Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve is a sanctuary for native plants and animals that is being maintained and restored to its natural condition so present and future generations can see the Illinois landscape as it appeared in the past. A living example of natural heritage, it is valuable for scientific studies and provides habitat for rare plants and animals. Wolf Road Prairie is a remnant of the prairie and savanna landscape that once covered much of northeastern Illinois. A freshwater marsh dominated by sedges and cattails occupies the northern half of the site, while high-quality mesic prairie covers much of the rest. The prairie is dominated by tall grasses such as big bluestem and Indian grass and includes flowers such as blazing stars, shooting stars, hoary puccoon, rattlesnake master, prairie phlox, prairie dock, and compass plants. A remnant oak savanna survives in a narrow corridor along 31st Street, dominated by open-grown burr oaks with carpets of wild geraniums and wild hyacinth. Sidewalks that now serve as trails are a reminder that the site was once targeted for development. The preserve is owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Save the Prairie Society, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
