Otter Tail Prairie SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

Minnesota DNR logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

Otter Tail Prairie is part of a 3,200-acre block of land protected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and a private hunting and fishing club. Otter Tail Prairie SNA is bordered on the south by the Doran Wildlife Management Area; on the east by the Prairie Ridge Wildlife Management Area; on the north and west by the Hensch WPA; and by land owned and managed by the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club, Inc., now Otter Tail Walk in Access site #351.

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

 

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

320 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

Southeast Parking, field access
N46 9.125, W96 13.495

South Parking, road shoulder
N46 9.123, W96 13.915

North Parking, field access
N46 9.987, W96 13.741

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Otter Tail County  
          Northwest Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

No maintained trails

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Prairie Parkland Province

   
  Ecological Section    

Red River Valley

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Red River Prairie

   
  Land Type Association    

Barnesville Beach Complex

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Mesic Prairie (Northern)

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

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s in a Name?

The Commissioner’s order dated 11/16/1989 creating this SNA designated it as “Otter Tail Prairie Scientific and Natural Area”. It lies in Otter Tail County. However, the wood-routed sign for this SNA reads “Ottertail Prairie State Natural Area.”

 

 

 

 

Waterproof footwear recommended

Barely perceptible changes in elevation create areas that have standing water year round. Waterproof footwear is recommended.

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Southeast Parking, Field Access on 130th St.

 
    Otter Tail Prairie SNA   Otter Tail Prairie SNA  
           
    Otter Tail Prairie SNA      
           
 

Wood Routed Sign, 130th St.

 
    Otter Tail Prairie SNA   Otter Tail Prairie SNA  
    2009   2018  
           
 

Wood Routed Sign, 140th St.

 
    Otter Tail Prairie SNA   Otter Tail Prairie SNA  
    2009   2018  
           
    Otter Tail Prairie SNA      
           
 

Boot Scraper

 
    Otter Tail Prairie SNA      
           
 

Mesic Prairie (Northern)

 
    Otter Tail Prairie SNA   Otter Tail Prairie SNA  
           
    Otter Tail Prairie SNA      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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

Jun 11, 2020

This site protects 320 acres of wet and mesic (moderately moist) prairie. But, it doesn’t end there! The SNA is part of a larger prairie grassland complex protecting roughly 3200 acres! Sites surrounding this SNA include Wildlife Management Areas, federal Wetland Protection Areas, private easements, and property owned by the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club! Though you may not visit this SNA in person, it is rewarding to know that we, as Minnesotans, have together protected this important habitat for the rare and wild in Minnesota.

mndnr.gov/snas/sna01040

 

 

Camcorder

           
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

9/15/2009

  6/28/2018            
 
 

Amphibians

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 
  northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens)   northern leopard frog  
 

Bacteria, Viruses, and Other Pathogens

 
  apical chlorosis of Canada thistle (Pst) (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis)   Pst  
 

Birds

 
 

Thirteen bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Threatened

Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

Special Concern

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)

Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni)

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Purple Martin (Progne subis)

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)

 
 

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

 

American Robin

Mallard

Red-winged Blackbird

 
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Carolina grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina)

celery looper (Anagrapha falcifera)

common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

great spangled fritillary (Argynnis cybele)

Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

 

celery looper

Halloween pennant

monarch

 
 

Mammals

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
 

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  plains pocket gopher  
 

Plants

 
 

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

Endangered

Wolf’s spikerush (Eleocharis wolfii)

Special Concern

pleated gentian (Gentiana affinis)

small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Mesic Prairie (Northern) UPn23b

     
 

 

American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana)

arctic brome (Bromus kalmii)

asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

Baltic rush (Juncus balticus var. littoralis)

bastard toadflax (Comandra umbellata ssp. umbellata)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

black bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus)

black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima)

blue lettuce (Lactuca pulchella)

bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia)

Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis)

candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica)

common dogmustard (Erucastrum gallicum)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve)

common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata var. punctata)

dwarf false indigo (Amorpha nana)

field thistle (Cirsium discolor)

flat-topped aster (Doellingeria umbellata)

Flodman’s thistle (Cirsium flodmanii)

foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)

giant sumpweed (Cyclachaena xanthiifolia)

Great Plains ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

marsh hedge nettle (Stachys palustris)

marsh vetchling (Lathyrus palustris)

Maximilian’s sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)

Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis)

mountain death camas (Anticlea elegans)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

narrow-leaved hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum)

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus)

northern reed grass (Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa)

pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca var. glauca)

palespike lobelia (Lobelia spicata)

panicled aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)

perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea)

prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya)

prairie cordgrass (Sporobolus michauxianus)

prairie coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata)

prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

prairie groundsel (Packera plattensis)

prairie ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata ssp. fasciculata)

prairie lettuce (Lactuca ludoviciana)

prairie onion (Allium stellatum)

prairie peppergrass (Lepidium densiflorum)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

prairie violet (Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida)

prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

purple rattlesnake root (Nabalus racemosus)

quackgrass (Elymus repens)

red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea)

red-seeded dandelion (Taraxacum erythrospermum)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper)

