The Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT) has embarked on its most ambitious land acquisition project yet. Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve began in 2015 as a 11,000-acre sanctuary for prairie wildlife in southeastern Colorado. But animals, such as bison and pronghorn, need expansive landscapes, if they are to thrive the way they did on the Great Plains prior to European settlement. We expanded this preserve to nearly 25,000 acres currently. SPLT has successfully negotiated land deals that will enable Heartland Ranch grow to nearly 43,000 acres - or almost 70 square miles - by April 2024! We ask for your generous support in making the next step in this capital campaign a reality.

The Vision - Recreating the American Serengeti

In February 2020, SPLT closed on an additional 6,614 acres of land adjacent to Heartland Ranch. Our nature preserve now covers almost 40 square miles and is bigger than any one of Colorado's state parks, several national parks, and five counties. It is unique in that the land is protected specifically for the prairie wildlife and not for human-centric recreation or any kind of consumptive use. This property is located in Bent County, in southeastern Colorado, an area with some of the best remaining intact shortgrass prairie habitat in the state.

100% of all donations received through this campaign will be allocated toward the Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve land purchases. With your help, we are truly recreating the American Serengeti. This campaign is for the one million dollars needed to pay off this purchase in 2020.

Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve will continue to grow with your support. SPLT has also negotiated a contract for the acquisition of adjacent land. With your support, by April 2022, we will be adding 8,720 acres and another 9,167 acres by April 2024. Our vision is that Heartland Ranch will cover nearly 43,000 acres of healthy, diverse short-grass prairie.

Thank you for helping make this exciting vision a reality!

More about Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve:

Heartland Ranch contains outstanding biodiversity values. It has rolling grassland terrain, prairie dog colonies that host a variety of associated wildlife, dramatic rock-covered mesas, lush canyons, juniper woodlands, multiple perennial springs, and 31 miles of seasonal streams that feed into the Arkansas River. A herd of about 90 bison resides on the property, as does a variety of wildlife, which find refuge in the diverse habitats. Vertebrate wildlife on the property include mule deer, pronghorn, badger, coyote, swift fox, black-tailed prairie dog, black-tailed jackrabbit, desert cottontail, ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, Swainson's hawk, American kestrel, Great Plains skink, lesser earless lizard, fence lizard, Western ornate box turtle, prairie rattler, coachwhip, and others.

The stream areas provide crucial habitat for wildlife, and we have sandpipers, ducks, herons, and plains leopard frogs using springs and creeks on the property. There are springs on the property which flow all year long. The many seasonal creeks and ponds filled up with summer rains, providing excellent wildlife habitat. The leopard frog populations, in particular, are among the most populous we've ever seen. Burrowing owls also occur in high numbers on the property during their summer breeding season, benefiting from the protected prairie dog populations.

In addition to abundant and diverse animals, rare plants, such as Colorado Green Gentian and Arkansas Valley Evening Primrose, are found on this property. The Colorado Green Gentian is found only in southeastern Colorado. SPLT's goal is to permanently protect the tremendous natural conservation values of this area, providing safe refuge to all native wildlife, as well as to give back to local communities through educational programs about the rich natural and human history of this land.

#	Participant	Donors	Donations	Raised
1
2
3
4
5

Expand Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve

Giving Activity

Comments

How can we help?

Chat