Nature
Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve in Adams County, Ohio, protects a rare remnant of dry, rocky prairie that survived after a much larger ecosystem largely vanished. Its origins likely reach back to shaping by extinct megafauna and later maintenance through Native American burning, while modern controlled burns help keep the grassland open. The preserve is especially important for Ohio’s largest population of rattlesnake-master and also supports abundant prairie dock, spiked blazing star, and eleven state-endangered species, including blue false indigo. Part of the preserve was designated in 1985, and protected acreage expanded in 2015 through Arc of Appalachia’s acquisition.
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West Union, Ohio · United States
