Located 15 miles south of Ponca City
PAST EVENT - Saturday, May 11, 2024
Copperhead Ridge has been in Larry Andrews’s family since the 1930s when his great aunt ran cattle. Larry has been managing the land for the last 25 years using a combination of traditional grazing, prescribed burning, and plant restoration to improve wildlife habitat and native plant diversity. As a retired fireman, Larry does not shy away from utilizing prescribed fire to control brush and other invasive plants. Also an expert in reptiles and amphibians, Larry knows all these species on his property and breeds alligator snapping turtles for rare species recovery.
Habitat
Copperhead Ridge Registered Natural Area is a biologically diverse track of 162 acres on the western edge of Pawnee County. The upland features an excellent example of tallgrass prairie with an abundance of native wildflowers and grasses. Crosstimbers cover the slopes down to the Arkansas River floodplain. This habitat is dominated by large chinkapin and blackjack Oaks with a variety of understory trees. Springs and seeps can be found along the hillsides creating microhabitats that are refuge for uncommon native plants. Parcels of bottomland along Red Rock Creek had been cropland, but are currently undergoing restoration to remove invasive plants and to reestablish native bottomland hardwoods.
Picnic lunch provided. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Expect to walk at a leisurely pace for a couple miles on trails through property. Not difficult, but ground will be uneven. Long pants and sturdy shoes recommended.
Topics and Activities
Botantist, Amy Buthod will be on hand to talk about the flora.
Conservation biologist, Priscilla Crawford will talk about the ecology of the Cross Timbers.
Ornithologist, Jeremy Ross will give a demonstration of the newly erected Motus Wildlife Tracking System tower. Motus is uses automated radio telemetry to facilitate research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals.
Picnic lunch provided.
Expect to walk at a leisurely pace for a couple miles on trails through property. Not difficult, but ground will be uneven. Long pants, hat, and sturdy shoes recommended.
Registration is Required. Space is limited. Travel to site will be attendee’s responsibility. The property is approximately 15 miles south of Ponca City. Maps and directions will be provided to all registrants the week of the event. They will be emailed to the address you register under.
Field day is subject to postponement due to inclement weather. Rain date is will be announced. Registrants will be notified by email or phone.
Accommodations on the basis of disability are available by contacting Priscilla Crawford at the Oklahoma Biological Survey (405-889-7188; prill@ou.edu).
Space is limited; registration is required. Maps and directions will be provided to all registrants. Field day is subject to postponement due to inclement weather. Rain date TBA. Registrants will be notified by email or phone.
Accommodations on the basis of disability are available by contacting Priscilla Crawford (405-889-7188; prill@ou.edu) ten days prior to the event.
