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6 Ways to Start Off the New Year Outdoors

6 Ways to Start Off the New Year Outdoors

  • 12/29/2015 9:37:00 AM
  • View Count 8441
What better way to celebrate the new year than by getting outdoors? Here are a few ideas to get your year off to a good start!
2016 Bald Eagle Watch Events

2016 Bald Eagle Watch Events

  • 12/22/2015 5:21:00 AM
  • View Count 9101
The schedule of 2016 Bald Eagle Watch Events have been published. Plan a visit to one of the following locations for live viewing, exhibits, programs and more.
12 Tips for Better Wildlife Photography

12 Tips for Better Wildlife Photography

  • 12/11/2015 9:34:00 AM
  • View Count 37940
Anyone can take a picture of an animal, but it takes skill to get a good one. Whether you’ve got a secondhand point-and-shoot camera or a top-of-the-line DSLR, remember these tips to help you get your best wildlife shots this season.
DNR Asks for Anglers' Help with Study on Mudpuppies

DNR Asks for Anglers' Help with Study on Mudpuppies

  • 12/10/2015 9:04:00 AM
  • View Count 42218
At first glance, it’s hard to know what to make of this creature. A head like a dragon, gills on the outside of a fish-like body… what is this thing? The mysterious mudpuppy is the largest member of the salamander family in Iowa. It’s mostly nocturnal, never leaves the water and unlike almost every other reptile or amphibian in Iowa, this one is actually active in winter.
Give the Gift that Lasts All Year: Iowa Outdoors Magazine

Give the Gift that Lasts All Year: Iowa Outdoors Magazine

  • 12/8/2015 7:07:00 AM
  • View Count 8860
Take advantage of a special 30 percent off the regular subscription price, and give Iowa Outdoors Magazine to your friends or family this holiday season! Six issues (one-year) are just $10 and will include the 2017 calendar.
Wood Ducks Cuffed for Migratory Behavior

Wood Ducks Cuffed for Migratory Behavior

  • 11/18/2015 6:22:00 AM
  • View Count 11416
Each year in late summer at 31 Iowa locations, seclusive wood ducks are captured and banded as part of a U.S. and Canadian effort to learn their migratory pathways, survival rates and breeding areas. The efforts help establish hunting seasons and regulations.
Cool Things You Should Know About Crayfish

Cool Things You Should Know About Crayfish

  • 11/18/2015 4:57:00 AM
  • View Count 64104
Whether you call it a crawdad, crayfish, or crawfish, the facts on these critters can be amazing. They can regrow legs, carry up to 450 eggs, and they’ve lived in Iowa for 13,000 years. And then there are cool blue crayfish like this one, called virile crayfish - scientists believe a recessive gene causes the bright blue coloring.
7 Cool Things You Should Know About Opossums

7 Cool Things You Should Know About Opossums

  • 11/12/2015 8:54:00 AM
  • View Count 67967
Opossums may not win a beauty pageant anytime soon, since these marsupials look similar to oversized rats, but they actually aren’t nearly as gnarly as they appear. In fact, they’re one of the most unique animals in Iowa, and they have ecological benefits in both natural and urban environments. So the next time you see one of these little foragers, think about what good they might be doing for you instead of grabbing the broom.
Habitat Work to Begin at Badger Creek State Recreation Area

Habitat Work to Begin at Badger Creek State Recreation Area

  • 11/12/2015 8:10:00 AM
  • View Count 4368
Van Meter, Iowa - Contractors will begin removing invasive plants and other brush at two areas at Badger Creek State Recreation Area in Madison County this fall as part of a multiyear project to convert the area to native prairie.
Elk Shot In Monona County Sunday

Elk Shot In Monona County Sunday

  • 11/9/2015 9:25:00 AM
  • View Count 8031
An elk of unknown origin in west central Iowa was shot at the request of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Sunday morning to protect the Iowa deer herd and domestic livestock from the potential impacts of chronic wasting disease and other diseases.
6 Cool Things You Should Know About Coyotes

