Scuppernong Prairie

State Natural Area (No. 6)

Location: Within Southern Unit Kettle Moraine State Forest, Waukesha County. T5N-R17E, Sections 8, 16, 17. 185 acres.

Access: From the intersection of Highways 67 and 59 in Eagle, go north and west on Highway 59 1 mile, then north on N 1.4 miles to a parking area west of the road.

Description: Scuppernong Prairie supports a diversity of wet-mesic prairie species on level, poorly-drained ground in the Scuppernong Basin. Located on the east side of the 3,000 acre Scuppernong Marsh, the flora includes species as big blue-stem, Indian grass, needle grass, blue-joint grass, prairie drop-seed, Virginia mountain mint, cream wild indigo, shooting-star, lead-plant, compass plant, prairie dock, blue-eyed grass, prairie smoke, and prairie blazing-star. Among the rare plants are purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), prairie Indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum), and marsh blazing star (Liatris spicata). On a low rise in the center of the area and along the east boundary are scattered open-grown bur oaks, typical of this region in presettlement times. The large and open nature of the site provides excellent habitat for uncommon birds such as boblink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), and upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda). Scuppernong Prairie also contains three rare Lepidoptera – Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma powesheik), silphium borer moth (Papaipema silphii) and the liatris borer moth (P. beeriana). Other uncommon animals include Franklin’s ground squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii), badger, and eastern hognose snake. Scuppernong Prairie is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1952.