NICHES news

NICHES has added a third property in Jasper County, a ten-acre tract south of the Jasper-Pulastk Fish and Wildlife area. They purchased it on September 1 from the Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation District. I had a chance meeting with someone who knew the back story and discovered that the property had been given to JCSW some years ago. JCSW thought NICHES would fulfill the wishes of the donor.

The two other NICHES tracts in Jasper County are the Fisher Oak Savanna and Shepard Swamp. Also close to Rensselaer is the Holley Savannah in Newton County

NICHES is planning a public tour the property on Wednesday, November 16:

Join us at The Ranch, one of the properties that we are currently raising funds for its long term protection, for a tour of the black oak sand savannas, wet prairies and buttonbush swamp. The Ranch is located 1 1/4 mile east of the intersection of 300 E and 750 N in Jasper County, a half mile south of Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. Tour at the Ranch will begin at 4:45 PM ET. After the tour we will drive over to the observation platform at Jasper Pulaski, meeting at 6 PM, to take in the cranes returning from their foraging foray in the countryside. Afterwards we will have a 7:30 PM dinner at The Whistle Stop (participants cover their own dinner) in Monon, IN.

Please RSVP to NICHES office by November 9th if you will be attending the dinner portion of the evening. Bring a friend and introduce someone to NICHES.

There is a mistake in the directions; the property is only 1/4 to 1/2 miles from the intersection of 300E and 750N. You can see where it is on the property map of Jasper County at jasper.in.wthgis.com/.