6 Cool Things You Should Know About Coyotes

  • 11/4/2015 5:01:00 AM
  • View Count 119395
Coyotes are the most common wild canine species in Iowa, and their ancestors have been here for millions of years. Today, these majestic and mysterious animals continue to impact the ecology of Iowa and now act as our most common large predator. Although it’s difficult to estimate current numbers, lack of competition and plentiful food sources mean the Iowa population is likely at an all-time high.
DNR Unveils New Face to Website

DNR Unveils New Face to Website

  • 11/3/2015 8:01:00 AM
  • View Count 4231
Visitors to www.iowadnr.gov will notice a new “look and feel” to the DNR website, offering friendlier navigation and more prominent access to the information visitors want most. The DNR introduced the updated site in late October and has received positive feedback from people visiting the website.
Cool Things You Should Know About Bobcats in Iowa

Cool Things You Should Know About Bobcats in Iowa

  • 10/21/2015 8:42:00 AM
  • View Count 141706
At the brink of being wiped out in Iowa just a few decades ago, the bobcat has staged a major comeback in the state. Even with more cats around – mostly in southern counties – it’s still not common to see one, as they’re a pretty secretive bunch. But here are a few bobcat “secrets” you can share with your friends.
Wounded Swan Captured in Scott County

Wounded Swan Captured in Scott County

  • 10/9/2015 3:57:00 AM
  • View Count 4430
DAVENPORT – A Trumpeter swan wounded last weekend at Princeton Wildlife Area has been captured and will soon be on its way to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.
Adding Habitat Important to Grow Pheasant Numbers

Adding Habitat Important to Grow Pheasant Numbers

  • 10/6/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 4081
Iowa pheasants have enjoyed a good two-year run of milder winters leading to the highest bird numbers since 2008, but that run of good luck can’t last forever. Weather and habitat are keys to bird survival and over the last eight years Iowa has lost 500,000 acres of CRP statewide.
Two Charged After Allegedly Shooting Swans

Two Charged After Allegedly Shooting Swans

  • 10/4/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 4592
DAVENPORT – Two men have been charged after allegedly shooting two Trumpeter swans at the Princeton Wildlife Area in Scott County.
Lake Sugema and Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Becoming a Bird Conservation Area

Lake Sugema and Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Becoming a Bird Conservation Area

  • 9/29/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 5055
KEOSAUQUA – A public ceremony to dedicate Lake Sugema Wildlife Management Area, Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Shimek State Forest Keosauqua Unit, and a portion of the Fox River watershed as Iowa’s newest Bird Conservation Area (BCA) will take place on October 15 at 1:30 pm. at the Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Lodge.
6 Cool Things You Might Not Know About Raccoons

6 Cool Things You Might Not Know About Raccoons

  • 9/22/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 73250
Whether you call them trash bandits or just ‘coons, most everyone in Iowa has met this prominent Midwest mammal. While they may have a rather unfavorable reputation in urban environments for ransacking trash cans, they’re one of the best urban-adapted animals in existence today and fill a necessary ecological niche around the world. See how well you know your local masked bandit with the trivia below!
Helpful Identification Guides for Iowa Plants, Wildlife

Helpful Identification Guides for Iowa Plants, Wildlife

  • 9/9/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 51069
If you’re the curious type that likes to know the name of the spider you found on your porch or just what that prairie-looking flower is that came up in your garden, you’ll appreciate these online identification resources.
Monarchs Embark on Nature’s Most Incredible Migration

Monarchs Embark on Nature’s Most Incredible Migration

  • 9/9/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 35894
As the days grow shorter and fall approaches, newly emerged monarch butterflies become restless. Although the bright orange- and black-winged insects currently visiting backyard flowerbeds may appear identical to those seen earlier in the summer, they are biologically different from all others. The group of adults currently flittering about are so unusual that scientists give them a special name—this year’s final crop of young are the annual super generation.
11 Extinct Animals You Didn’t Know Were Iowan

11 Extinct Animals You Didn’t Know Were Iowan

  • 9/9/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 48176
As the eons have seen many species come and go across the globe, you may be surprised by some of the species that once called what we now know as Iowa home.
5 Cool Things You Might Not Know About Otters

