Cedar Glen Nature Preserve

Hancock County

Location and Access:

From Hamilton at jct. Hwys. 96 & 136, take Hwy. 136 west and southwest 1.3 miles to jct. with blacktop road going south, then turn and go south-southwest 2.7 miles to the Alice Kibbe Field Station of Western Illinois University. The nature preserve is on the east side of the Kibbe Field Station.

Special Note: This preserve is closed to visitors between November 1 and March 1 to prevent disturbance to the large population of bald eagles which roost here.

Description:

Cedar Glen is a large forested tract of land located within the Middle Mississippi Border Natural Division. The sharply dissected river bluffs of this region divide the low level bottomland along the river from the higher, gently rolling uplands. The rugged terrain of the bluffs is mostly wooded, but very little forest remains intact on the bottomland or level upland. Most of the surrounding land is now cultivated. Fortunately, the Cedar Glen area escaped development and is still forested. The natural features include mature second growth forest stands, meandering streams, high cliffs and unique geologic features. The forests are dominated by oaks, hickories, sugar maple and basswood. Species lists compiled for the area by the Kibbe Life Science Station included 109 families and 683 species of vascular plants. More than 225 families of insects have been recorded along with 10 amphibian species, 15 reptile species, 75 species of breeding birds, and 33 species of mammals. The site is particularly significant as a roosting site for wintering bald eagles.

Ownership: IDNR

Dedicated: February 1975

Size: 573.87 acres with an additional 43 acres of buffer

Topo Map: Warsaw 7.5

For Further Information Contact: The Nature Conservancy, 8 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60603 (312/346-8166) or Director, Kibbe Life Science Station of Western Illinois University, Warsaw, IL 62379 (217/2556-4583)

03/10 R. Heidorn