La Rue-Pine Hills is one of the richest and most biologically diverse areas in Illinois. The biological richness of this 2x5-mile strip of land has much to do with its unique topography of limestone bluffs that tower above a springfed swamp. Swamp, spring, cliff, forest, glade, cave, and hill prairie communities provide diverse habitat for a correspondingly diverse flora and fauna. Eastern, western, northern, and southern species are present in this area. Several rare species are found at La Rue-Pine Hills, including the golden mouse, eastern woodrat, Indiana bat, green water snake, blue-head shiner, banded pygmy sunfish, spotted sunfish, and bantam sunfish.

SIZE: 466,755 acres; 729 square miles

LOCATION:Southwestern Illinois; Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Randolph, Union, and Williamson counties.

The Illinois Ozarks RRA is one of the richest, most biologically diverse areas of the state. Many species found here are rare and limited in distribution to this area of the state. This RRA encompasses Mississippi River bottomlands, Ozark plateau, and unglaciated hill country. Originally much of the land was forested and considerable forest remains. The Illinois Ozarks RRA shares a common boundary with Cache River RRA; the large, contiguous forests along the boundary are split into the two RRAs.

Approximately 20 species of snakes are known from La Rue-Pine Hills. In the spring and fall, snakes migrate from their winter hibernation sites in the rocky bluffs. Many cross the road which separates the bluffs form the swamp, prompting closure of the road twice a year. Venomous copperheads, timber rattlesnakes, and cottonmouths, as well as several non-poisonous snakes, such as king and rat snakes, live in La Rue-Pine Hills.

One of the few remaining strongholds of the eastern woodrat in Illinois is La Rue-Pine Hills. This animal was at one time distributed across southern Illinois from the Ohio River to the Mississippi. The eastern woodrat is a true pack rat, collecting and storing nuts, acorns, pods, twigs, leaves, and other small items in their nests. The nests are added to by each successive owner.

LANDCOVER : The predominant landcover in this RRA is woods (42% upland and 10% bottomland woods). Twenty-eight percent of the site is cropland. The Illinois Ozarks is one of the few nonurban sites where cropland is not the predominant landcover. The second highest percentage of upland woods and the fourth highest percentage of bottomland woods occurs in this RRA. It has the fifth highest acreage of nonforested wetlands.

NATURAL AREAS : There are 59 Natural Areas covering a total of 17,010 acres, the fifth highest acreage among the RRAs. These sites include caves, geological features, aquatic systems, wetlands, woods, and prairies. La Rue-Pine Hills is the largest Natural Area (4,179 acres).

BIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT STREAMS : Six BSS designations occur in this RRA for a total of 33 miles. These include four streams and two stretches of the Mississippi River. The streams are clear with sand, gravel, and rock substrates.

HERITAGE SITES : A large number of Heritage points (227) occur here. Thirteen community types, 38 plant species, and 30 animal species are located in this RRA. All eight community categories are represented. There are 17 occurrences of large forest tracts and three rookeries.

STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS : Twenty-one percent (99,934 acres) of the RRA is in public ownership. State land consists of one state park, one conservation area, one state forest, and one fish and wildlife area. Most of the acreage in public ownership is in Shawnee National Forest.

NATURE PRESERVES : Seven Nature Preserves are located in the RRA. Significant features are mature forests, cliffs, bedrock outcrops, swamps, and barrens.

NATURAL DIVISIONS : This RRA includes six natural divisions. The Lower Mississippi River Bottomalnds, Shawnee Hills, and Ozark Natural Divisions each comprise about one-third of the RRA.