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Places We Protect

Pontotoc Ridge Preserve

Oklahoma

Pontotoc Ridge Preserve in Oklahoma. © Mike Fuhr/The Nature Conservancy

A ruggedly beautiful land featuring rolling hills, limestone outcrops, springs and cool running streams.

Overview

Description

This 2,900 acre landscape, a gift from the Buddy Smith family, rests in south-central Oklahoma and holds bottomland oakforests, savannas, mixed-grass and tallgrass prairies, springs and cool running streams.

Pontotoc Ridge Preserve is a premier Arbuckle Plains property located on top of the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer, providing critical recharge for the water source.  This untilled landscape has proven to be a regional hot spot of butterfly diversity, boasting over 90 species documented at the preserve to date.

Whether it's cactus, bluestem or collared lizards, Pontotoc Ridge Preserve is an excellent example of Oklahoma's ruggedly beautiful lands.

Access

CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

Limited access during events.

Location

Pontotoc County

Map with marker: Located south of Ada, Oklahoma.

Highlights

Migratory birds, Untilled rugged prairie, over 90 butterfly species, Aquifer recharge zone

Size

2,900 acres

Explore our work in Oklahoma

Photos from NatGeo Photo Ark

Discover the unique endemic species of the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves photographed by Joel Sartore National Geographic Photo Ark project.

Orangebelly darter on a white background.
Big-eyed toad bug on black background
Orangebelly darter on black background.
Ringed crayfish on a white background.
BIgeye shiner on black background
Ringed crayfish on black background
Bigeye shiner on white background
Hellgrammite photographed on a white background.
Damselfly larvae on black background
Western pygmy rattlesnake on a white background.
Orangebelly darter on a white background.

Orangebelly Darter: An orangebelly darter (Etheostoma radiosum) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

Big-eyed toad bug on black background

Big-eyed Toad Bug: A big-eyed toad bug (Gelastocoris oculatus) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

Orangebelly darter on black background.

Orangebelly Darter: An orangebelly darter (Etheostoma radiosum) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

Ringed crayfish on a white background.

Ringed Crayfish: A ringed crayfish (Faxonius neglectus) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

BIgeye shiner on black background

Bigeye Shiner: A bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

Ringed crayfish on black background

Ringed Crayfish: A ringed crayfish (Faxonius neglectus) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

Bigeye shiner on white background

Bigeye Shiner: A bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

Hellgrammite photographed on a white background.

Hellgrammite: A lavae of the eastern dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserve near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic PhotoArk

Damselfly larvae on black background

Damselfly: A damselfly larvae in the family Conagrionidae found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

Western pygmy rattlesnake on a white background.

Western Pygmy Rattlesnake: A western pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri) found at the Oka' Yanahli and Pontotoc Ridge Preserves near Connerville, OK. © Joel Sartore/National Geographic PhotoArk

Map of Oklahoma preserves in OK360 virtual tour
OK360 Take a virtual field trip to Oklahoma's 5 flagship preserves. © TNC

Immerse Yourself in Nature

Take a virtual field trip and experience breathtaking 360° panoramas of Oklahoma’s native and diverse landscapes. Great for classrooms and living rooms alike to learn about the unique Pontotoc Ridge Preserve in southeastern Oklahoma and all its plants, animals, and special ecology through this engaging multi-media.

Take a Virtual Field Trip

Water Conservation

Swimming freely in clear, fresh water

Protecting Oklahoma Watersheds

See the diversity in Oklahoma’s rivers and learn how The Nature Conservancy is protecting them.

Water flowing in the Blue River in Oklahoma.

Conserving the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer

Learn how The Nature Conservancy is working with tribes, landowners and corporations to protect a critical water source.

Silhouette of a green tree frog sitting on top of a leaf.

Protecting Amphibians From Deadly Pathogens

Amphibian populations worldwide are undergoing a rapid decline due to a number of factors, including emergent infectious diseases.

Nearby Preserves

Need more nature? Visit The Nature Conservancy's other preserves in Oklahoma.

Find More Places We Protect

The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states. These lands protect wildlife and natural systems, serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world.

See the Complete Map

Support Prairie Conservation in Oklahoma

Show your Okie pride by sporting a speciality license plate on your car or make a donation to continue conservation efforts across the prairie.

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