The prairie project has received a grant from the UW-RF collaborative research, scholarly and creative activity to inventory the plants in the prairie. Sophomore Lynn Peterson, a horticulture major from Pepin Wis, is inventorying the plant species and assessing the population size of each species. Some 150 different vegetation species in the area, which is a broad diversity compared to other prairies. Among some of the native prairie grasses that have been identified are needle grass, love grass, Indian grass, big bluestem, little bluestem, and panic grass. The fires do not harm the native plants, which typically have deeper root systems.
Most prairie grasses are a natural protection and food source for wildlife throughout the winter.
Wildlife habitat will consist of insects, butterflies and some small rodents.