Lakeshore Savanna Preserve

This 120 acre wet pine savanna preserve provides habitat for several rare species of plants and animals. Although the preserve was covered with ten feet of saltwater during Hurricane Katrina, both plant and animal life is rebounding.

Location
Coastal Mississippi in Hancock County west of Bay St. Louis.

Plants
Some plants found at Lakeshore Savanna:

• Night-flowering wild petunia (Ruellia noctiflora): Critically imperiled in Mississippi. The flowers of this 16" perennial herb open at night and fall by mid-morning. It flowers from May to August and usually occurs in wetlands. It's habitat is a longleaf pine flatwoods savannah. Threats to this plant include fire exclusion, residential and commercial development, exotic species and conversion of habitat to intensively-managed pine plantations. 
• Pitcher plants: These unusual plants are among an array of carnivorous species that thrive in the nutrient poor soils of the wet pinelands. The plants have evolved to digest insects to meet their need for nitrogen.
• Toothache grass: Native Americans used this plant as a local anesthesia.

Animals

• Henslow’s sparrow: This uncommon bird prefers running through the grass to taking flight. They eat mostly grasshoppers and beetles and thrive in flat fields with tall dense grass, few woody plants and a dense litter layer.
• Crayfish: A wet pine savanna such as Lakeshore can provide critical habitat for several species of rare crayfish.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Due to changing land use across the south, wet pine savannas have been diminished to a very small portion of the historic range. Lakeshore Savanna is a prime example of this ecosystem and provides habitat to numerous rare plants and animals.

The Conservancy's Work at Lakeshore Savanna Preserve
Two primary types of land management activities occur here:

• Removal of invasive plants species such as Chinese tallow tree and Chinese privet that out compete native plant species 
• Use of controlled fires to suppress competing trees and shrubs and to stimulate the growth of native grasses and wildflowers

For more information on the Lakeshore Savanna Preserve, please contact Rebecca Stowe, Director of Stewardship.

The Nature Conservancy

Mississippi Stewardship Program
138 Main Street Merrill
Lucedale, MS  39452
(601) 947-3111