Volunteer naturalists work to reestablish prairies in Missouri: ‘Everybody can do their part’

A group of volunteers hope to bring native wildlife back into abundance by reestablishing grasslands that were wiped out after the European settlement of Missouri. Now in its third year, they've created a seed bank that provides free seeds to landowners who want to establish a prairie.
MONROE CITY – As beautiful as a tallgrass prairie in bloom is, establishing one is equally unglamorous.

First invasive species, like autumn olive or bradford pear trees, have to be ripped out and burned off. And even after prairie grass seeds are thrown, it won’t be pretty at first.

“And next year, you look out there and you just weep because it looks disgusting,” said Bob Kendrick, a member of the Mississippi Hills chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalists.