FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Indiana’s only site for Mitchell’s satyr, a species on the brink of extinction, safe from development
The purchase of a 13-acre property containing a high-quality wetland in northern Indiana will help to protect one of the rarest species in the U.S.
The Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI), a private nonprofit conservation group, worked with partners to purchase the land known as Larimer Fen from private owners with the intention of selling it to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in the future when funding comes available. Due to its sensitive nature, it will not be open to the public.
The survival of Mitchell’s satyr, a federally endangered butterfly, requires the unique conditions of high-quality wetlands like Larimer Fen. Nationally, the loss of similar habitats is putting Mitchell’s satyr at risk of extinction. Only a handful of sites remain that are hospitable to the species, and Larimer Fen is the only one in Indiana.
But the butterfly isn’t the only imperiled species making its home in the damp and peaty environment of Larimer Fen. Blanding’s turtles, sphagnum sprite damselflies, elfin skimmers (North America’s smallest dragonfly), and death camas, a state-threatened plant, also rely on the habitat for survival.
About the site, noted conservationist and best-selling author Kenn Kaufman said, “The Mitchell’s satyr is an unbelievably rare butterfly, worth protecting in its own right, and it’s also an indicator of unique, high-quality habitat. This fen is also home to rare wildflowers, rare dragonflies, and other special creatures. I am so pleased this natural gem is preserved forever.” A native Hoosier, Kaufman is co-author of a popular butterfly field guide, among other books. He now lives in Ohio, where there is one site remaining for the Mitchell’s satyr.
CILTI president Cliff Chapman expressed gratitude for the organization’s generous donors and forward-thinking board that enabled swift action on the purchase. “Thanks to our support base, we can move fast when speed is of the essence,” said Chapman. “We’re interested in more partnerships with individuals, groups, and state government when it means protecting the natural places that make Indiana special.”
A unique resource for a private nonprofit organization, CILTI’s Evergreen Fund for Nature made the rapid transaction possible. Donors contribute to the fund so the land trust has access to ready capital, which allows it to move quickly when desirable land is for sale. This project’s critical endangered species habitat also brought support from donors as far away as California. In cases like Larimer Fen, CILTI can hold onto a property until the state can free up funds to purchase it for long-term protection.
“Even though the site will never be open to the public, I believe saving part of our natural heritage increases overall quality of life in Indiana. It’s wonderful to know that places like this still exist in 2024, and we were fortunate to put a deal together fast enough to buy the land, ensuring that the state wouldn’t end up with development that would wipe out the endangered species,” Chapman said.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations