Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
|
|
Bison sculpture on highway near refuge.
|
|
 Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Jasper County, Iowa, United States |
| Nearest city | Prairie City, Iowa |
| Area | 8,654 acres (3,502 ha) |
| Established | 1990 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge |
The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is a special federal wildlife refuge located in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. This refuge was once known as Walnut Creek. It is named after Congressman Neal Edward Smith, who worked hard to make it happen.
The main goal of the refuge is to bring back the amazing tallgrass prairie and oak savanna areas. These natural places used to cover most of Iowa. Today, the refuge is home to about 50 bison (sometimes called buffalo) and 20 elk.
How the Refuge Started
The main part of the Neal Smith refuge was a large piece of land. It was about 3,600 acres (1,457 ha). This land was first bought by a company called Iowa Power and Light. They planned to build a nuclear power plant there.
In 1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was able to get this land. Since then, they have bought even more land. Today, the refuge covers about 6,000 acres (2,428 ha). The goal is to reach about 11,865 acres (4,802 ha) in total.
Bringing Back the Prairie
Most of the Neal Smith refuge is not original prairie. Instead, it is the result of a huge effort to rebuild or restore the prairie. This is called prairie restoration.
Workers plant seeds that are native to the area. These seeds are collected from nearby natural prairie areas. They also come from other restoration projects that used local seeds. This helps make sure the plants are right for the environment.
Prairie Learning Center
The Prairie Learning Center is located near Prairie City, Iowa. It is a great place to visit and learn. The center has exhibits and movies. These show you what the tallgrass prairie, sedge meadow, and oak savanna ecosystems are like.
The center also offers special education programs. These programs are for school groups, scout groups, and other visitors. The Friends of the Prairie Learning Center run a book store called Prairie Point. It sells books and gifts about nature.
Images for kids
-
Bison sculpture on highway near refuge
