Prairie Restoration
While we are known for our work in wolf conservation, we're committed to involvement in other conservation opportunities when they arise. In addition to our wolf sanctuary, Wolf Haven’s Tenino, Washington acreage includes 36 acres of rare Mima mound prairie, 8 acres of Garry oak & conifer woodlands, and 8½ acres of wetland ranges. This mosaic of habitats makes up the Patrick Vance Dunn Memorial Prairie, which offers opportunities for restoration and reintroduction of regionally rare species.
The Need for Restoration
Historically, western Washington’s prairie landscape covered over 150,000 acres. Sadly, 97% of those prairies have been lost. And of the 3% of prairie habitat that remains, only 1% is considered in good condition. Once native prairie is converted to other use, such as housing or industry, it becomes inhospitable and often uninhabitable to its original residents. Developed land rarely, if ever, returns to prairie and as prairies dwindle, so do the number of native species who thrive on them.
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Prairies have also long offered Indigenous people an open landscape where game can be easily hunted and a great diversity of edible foods and medicinal plants can be gathered. Conservation and restoration of remaining prairie fragments is crucial to the long-term survival of this unique ecosystem.
Wolf Haven's Role
When Wolf Haven was established in 1982, the surrounding prairie was buried under a dense swath of Scotch broom. At the time, Wolf Haven’s role in conservation efforts did not extend beyond wolves, but grander visions were on the horizon.
In 1987, 50 acres of land adjacent to the wolf sanctuary was being scoped by developers with interests in subdividing it into five-acre plots for housing. Fortunately, Wolf Haven was able to purchase all 50 acres to ensure a peaceful buffer remained around the wolves.
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In 2001, Wolf Haven began its prairie restoration project with the primary goal of strengthening its role as a host for rare and threatened prairie species. Restoration activities on our prairie are conducted through working partnerships with
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Center for Natural Lands Management
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Ecostudies Institute
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U.S. Department of Defense
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Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
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Washington Department of Natural Resources
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USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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Black Hills Audubon Society
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who have helped us nurture our prairie into a vibrant ecosystem thriving with life. Restoration efforts include an integrated system of prescribed fires, invasive species control, direct seeding, and plug planting of native prairie species that continue to this day.
Seeing Results
Through our working collaboration with state/federal agencies and conservation organizations, Wolf Haven’s prairie has seen a remarkable resurgence of native flora and fauna. Hundreds of native plants have been donated and planted at Wolf Haven. Volunteers routinely collect seeds from larkspur, early blue violets, goldenrod, blue camas, lupine, and strawberry runners to be planted on other prairie preserves throughout the area.
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More than 190 plant species, 48 butterfly species, and 59 bird species have been identified on the Patrick Vance Dunn Memorial Prairie. Over 330 Mazama pocket gophers have also been relocated from sites under development to mounds on our prairie, and bat boxes on site are heavily used by native bat populations, with this most recent years' count totaling 436 individuals. In future years, we hope to become a reintroduction site for the rare Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly.
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One of Wolf Haven's annual prairie restoration activities is conducting prescribed burns to support native plants and pollinators. Prescribed burns are extremely weather dependent, with temperature, humidity, wind, and moisture all factors for consideration.
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In 2022, Matt Einhorn and Melinda Wood (Masters of Environmental Studies students at The Evergreen State College) documented Wolf Haven's prescribed burn with their Geographic Information Systems professor, Mike Ruth. Their goal was to showcase the biodiversity, restoration, and cultural history of our prairie. They hope their resulting cartographic map will bring forth the importance of fire ecology and how it will aid in the possible reintroduction of the endangered Taylor's checkerspot butterfly.
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Part of the project involved Mike and Matt capturing aerial drone footage prior to and during the prescribed burn process, staying high to avoid the heat and smoke. The resulting video and images provide stunning and informative imagery.
Learn More
Want to learn more about unique South Puget Sound prairie ecosystems and how you can help to conserve and protect the wide range of flora and fauna that call prairies home? Watch our Promise for the Prairie video featuring interviews with conservation partners and beautiful footage of our prairie, or read our blog posts documenting the 17 years of restoration taken to rebuild our small but mighty prairie.
This video was filmed and edited by Wolf Haven International on the native lands of the Cowlitz, Chehalis, Nisqually, and Coast Salish people.