Buena Vista Wildlife Area Slated for Expansion
City-Times Staff
The greatest concentration of Greater Praire Chickens in Wisconsin will have another 80 acres to roam upon.
The parcel is being purchased from Edward Ciesielski of Bancroft for $160k and is located along Coddington Road, just west of I-39. The area can also be accessed by Taft Road.
The property adjoins more than 2,200 acres either owned by the DNR or leased to the agency and managed for hunting, hiking, trapping and other outdoor recreation.
The Greater Prairie Chicken requires vast grassland tracts and adding acreage to the Buena Vista area not only protects habitat vital to the prairie chicken, but also for short-eared owls, upland sandpipers, Northern harriers, bobolinks and meadowlarks.
The Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Council is contributing a $40k US Fish and Wildlife Service grant to buy the Ciesielski property.