Editing Eastern Prickly Pear (section)

==== Concerns About Preservation ====

Of all of the sites at which I have observed ''Opuntia humifusa'', the Coastal Center at Milford Point offers the easiest access to these plants while at the same time providing the greatest level of protection.

While the cacti colonies in Plainville and New Haven are found upon state-owned property such as West Rock Ridge State Park and the Metacomet Trail, these parcels of land are very large and protective legislation is nearly impossible to routinely enforce.

The Audubon Coastal Center at Milford Point, while providing similar protective regulations, encompasses a very smaller parcel of land (less than 9 acres) upon which it is considerably more practical to conduct regular assessments of the colonies health.  Thus, I am confident that the colony of ''O. humifusa'' at Milford are relatively safe under the protection and monitoring of Audubon Center staff.