HRF helped with the installation of nearly 400 tree shelters on the Missouri River bottom-land north of Hamburg, IA. The site had received a direct seeding in 2002 with walnut, oak, hickory, and pecan. Browsing by deer and rabbit has been excessive up to this point. It is the hope of the DNR and HRF that the shelters will protect these seedlings as they grow and become established.
Cottonwoods have also started to invade prairie ecosystems that have been established. In order to make sure the sites do not become overwhelmed HRF has stepped in to eliminate the cottonwood from these prairies. Stumps were treated to avoid future unwanted growth and the small trees were left to be consumed by prescribed burns in the spring.
