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Wandrei, Dean & Jane Holmes, Earl Okerstrom, birds. Twenty-four species were found to use the
<br /> Grace W. Gray, Janice & Michael Weum, Jim TCAAP over winter. •
<br /> Kotila, John Henrickson, Joy & Harland Sievert,
<br /> Finally, twenty-two species of mammals were observed
<br /> 9 Margaret Prodhomme, Mike Kluthe, Phil Bur- at the TCAAP, including: masked shrew, arctic shrew,
<br /> feind, Richard & Kay Trapp, Ross Sutton, Sharon short-tailed shrew, eastern cottontail, white-tailed jack-
<br /> r_ w
<br /> Moenkhaus Tom Dunnald Tom & Sue
<br /> McCarthy, and William Gilbertson, rabbit, thirteen- lined ground squirrel, gray squirrel, fox
<br /> squirrel, -plains pocket gopher, beaver, white-footed
<br /> Thanks to all for your support!!! mouse, southern red- backed vole, meadow vole,
<br /> �; ,. - �" �r:, muskrat, meadow jumping mouse, red fox, raccoon,
<br /> NATURAL RESOURCES OF mink, badger, striped skunk and white-tailed deer.
<br /> Another 32 species were known to occur locally, and
<br /> THE TCAAP
<br /> ,y.�..� were suspected of being resident on the TCAAP.
<br /> Unless you are one of the few lucky individuals to have While the study was not an exhaustive inventory, and
<br /> "' extensively toured the TCAAP site, you may not be hence likely missed the more rare species, several
<br /> aware of the tremendously rich diversity and abun- findings were noteworthy. The presence of native
<br /> mow= dance of natural resources found within the complex. In prairie in Ramsey county is extraordinary; most natural
<br /> the early 1980's, the Army contracted with the prairies have been destroyed by development. The few
<br /> University of Minnesota to produce a comprehensive remaining tracts deserve high protection. Blanding's
<br /> wildlife management plan for the TCAAP. The resultant turtle is a state-listed species of special concern, but
<br /> plan provided a fairly thorough inventory of vegetative are found regularly on the TCAAP. Several other
<br /> communities and wildlife species found on the site, and species of amphibian and reptile found on the TCAAP
<br /> made recommendations to preserve these resources. are rare elsewhere in the metro area. Similarly, several
<br /> Of the 2400 acres total within the TCAAP, the plan bird species are unusual, including: common loon
<br /> found that some 1660 acres were in natural cover: (found nesting in 1994), American bittern, trumpeter
<br /> swan (reintroduced in 1993), red-tailed hawk (first
<br /> roughly 300 acres of forestlands, 200 acres of parkland/ nesting record for Ramsey county), black tern (stat
<br /> savannah, 100 acres of brushlands, 400 acres of listed species of special concern), bobolinks c.�
<br /> wetlands, and 600 acres of grasslands/fields. Another meadowlarks (both rare in Ramsey county). Finally, of
<br /> �.. 660 acres were identified as "developed" (buildings, the mammals, white-tailed jackrabbits are not likely
<br /> etc.) and 80 acres was occupied by the gravel pit The found anywhere else in Ramsey county (or perhaps the
<br /> plan noted that forests often contained mature trees metro area); the white-tailed deer herd is an enjoyment
<br /> such as oak and elm, and that the grasslands to many local residents.
<br /> ,, contained good remnant prairie tracts. Both of these
<br /> plant communities are increasing rare in the metro area. This winter, a northern shrike has been observed
<br /> several times, and a bald eagle has been spotted
<br /> The plan identified a rich assemblage of animal species near the gravel pit, apparently taking advantage of the
<br /> on the TCAAP. Six amphibian species were caught on open water.
<br /> the TCAAP; including: wood frog, striped chorus frog,
<br /> northern leopard frog, green frog, American toad, and Each of these resources is in itself worthy of note and
<br /> tiger salamander. Five reptile species were caught, preservation. Taken as a whole, and because they are
<br /> including: garter snake, red- bellied snake, northern found on the last tract of undeveloped land in the metro
<br /> prairie skink, painted turtle and Blanding's turtle. area, these constitute a remarkable last chance to
<br /> Thirteen other species of amphibian and reptile have preserve some biological diversity for the region We
<br /> ranges overlapping the TCAAP, and were suspected of need to carefully consider these resources when
<br /> occurring there (2 have subsequently been observed, developing a re-use plan, and preserve as much of
<br /> snapping turtle and hognose snake). them as possible for future generations.
<br /> Over fifty species of birds were found to breed on the
<br /> TCAAP, the most common Included: red-winged black-
<br /> bird, common yellowthroat, starling, American robin. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
<br /> gray catbird, meadowlark, American goldfinch, clay-
<br /> colored sparrow, song sparrow, blue jay, eastern DEVELOP RE-USE PLAN
<br /> kingbird, tree swallow, yellow warbler, Brewer's black-
<br /> A coalition of environmental groups has developed
<br /> bird, Canada goose, mallard, blue- winged teal, wood proposal for re-use of the TCAAP for submission to R�
<br /> duck, black tern, sora rail, green heron and American Vento's TCAAP Reutilization Committee. The coalition.
<br /> bittern. Some additional 30 species are known to occur comprised of Audubon, Sierra Club, lzaak Walton
<br /> in the vicinity, and were considered potential breeding
<br /> FRIENDS OF THE TCAAP NEWSLETTER. WINTER 1995 PAGE 2
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