Kidd Lake State Natural Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kidd Lake State Natural Area |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Part of Kidd Lake Marsh viewed from Fults Hill Prairie
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 Kidd Lake State Natural Area
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Monroe County, Illinois, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Chester, Illinois |
| Area | 800 acres (324 ha) |
| Established | October 1970 |
| Governing body | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Kidd Lake State Natural Area is a special place in Illinois. It is a protected area that covers about 800 acres. You can find it in Monroe County, Illinois, in the United States. It is right next to another protected area called the Fults Hill Prairie State Natural Area.
What is Kidd Lake State Natural Area?
Kidd Lake State Natural Area helps us understand what the land used to be like. It is a great example of the huge wetlands that once covered the Mississippi River floodplain. This area is known as the American Bottoms.
A Look at Its History
The marsh at Kidd Lake was once part of a much larger lake bed. This lake was also about 800 acres in size. Long ago, many different kinds of wetland birds lived here. Some of these birds are now very rare in Illinois.
Why Kidd Lake is Important Today
Kidd Lake is still a very important place for wildlife. It serves as a crucial rest stop for migratory waterfowl. These are birds that fly long distances during their migrations. The area provides a safe home and food for many different animals. You can find a wide variety of birds here. It is also home to many amphibians, like frogs and salamanders. Reptiles, such as snakes and turtles, also live in this natural area.
