Newest Indiana nature preserve contains insect-eating plants

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - A northern Indiana wetland that's home to insect-eating plants and other rare species has become the state's newest nature preserve.

The Natural Resources Commission on Tuesday approved designating the more-than-176-acre site as the Lydick Bog Nature Preserve. Indiana now has 288 state-designated nature preserves.

The Shirley Heinze Land Trust acquired the Lydick Bog in 2015. The nonprofit group says the property just west of South Bend contains one of Indiana's last remaining bogs and features rare and unusual habitat, including wetlands interspersed with high ridges and islands of upland forest.

Insect-eating plants, including the pitcher plant and the sundew, are found in the property's bog.

The Shirley Heinze Land Trust says hiking trails are being developed at the site so that the public can enjoy the property.