Big Bone Lick

Big Bone Lick State Park is managing vegetation and controlling invasive species to help protect the federally-endangered running buffalo clover.  Numerous patches of buffalo clover will be cleared by hand of competing vegetation such as bush honeysuckle and garlic mustard.  These activities are open to the public, and participants will receive Endangered Species Day booklets, magnets, and other items.

Trifolium stoloniferum, the running buffalo clover, is an endangered species of perennial clover native to the eastern and midwestern United States.

The groups involved include The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Ecological Services Field Office (Frankfort, KY), the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the Kentucky Native Plant Society, and Kentucky State Parks.

The event will be held on Endangered Species Day, Friday, May 20, 2011 from 10am-4pm.  Please register for this event at the Endangered Species Coalition website.

After enjoying a Mother’s Day buffet with Mom, how about working off those calories with a short hike? 

Join local botanist Matt Maley and the park naturalists on a short walk in Big Bone Lick State Park to see and learn about the many beautiful spring wildflowers that bloom in the park.  The Wildflower Walk will take place on Sunday, May 9 from 11:00 AM to about 1 PM.

For more information, call 859-384-3522 or email park naturalist Todd Young at todd.young@ky.gov.

Big Bone Lick State Park is one of the few places in the world where one can find the federally endangered plant, Running Buffalo Clover.  The clover appears to depend on woodland disturbance created by large animals, especially the bison.  Unfortunately, the loss of wild roaming bison, increase of invasive species and agricultural practices have pushed this plant to the verge of extinction. 

Running Buffalo Clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) is a perennial clover native to the eastern and midwestern United States.  This plant has upright, unbranched flowering stems, typically 4-20 inches tall.  The stem is topped by a round flower head, subtended by two leaves.  The flower heads are white, sometimes tinged with purple, and about an inch in diameter.  It flowers from mid-May to June and fruits in July.

You are invited to join the naturalist staff at Big Bone Lick State Park on Sunday, July 5 to help save this endangered species.  There will be a short presentation, followed by onsite habitat restoration for the Running Buffalo Clover.

Phone (859) 384-3522 or email todd.young@ky.gov for more information.

Jana took a bunch of nice photos of the winter foliage and buffalo at Big Bone Lick State Park.  Check out Jana’s entire photo set.