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Iowa
Buffalo Slough
Open to the Public
Yes
Things To Do
Plan Your Visit
How to Prepare for Your Visit View All
Get Directions
Why You Should Visit
Buffalo Slough is part of a larger 80-acre wetland slough that contains a large linear fen complex referred to as a slough or channel fen. A channel fen is a peat-filled wetland found in ancient river channels. Fens are special as a distinctive natural community and as habitat for rare plant and animal species. In Iowa, more than 200 species of plants are associated with fens and a single fen could contain as many as 75 plant species.
Location
Mason City, in Cerro Gordo County
Size
14 acres
Conditions
Access is across private property. Permission from adjacent landowner must be obtained before visiting.
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Buffalo Slough was donated to the Conservancy in 1993 by Lucille Minott, whose late husband was deeply interested in nature and conservation.
What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy is trying to protect the many rare and threatened species at Buffalo Slough from threats including invasive species such as purple loosestrife, reed canary grass and buckthorn, and from runoff from the golf course and residential areas that surround it.
Things To Do
What to See: Plants
Several rare plantsare protected at the site, including the largest population of bog buckbean in Iowa, fragrant false indigo, bog bedstraw and sage willow.
What to See: Animals
A healthy population of the state-threatened Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, which feeds on turtlehead is found at Buffalo Slough. Also, visitors might see red-winged blackbirds, sedge wrens and yellowthroats.
Plan Your Visit
Contact The Nature Conservancy in Iowa at (515) 244-5044.
Please see our "Preserve Visitation Guidelines" page.
Directions
Directions coming soon.
Discussion
Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.
Add Your Comments
Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!
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