Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA Auto Route

The blacklands of southwesternArkansas, a landscape dominated bytall native grasses, had a watery begin-ning. Millions of years ago the Gulf ofMexico covered the region. As itreceded, it left behind deposits ofshellfish that formed a chalky layerunderneath a deep mantle of rich,black soil. It's from this dark soil thatthe blacklands get their name. With akeen eye one can still find fossils ofancient oyster shells or perhaps even amosasaur, a giant reptile that patrolledthe oceans of the Cretaceous Period.The state's blackland prairies andassociated woodlands and bottom-lands harbor more than 600 plantand 315 animal species. The prairiesare often splashed with colorful wild-flowers and attract a variety of birds,including rare species such asBachman's sparrow, Cooper's hawk,sharp-shinned hawk, peregrine falconand osprey.