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

scarlet Indian paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea)

scouring rush horsetail (Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine)

showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

silky aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum)

silverleaf scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum)

slender willow (Salix petiolaris)

smooth brome (Bromus inermis)

smooth oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus)

swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata)

tall cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta)

tall thistle (Cirsium altissimum)

tufted lovegrass (Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea)

Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)

water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia)

western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya)

white ash (Fraxinus americana)

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 licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)

wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis ssp. canadensis)

wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum)

woolly sedge (Carex pellita)

yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila ssp. pumila)

yellow star grass (Hypoxis hirsuta)

yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)

yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

 

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Agoseris glauca var. glauca (pale agoseris)

Allium stellatum (prairie onion)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Amorpha nana (dwarf false indigo)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone)

Anemone cylindrica (candle anemone)

Anticlea elegans (mountain death camas)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed)

Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus)

Bromus inermis (smooth brome)

Bromus kalmii (arctic brome)

Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa (northern reed grass)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Carex pellita (woolly sedge)

Castilleja coccinea (scarlet Indian paintbrush)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Cirsium altissimum (tall thistle)

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)

Cirsium discolor (field thistle)

Cirsium flodmanii (Flodman’s thistle)

Comandra umbellata ssp. umbellata (bastard toadflax)

Coreopsis palmata (prairie coreopsis)

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood)

Cyclachaena xanthiifolia (giant sumpweed)

Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Doellingeria umbellata (flat-topped aster)

Drymocallis arguta (tall cinquefoil)

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive)

Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)

Elymus repens (quackgrass)

Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine (scouring rush horsetail)

Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea (tufted lovegrass)

Erucastrum gallicum (common dogmustard)

Euthamia graminifolia (grass-leaved goldenrod)

Fallopia convolvulus (black bindweed)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Fraxinus americana (white ash)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Gentiana andrewsii (bottle gentian)

Glycyrrhiza lepidota (wild licorice)

Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian’s sunflower)

Helianthus pauciflorus (stiff sunflower)

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (smooth oxeye)

Hesperostipa spartea (porcupine grass)

Hieracium umbellatum (narrow-leaved hawkweed)

Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum (foxtail barley)

Hypoxis hirsuta (yellow star grass)

Juncus balticus var. littoralis (Baltic rush)

Lactuca ludoviciana (prairie lettuce)

Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce)

Lactuca pulchella (blue lettuce)

Lathyrus palustris (marsh vetchling)

Lepidium densiflorum (prairie peppergrass)

Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Liatris punctata var. punctata (dotted blazing star)

Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)

Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum (wood lily)

Lithospermum canescens (hoary puccoon)

Lobelia spicata (palespike lobelia)

Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed)

Lycopus asper (rough bugleweed)

Lycopus uniflorus (northern bugleweed)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover)

Nabalus racemosus (purple rattlesnake root)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

Packera plattensis (prairie groundsel)

Pastinaca sativa (wild parsnip)

Pedicularis canadensis ssp. canadensis (wood betony)

Pediomelum argophyllum (silverleaf scurfpea)

Persicaria amphibia (water smartweed)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia mountain mint)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Salix petiolaris (slender willow)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Setaria pumila ssp. pumila (yellow foxtail)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Solidago missouriensis (Missouri goldenrod)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Sonchus arvensis (perennial sow thistle)

Sonchus oleraceus (common sowthistle)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Spiranthes magnicamporum (Great Plains ladies’ tresses)

Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Sporobolus michauxianus (prairie cordgrass)

Stachys palustris (marsh hedge nettle)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides (white heath aster)

Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve (common smooth blue aster)

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (panicled aster)

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster)

Symphyotrichum sericeum (silky aster)

Taraxacum erythrospermum (red-seeded dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cattail)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Vernonia fasciculata ssp. fasciculata (prairie ironweed)

Vicia americana ssp. americana (American vetch)

Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida (prairie violet)

Zizia aptera (heart-leaved golden alexanders)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

American vetch

black-eyed susan

bottle gentian

Canada anemone

common evening primrose

common strawberry

common yarrow

dotted blazing star

grass-leaved goldenrod

Great Plains ladies’ tresses

hairy puccoon

mountain death camas (var. elegans)

New England aster

northern bedstraw

pale agoseris

prairie ironweed

prairie onion

prairie rose

purple prairie clover

showy milkweed

silky aster

stiff sunflower (ssp. subrhomboideus)

swamp milkweed

tall cinquefoil

Virginia mountain mint

white prairie clover

wild parsnip

wood betony

yellow star grass

yellow sweet clover

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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