Revis Hill Prairie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Revis Hill Prairie |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Revis Hill Prairie
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Mason County, Illinois, United States |
| Nearest city | Easton, IL |
| Area | 412.7 acres (167.0 ha) |
| Established | August 1973 |
| Governing body | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Revis Hill Prairie State Natural Area is a special place in Mason County, Illinois. It's also called Revis Hill Prairie Nature Preserve. This state park covers about 413 acres (that's like 310 football fields!). It's located near Easton.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) takes care of this area. They manage it as a tallgrass prairie nature preserve. This means they protect the natural plants and animals. It's also a place where they manage fish and wildlife, including deer hunting by special permit.
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What Makes Revis Hill Prairie Special?
Revis Hill Prairie is managed to protect a very delicate type of land. This land is made of something called loess. Loess is a loose, powdery soil. It's made of tiny bits of silt. This silt was ground up by huge sheets of ice called glaciation long ago.
How the Land Was Formed
After the ice age, strong winds blew this loess soil. It settled on the land in what is now southern Mason County, Illinois. This created a low hill. Over time, water caused fast erosion (wearing away of the soil). This erosion created deep ditches and valleys called ravines. These ravines drained into a nearby stream called Salt Creek.
Plants That Help the Land
Tallgrass prairie plants are very important here. Plants like little bluestem grass, purple coneflower, and leadplant grow on the hills. They have strong, tangled roots. These roots hold the loessy soil in place. This helps stop the erosion.
In the deep ravines, a different type of forest grows. This is an oak-hickory forest. It has tall oak and hickory trees. Between the grassy hills and the forest, there's a special area. This area is called an oak savanna. It has scattered oak trees and open grassy areas.
Animals of Revis Hill Prairie
Many animals live at Revis Hill. You might see whitetail deer roaming around. Look up to spot turkey vultures flying high. You might also see bank swallows darting through the air.
The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission suggests looking for other cool creatures. These include bright bluebirds and interesting western hognose snakes. Keep an eye out for the unique prairie walking stick insects too!
Protecting Revis Hill Prairie
Most of the original hill prairies in Illinois are gone now. They were lost when farmers used moldboard plows to turn the land into farms. Revis Hill was lucky. It became public land again. In August 1973, the state of Illinois officially made it a natural area.
How the Preserve is Cared For
People who manage Revis Hill use special methods to keep it healthy. One method is called prescribed burning. This means they carefully set small fires. These fires help new plants grow and remove unwanted plants. They also work to control invasive species. These are plants or animals that are not native and can harm the local ecosystem.
The preserve also allows deer hunting with a special permit. This helps manage the deer population. The IDNR oversees Revis Hill Prairie State Natural Area. It's part of a larger state park nearby, Sand Ridge State Forest.
