Anderson Prairie State Preserve

Anderson Prairie is a 200-acre preserve containing a native tallgrass prairie on the western edge of the Altamont moraine. It is located 4.5 miles northwest of Esther­ville in western Emmet County. Dr. Ada Hayden visited this prairie in 1945, which was being used as a hayfield and pasture at that time, and recommended that it be preserved. The Iowa Conservation Commission purchased the area in 1980 from William Anderson. It was dedicated in 1984 as a biological and geological state preserve. 

About the Land

Located near the western edge of the Des Moines Lobe landform region, Anderson Prairie lies in a hummocky landscape created by the melting of the Altamont glacier. A high diversity of prairie habitats is present in the preserve, ranging from very dry, gravelly hilltops to wet swales and marshes. Upland forest, floodplain forest, and disturbed habitats also add diversity. Although most of the preserve was formerly a pasture, the westernmost quarter is natural tallgrass prairie. 

Directions

1. From the intersection of Highways 4 and 9 in Estherville, take Highway 9 west for 2.5 miles to 360th Avenue (watch for sign). 
2. Go north (right) 1 mile to intersection with County Highway A20 (beware of stop sign). 
3. Continue 0.5 mile north to the preserve parking area on the east side of the road (sign: Anderson Prairie State Preserve).

Plants

Of the over 220 plant species in the preserve, the first to bloom in the spring is the pasqueflower, followed by prairie phlox, prairie violet, and hoary puccoon. 

The summer prairie contains butterfly weed, rattlesnake master, and prairie blazing star. 

The purples and golds of the late-blooming fall wildflowers are accented by the silvery-white sage. Fall wildflowers include asters, goldenrods, rough blazing star, and gentians. 

Diverse Wildlife

Five rare butterflies have been found in the prairie:

•  Poweshiek skipperling 
• Arogos skipper 
• Silvery blue
• Regal fritillary

• Iowa skipper. 

  In late summer, masses of monarch butterflies arrive during their annual migration and often roost in the trees. Many other animals are found in the preserve, including twenty-two mammals, twenty-seven birds, and five amphibians and reptiles. Upland sandpipers have nested here and shorteared owls also use this large preserve. Hunting is permitted. 

Other nearby public areas include Crim Savanna and Ringham Habitat Area (both just north of the preserve). Recent state wildlife area acquisitions to the east of the preserve bring the total public land area in this vicinity to 800 acres.