{"result":{"general_access_notes":"An off road parking area is available on the east side of Lamb Avenue along the north boundary of the wildlife area.  Please respect private property.  Stay off private drives and take care not to block shared field accesses.  ","wheelchair_accessible":0,"contact":{"phone":"507-414-6200","office":"Owatonna"},"special_restrictions":null,"point":{"epsg:4326":[-93.053698,44.390682],"epsg:26915":[495723.2,4915267.95]},"county_names":["Rice"],"name":"Prairie Creek WMA: Koester Prairie","header":"The Koester Prairie sub-unit conserves habitat for farmland wildlife dependent on prairie habitats.  Steep rolling topography and prairie grassland and with rock outcrops dominates this unit.  \n","game_species":["Deer","Small Game","Forest Upland Birds","Pheasants","Turkey","Doves"],"area":599.11,"new_lands":0,"special_rec_opportunities":"Bird watching is best during spring migration and early summer when a variety of migrant song birds join resident species.  Feathered denizens of the open lands of the far north find attractive winter habitats here.  Native prairie and woodland wildflowers add spring and summer color and habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.  Hunting opportunities are best for pheasants, squirrels, wild turkey, other small game and deer.  Newly planted grasslands are attractive sites for mourning doves.","nearest_town":"Dennison","additional_resources":[{"type":"webpage","description":"Habitat management report.","title":"Habitat Management Report","url":"https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/wmas/habitat_management_report.html?pgm_prj=WMA02015"}],"id":"WMA0201501","bbox":{"epsg:4326":[-93.065353,44.38166,-93.042039,44.399704],"epsg:26915":[494794.12,4914266.44,496652.27,4916269.46]},"visitor_alerts":"NOTICE TO DEER HUNTERS: This WMA is within a <a href= https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/cwd/management-zone.html> CWD management zone</a> with voluntary CWD testing for the 2026 deer season available at the nearest <a href= https://arcg.is/1Cn1PW5> partner sampling location or DNR Wildlife office</a>.</a> <a href= https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/deerimports/index.html> Carcass disposal rules</a> have replaced carcass movement restrictions.","perimeter":5.14,"directions_from_nearest_town":"From Dennison, go 1 mile W on CSAH 31 then 1 mile S on Lamb Avenue to 13371 Lamb Avenue.  \n","comments":"The grasslands blend into hardwood forests on the western portion of the wildlife area.  Prairie Creek is managed using a working lands approach including prescribed burning, haying and mowing and grazing to restore prairies and maintain grassland and oak savanna habitats.  Recent habitat work has focused on removing undesirable trees and invasive species and expanding permanent habitats to fields previously used for row crops.  Small woodland plantings provide soft and hard mast trees for food and cover.  Koester Prairie derives its moniker from the family that owned the area for much of the last century.  Choices on how to farm and graze the land preserved a remnant of the native prairies that once dominated this landscape.  Stewardship activities continue through the volunteer efforts of the Friends of Prairie Creek, Rice County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and other partners.  This Wildlife Management Area was acquired by the Trust for Public Lands in cooperation with the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Program.      \n"},"timestamp":1794373105,"message":"Normal execution.","status":"SUCCESS"}