Roscoe Prairie SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

The Nature Conservancy logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

The Nature Conservancy

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

 

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

56 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

N45 25.074, W94 40.872

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Stearns County  
          Central Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

The south boundary of Roscoe Prairie SNA is adjacent to a Stearns County snowmobile trail. The trail uses an abandoned railway, the former BNSF Cold Spring Branch. It is part of a 22-mile undeveloped segment of the Glacial Lakes State Trail.

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Prairie Parkland Province

   
  Ecological Section    

North Central Glaciated Plains

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Minnesota River Prairie

   
  Land Type Association    

Bellgrade Sand Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

Cattail marsh, aspen woodland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waterproof footwear recommended

The prairie is dry and the aspen woodland is mostly dry. The rest of the site is wet. Getting to the aspen woodland requires crossing a strip of willow-dogwood shrub swamp. Waterproof footwear is recommended if venturing beyond the prairie portion of this site.

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Ed Oliveras

 
    Roscoe Prairie SNA      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Parking

 
    Roscoe Prairie SNA   Roscoe Prairie SNA  
           
 

Wood Routed Sign

 
    Roscoe Prairie SNA      
           
 

Snowmobile Trail/Abandoned Railway

 
    Roscoe Prairie SNA      
           
 

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

 
    Roscoe Prairie SNA   Roscoe Prairie SNA  
           
 

Aspen Woodland

 
    Roscoe Prairie SNA   Roscoe Prairie SNA  
           
 

Cattail Marsh

 
    Roscoe Prairie SNA      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Wild Bee Surveys in Prairie-Grassland Habitats
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
 
   
 
About

Aug 4, 2014

Take a field trip with Minnesota DNR Bee Researcher Crystal Boyd, as she collects native bees at Roscoe Prairie Scientific and Natural Area, a site owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy.

 

 

Camcorder

           
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

9/16/2005

  7/4/2013            
 
 

Birds

 
 

Five bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Threatened

Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

Special Concern

Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Purple Martin (Progne subis)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

 
 

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

 

Brown Thrasher

Red-winged Blackbird

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
  Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata)   Crown Rust  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

Two insect and arachnid species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)

Threatened

Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae)

Special Concern

regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

 
 

American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

common green darner (Anax junius)

goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

 

monarch

twelve-spotted skimmer

 
 

Mammals

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
 

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  whitetail deer  
 

Plants

 
 

Two plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Special Concern

Hill’s thistle (Cirsium pumilum var. hillii)

small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Mesic Prairie (Southern) UPs23a

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp WMn82a

     
 

 

American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

bracted spiderwort (Tradescantia bracteata)

broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia)

bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis)

Canadian honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis)

Canadian horseweed (Erigeron canadensis)

Canadian tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common plantain (Plantago major)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata var. punctata)

downy gentian (Gentiana puberulenta)

downy phlox (Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida)

dwarf false indigo (Amorpha nana)

early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata)

early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

Flodman’s thistle (Cirsium flodmanii)

fragrant bedstraw (Galium triflorum)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera)

hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana)

hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

lowland hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa)

marsh vetchling (Lathyrus palustris)

marsh skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata)

meadow garlic (Allium canadense var. canadense)

mountain death camas (Anticlea elegans var. elegans)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca var. glauca)

Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus)

pineapple-weed (Matricaria discoidea)

porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea)

prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya)

prairie cordgrass (Sporobolus michauxianus)

prairie coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata)

prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

prairie larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

round-leaved dogwood (Cornus rugosa)

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

scouring rush horsetail (Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine)

showy goldenrod species complex (Solidago speciosa complex)

silverleaf scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum)

slender willow (Salix petiolaris)

smooth oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra)

smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata)

tall cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta)

Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

yellow avens (Geum aleppicum)

yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)

yellow marsh marigold (Caltha palustris var. palustris)

yellow star grass (Hypoxis hirsuta)

yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

 

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Agoseris glauca var. glauca (pale agoseris)

Allium canadense var. canadense (meadow garlic)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Amorpha nana (dwarf false indigo)

Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata (hog peanut)

Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa (lowland hog peanut)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anticlea elegans var. elegans (mountain death camas)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Berteroa incana (hoary alyssum)

Caltha palustris var. palustris (yellow marsh marigold)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)

Cirsium flodmanii (Flodman’s thistle)

Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle)

Coreopsis palmata (prairie coreopsis)

Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)

Cornus rugosa (round-leaved dogwood)

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood)

Cryptotaenia canadensis (Canadian honewort)

Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens (prairie larkspur)

Desmodium canadense (Canadian tick-trefoil)

Drymocallis arguta (tall cinquefoil)

Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower)

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive)

Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine (scouring rush horsetail)

Equisetum laevigatum (smooth scouring rush)

Erigeron canadensis (Canadian horseweed)

Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Galium triflorum (fragrant bedstraw)

Gentiana andrewsii (bottle gentian)

Gentiana puberulenta (downy gentian)

Geum aleppicum (yellow avens)

Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy)

Helenium autumnale (common sneezeweed)

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (smooth oxeye)

Hesperostipa spartea (porcupine grass)

Hypoxis hirsuta (yellow star grass)

Lathyrus palustris (marsh vetchling)

Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Liatris punctata var. punctata (dotted blazing star)

Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)

Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum (wood lily)

Lithospermum canescens (hoary puccoon)

Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)

Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed)

Matricaria discoidea (pineapple-weed)

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Pediomelum argophyllum (silverleaf scurfpea)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida (downy phlox)

Plantago major (common plantain)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia mountain mint)

Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Salix petiolaris (slender willow)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort)

Scutellaria galericulata (marsh skullcap)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Solidago speciosa complex (showy goldenrod species complex)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Sporobolus michauxianus (prairie cordgrass)

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Thalictrum dioicum (early meadow-rue)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Tradescantia bracteata (bracted spiderwort)

Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cattail)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

Zizia aptera (heart-leaved golden alexanders)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

American hog peanut (var. bracteata)

black-eyed susan

bottle gentian

bracted spiderwort

Canadian tick-trefoil

common evening primrose

common sneezeweed

Culver’s root

downy gentian

downy phlox

golden alexanders

gray-headed coneflower

leadplant

meadow garlic

narrow-leaved purple coneflower

New England aster

northern bedstraw

prairie rose

purple prairie clover

red clover

spotted water hemlock

stiff goldenrod

swamp milkweed

white clover

wood lily

yellow marsh marigold

yellow wood sorrel

 

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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