The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is highlighting a little-known gem in Iowa: a never-plowed section of original prairie land near Manson. The 160-acre Kalsow Prairie State Preserve in southeast Pocahontas County is a rare and untouched remnant prairie in Iowa. Acquired by the Iowa Conservation Commission in the late 1940s, it served as a hayfield and pasture on the Kalsow family farm before its preservation. Surveyed by renowned professor Ada Hayden, the area boasts over 250 plant species, making it biologically diverse. Designated as a state preserve in 1968, it supports a variety of wildlife, including smooth green snakes, short-eared owls, and bobolinks. The prairie features numerous plant species, such as white prairie clover and prairie sage. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources manages the area and uses prescribed burns to maintain plant diversity and reduce invasive species. The Kalsow Prairie provides a glimpse into Iowa’s natural history and prairie land heritage and is open to public hunting,
