Frenchman's Bluff SNA

52 Acres Located from Syre 4 miles E on MN Hwy 113, then 1.1 miles N on Co Hwy 36, parking on W. side of 36. Norman County Twp 143N Rng 43W Sec 18 Type: Prairie Grasslands ECS Subsection: Red River Prairie

Description:

Frenchman's Bluff is actually a prominent hill that overlooks the broad expanse of the Red River Valley to the west. It's a fine vantage point from which to watch a summer rainstorm move in. This moraine, deposited by glaciation some 12,000 to 9,000 years ago, now supports an unusual mix of tallgrass prairie, including big bluestem, and shorter grasses more typical of western prairies--hairy grama, needle and thread grass, and prairie dropseed. Rare plants and animals found at the site include Dakota skipper, powesheik skipper, northern grasshopper mouse, plains reed grass, and Nuttall's ground rose. The inconspicuous, elusive prairie moonwort, which prefers open, gravelly banks, rocky ledges, or talus slopes, makes its highly select appearance here. This tiny fern is found in fewer than a dozen locations in Minnesota. This is one of only two sites where Frenchman's Bluff moonwort is found in Minnesota. In all, 26 butterfly and 48 bird species have been documented on this SNA. The best times to visit are in the spring, when pasque flowers and prairie smoke are in bloom, and during late summer and early fall, when many other prairie plants bloom.

Bird List

Plant List