Necedah Oak-Pine Savanna State Natural Area

Necedah Oak-Pine Savanna is a flat to slightly rolling plain. The pre-settlement vegetation of this Area was jack pine and oak barrens. The Area has some barren openings but is mostly a closed forest of jack pine and Hill’s oak. Within the openings are numerous prairie and barrens species including big and little blue-stem, Indian grass, rough blazing-star, wild lupine, and large patches of blueberries. Soils are Newton and Morocco sands without a diagnostic subsurface horizon and Au Gres sands formed over acid sands.

Nesting birds are typical barrens-dry forest species including eastern bluebird, vesper, field and chipping sparrows, blue jays, rose-breasted grosbeak, rufous-sided towhee, ovenbird, and crested flycatcher. The Area was originally established to restore pine barrens and as a comparison for the adjacent unburned forest. Management activities include controlled burning and brush removal to maintain savanna conditions.

Necedah Oak-Pine Savanna is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 1966.

Source: WDNR