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The J.T. Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve, located in Cherokee County, Oklahoma is privately owned and managed by The Oklahoma Nature Conservancy. The preserve contains of forest and grassland. Spring-fed creeks meander amid a rugged topography of steep slopes and narrow valleys harboring a mosaic of oak-hickory forest, lofty pine woodland, and a diverse mix of savanna, shrubland, and prairie. Elk have been reintroduced at the Preserve ==Description== The Nickel Family Preserve is located in the forested and rocky Cookson Hills region of eastern Oklahoma. Elevations on the refuge range from 850 feet to 1250 feet.〔Delorme, Topo USA, 6.0〕 The preserve was founded in 2000 and is the largest privately owned conservation area in the Ozark Mountains. Most of the Preserve is forested with oak and pine trees mixed with tallgrass prairie. Through controlled burns, The Nature Conservancy helps re-create the open woodland and biological diversity that characterized this region in pre-settlement days. There are seven vegetation zones: Xeric (dry) forests; Mesic (moist) forests; floodplains, glades, tallgrass prairie, wetlands, and disturbed areas. A total of 597 plant species have been found on the Preserve, including 15 rare, endangered or threatened plant species.〔(“The vascular flora of the J. T. Nickel Nature and Wildlife Preserve, Cherokee County, Oklahoms,” ), accessed 28 Mar 2011〕 The Nature Conservancy has introduced Elk which have been absent from the Ozarks for more than 150 years. White tailed deer, coyote, bobcat, and many small mammals are also common in the preserve and black bears now make their home on the preserve after being absent for over a century. Please observe the following guidelines when visiting: * Stay on the trail. Don't collect plants, insects or other species or disturb soil, rocks, artifacts or scientific research markers. * No dogs. Preserves harbor ground-nesting birds and other wildlife that are extremely sensitive to disturbance. * No bicycles or motorized vehicles. Native plants and research sites are easily trampled. * No hunting, camping or campfires. * For groups of 10 or more, please contact us before visiting a preserve (a volunteer naturalist guide may be available). * Please do not leave behind trash. Bring a bag and carry it out. * Please report to us any problems you observe (e.g., camping, plant removal, hunting, off-road vehicle damage, etc). The trails are open during daylight hours 7 days a week. Access to other areas of the preserve may be arranged by contacting the preserve manager. The headquarters building is staffed only on weekdays. There are no facilities other than at the headquarters building. No hunting, fishing, or camping is allowed on the preserve. (Click here for more information. ) 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「J. T. Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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