon)

Lobelia kalmii (Kalm’s lobelia)

Lobelia spicata (palespike lobelia)

Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle)

Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil)

Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed)

Lysimachia quadriflora (four-flowered yellow loosestrife)

Matricaria discoidea (pineapple-weed)

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Monarda fistulosa var. mollis (soft wild bergamot)

Nepeta cataria (catnip)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Pastinaca sativa (wild parsnip)

Pedicularis canadensis ssp. canadensis (wood betony)

Pedicularis lanceolata (swamp betony)

Persicaria amphibia (water smartweed)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Phleum pratense ssp. pratense (timothy)

Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida (downy phlox)

Phragmites australis ssp. americanus (American common reed)

Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass)

Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia mountain mint)

Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rosa blanda var. blanda (smooth rose)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)

Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Salix discolor (pussy willow)

Salix interior (sandbar willow)

Salix petiolaris (slender willow)

Sambucus canadensis (American elderberry)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Scirpus atrovirens (dark green bulrush)

Scirpus pallidus (pale bulrush)

Setaria viridis var. viridis (green foxtail)

Silphium laciniatum (compass plant)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Spiraea alba var. alba (narrow-leaved meadowsweet)

Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Sporobolus michauxianus (prairie cordgrass)

Stachys sp. (hedge nettle)

Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides (white heath aster)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard)

Trifolium hybridum (alsike clover)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Typha × glauca (hybrid cattail)

Ulmus americana (American elm)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Valeriana edulis var. ciliata (edible valerian)

Verbena hastata (blue vervain)

Verbena stricta (hoary vervain)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

alsike clover

American elderberry

annual fleabane

black cherry

black raspberry

black-eyed susan

bottle gentian

Canadian tick-trefoil

common evening primrose

common yarrow

downy phlox

four-flowered yellow loosestrife

gray-headed coneflower

hoary puccoon

hoary vervain

Morrow’s honeysuckle

mountain death camas (var. elegans)

northern bedstraw

palespike lobelia (var. spicata)

prairie rose

purple meadow-rue

purple prairie clover

smooth rose

swamp milkweed

 

Virginia mountain mint

wild bergamot

wild parsnip

wild strawberry

wood betony

wood lily

yellow avens

yellow marsh marigold

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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