5 Cool Things You Might Not Know About Otters

  • 9/9/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 51644
While assorted species of otters live on all but two continents, the only species we have in Iowa today is the North American river otter. These chummy, playful mammals are characterized as clever and mischievous, but there’s a lot more to an otter than that!
6 Things You Might not Know About Iowa's Turtles

6 Things You Might not Know About Iowa's Turtles

  • 9/8/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 46126
Whether they walk on land or paddle in the river, the 17 species of turtles we have in Iowa are much more complex than meets the eye - many tout extensive lifespans and specific habitat needs. See how much turtle trivia you know:
7 Ways to Attract Songbirds to Your Yard

7 Ways to Attract Songbirds to Your Yard

  • 9/2/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 20517
Whether you’re trying to attract photo subjects or some cute little neighbors for company, creating a songbird habitat in your yard is a great way to get nature to come to you. No matter if you’ve got a yard the size of a postage stamp or a full acreage, there are plenty of ways to draw in the feathered friends you’re looking for. Check out the tips and tricks below for making your yard as homey as possible.
Why Do Snakes Shed Their Skin?

Why Do Snakes Shed Their Skin?

  • 8/25/2015 9:13:00 AM
  • View Count 159677
All animals shed their skin. Some just do it in more grandiose (and visible) style. While humans “shed” millions of skin cells every day, snakes and other animals shed a layer of skin in one continuous piece, a process called ecdysis, which occurs between four and 12 times a year.
8 Iowa Animals You May Not Know are Threatened or Endangered

8 Iowa Animals You May Not Know are Threatened or Endangered

  • 8/11/2015 9:57:00 AM
  • View Count 21275
Nothing sounds more common than a mouse, owl, turtle or bat, but in Iowa, loss of habitat and other threats are creating serious conditions for different species of these critters, landing them on Iowa’s threatened and endangered species list.
Go Exploring: 14 Iowa Wildlife Tracks to Look For

Go Exploring: 14 Iowa Wildlife Tracks to Look For

  • 8/7/2015 10:18:00 AM
  • View Count 46178
When you’re out enjoying Iowa’s great outdoors, how often do you think to look down? One of the best ways for a burgeoning photographer, hunter or wildlife enthusiast to figure out what types of animals are around is to look for tracks.
6 Animals You Might Not Know are Protected in Iowa

6 Animals You Might Not Know are Protected in Iowa

  • 7/17/2015 9:59:00 AM
  • View Count 135642
An animal doesn’t need to be endangered to receive legal protection. In Iowa, there are plenty of animals that might frighten or startle you, but these animals have important roles in our state’s ecology. So the next time you see one of these animals don’t panic, and consider what they contribute to the environment around you.
6 Nature Foolers: Can You Tell the Difference?

6 Nature Foolers: Can You Tell the Difference?

  • 7/10/2015 8:54:00 AM
  • View Count 19282
Mimicry is about more than flattery for these Iowa organisms. Looking similar to a dangerous model helps the mimics of these pairs avoid confrontation, predation and disturbance, particularly from animals that learn to pick a meal based on what its prey looks like. Can you tell the difference?
Wildlife Rehabbers: What it Takes

Wildlife Rehabbers: What it Takes

  • 6/19/2015 11:07:00 AM
  • View Count 23474
A summer storm. A crack of lightning. A thick tree limb crashes to the ground. From a cavity, once 20 feet above ground, high pitched “chirring” and scratching can be heard. A couple whiskered noses poke out, just ahead of the oh-so-familiar black masks. A litter of raccoons is displaced. Now what?
Bee Beautiful – 5 Tips to Attract Pollinators to Your Backyard

Bee Beautiful – 5 Tips to Attract Pollinators to Your Backyard

  • 4/29/2015 10:29:00 AM
  • View Count 26297
One out of every three bites of food we eat relies on pollinators, mostly insects, to reproduce. Unfortunately, bees (colony and solitary), butterflies and moths, bats, birds and beetles are facing challenges due to habitat loss, disease, parasites and pesticides.
Leave Wildlife Babies in the Wild

Leave Wildlife Babies in the Wild

  • 4/17/2015 8:05:00 AM
  • View Count 15570
If you find an animal baby that appears to be on its own, don’t worry. Generally, one of its parents is nearby, watching.
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