Embedded Files
Loda Prairie Cemetery Nature Preserve Plants and Wildlife
Loda Prairie Cemetery Nature Preserve Plants and Wildlife
Bird Checklist for Loda Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve.pdfIn the table below:
Click on the Plant, Bird, Reptile and Amphibian, Insect and Arachnid, and Mammal tabs at the bottom of the table to scroll through the lists.
These lists are based on species identified during site visits and sightings submitted using the link in the sub-bullet point below. Submitted species are added to the table as time allows.
Click here if you would like to submit records of plants or wildlife you have seen at this location.
Bloom periods are based on those provided by the Illinois Plants Database.
About this natural area:
About this natural area:
Loda Cemetery Prairie is an outstanding example of the original mesic black soil prairie in the Grand Prairie Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division. For many years the prairie at Loda Cemetery was idle. The grasses were mowed regularly but were never cultivated or pastured. In 1981, the Cemetery Association ran out of burial space and made plans to expand into the prairie. The Natural Land Institute negotiated an alternative plan that would allow for expansion of the cemetery while preserving the prairie. The Institute acquired 5 acres of farmland adjacent to the cemetery to give to the Cemetery Association. In turn, the Association agreed to dedicate the prairie as a nature preserve. This preserve was protected with the help of The Nature Conservancy and Grand Prairie Friends. The prairie contains over 130 species of native plant species. The dominant grasses are Indian grass and big bluestem. Common spring flowers include shooting star, downy phlox and yellow star grass. Rattlesnake master, compass plant and wild quinine are typical during the summer while goldenrods and asters are abundant in the fall. The small size of the preserve limits its value as a wildlife refuge since most birds and mammals require more extensive habitat, but grasshopper sparrow, yellowthroat and meadowlark have nested in the prairie. Also, many uncommon butterflies restricted to prairies may reside here. A 9-acre buffer area adjacent to the original prairie is being restored to prairie vegetation.
Click here for more information from the IDNR's webpage for this site.
Amenities
Amenities
A wooden boardwalk to a prairie viewing platform can be accessed from the northeast corner of the cemetery.
No other amenities provided at this location.
How to Get There:
How to Get There:
From center of Loda, go west on blacktop road 0.3 mile, then north 0.6 miles to Loda (Pine Ridge) Cemetery. The nature preserve is north of the cemetery.
Literature and links:
Literature and links:
Click here to view a Google Scholar search for additional literature using the pre-filled search terms of "Loda Cemetery Prairie State Preserve"
Betz, Robert and Herbert Lamp. 1989. Species Composition of Old Settler Silt-Loam Prairies. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ELEVENTH NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE CONFERENCE. Pages 33-39.
Borelli, Christopher. A little history on the prairie: Pioneer cemeteries show us what Illinois looked like before European settlers. Chicago Tribune.
Moorehouse and Hassen. 2004. Protecting Pioneer Cemetery Prairies: Balancing the Need to Preserve Cultural and Natural Heritage Values. Proceedings of the 19th North American Prairie Conference. Pgs 163-167.
Panzer, Ron. (2002). Compatibility of Prescribed Burning with the Conservation of Insects in Small, Isolated Prairie Reserves. Conservation Biology. 16. 1296 - 1307. 10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.01077.x.
Robertson, Kenneth R. 2004. List Of Plant Species At Three Natural Blacksoil Prairie Remnants In Central Illinois.
Spyreas*, G., Pearse*, I.S., Nickrent, D.L., Greenwood, N.M., Epstein, A., and Anders. P., (eds.) 2017. Illinois Plants: a web-based database for the flora of Illinois. https://www.inhs.illinois.edu/data/plantdb
Yates, Diana. 2020. Following the sounds of prairie cicadas. Life Sciences Editor, U.I. News Bureau
Click here to view the Grand Prairie Friends webpage for this site.
Click here to view the Grand Prairie Friends' YouTube video for this site.
Click here to view the Wild Ones webpage for this site. https://dupage.wildones.org/pioneer-cemetery-prairies-of-illinois/
Click here to view the Entomological Society of America's YouTube video on prairie cicada at this site.
Click here to listen to the In Defense of Plants Ep. 51podcast on cemetery prairies.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse