Prairie Ridge Ecostation

Ever wonder why we have Bison sculptures in our prairie? They're a reminder of North Carolina's past! Bison historically roamed North Carolina's prairies, though both the Bison and the prairies were mostly eliminated once Europeans colonized the area and began farming. Prairie Ridge stands as a reminder of our prairie history, making our Bison pair the perfect animals to feature in the grasses.

We've seen tracks and signs of animals using the pond, but nothing beats seeing one of our residents directly. This Snapping Turtle was spotted basking in the sun recently, covered in duckweed and living its best life. We don't see Snapping Turtles often, so this sighting was a rare treat!

As the drought continues and our pond shrinks, this habitat remains an essential and now even more vital water source for the Snapping Turtle and all the other wildlife at Prairie Ridge.

We’re excited to take part in the 2026 City Nature Challenge happening this weekend, April 24-27! People across the state will be submitting photos of wild living things to iNaturalist, contributing to an international survey of urban biodiversity.

We’ve participated since 2017, making this year our 10th anniversary. In fact, in 2018, a staff member rediscovered a plant at a Raleigh park that hadn’t been observed since the 1960s, which led to a local conservation project, highlighting the true impact of the City Nature Challenge.

Want to join us? We still have spots open Friday and Saturday! Check out our event listings for info on how to register.