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Spreading monarch-saving seed balls

Spreading monarch-saving seed balls

  • 9/6/2017 9:30:00 AM
  • View Count 17059
Milkweed Matters began in 2014 when group founder Kelly Guilbeau began throwing loose milkweed seeds along the RAGBRAI route. The following year, seed ball dispersal began with 2,000 thrown during the ride in collaboration with another organization; Monarchs in Eastern Iowa. Last year the number of seed balls jumped to 58,459—made at 79 different events statewide by 3,406 people. 
Gizzard Shad found in Iowa Great Lakes

Gizzard Shad found in Iowa Great Lakes

  • 8/29/2017 1:05:00 PM
  • View Count 5462
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) discovered 26, 3- to 5-inch gizzard shad, in East Okoboji Lake on August 11 as part of routine sampling.
State Forest Nursery Launches New Online Store

State Forest Nursery Launches New Online Store

  • 8/22/2017 11:42:00 AM
  • View Count 12926
Ordering trees from the DNR’s State Forest Nursery just got easier. A new online sales site features dozens of quality native Iowa trees and an easy check-out process.
Iowa's most Instagrammed state parks

Iowa's most Instagrammed state parks

  • 8/22/2017 10:07:00 AM
  • View Count 21477
For many, when they step outside to enjoy Iowa’s state parks, snapping some pictures is a natural part of the journey. Explore parks all over the state by hiking, biking, relaxing lake side and experiencing extraordinary views – you can start with these 10, which are the parks posted about the most by Iowans on Instagram
How do fish breathe?

How do fish breathe?

  • 8/4/2017 11:50:00 AM
  • View Count 187640
Humans and fish both require oxygen to survive. The difference is, we get our oxygen through air while fish get it through water.
Mountain lion killed Tuesday in Ida County

Mountain lion killed Tuesday in Ida County

  • 6/27/2017 1:03:00 PM
  • View Count 7655
Today, officers with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) were called to dispatch a mountain lion from a farm near Galva, in northeast Ida County. 
Osprey: fishing perfection in feathers

Osprey: fishing perfection in feathers

  • 6/23/2017 2:30:00 PM
  • View Count 15355
From a hundred feet in the air, a hovering angler folds its wings, silently slipping downward like lightning from the sky, careening until a four-foot portion of the lake thunders into plumes of diamondized water droplets.
Flathead catfish: Iowa's Dracula of the Deep

Flathead catfish: Iowa's Dracula of the Deep

  • 6/22/2017 3:24:00 PM
  • View Count 28871
They are the aquatic version of Count Dracula, quietly resting in the same dark, hidden location by day, and prowling for living prey by night. And like a vampire, they are legendary for both their great physical strength and ability to achieve a ripe old age.
Glamping: Decoration and Recreation Gone Wild

Glamping: Decoration and Recreation Gone Wild

  • 6/8/2017 11:19:00 AM
  • View Count 20052
Glamping is a marriage between the words “glamour” and “camping.” Original glampers coveted the escapism of camping with the amenities and comforts of home. It has since become a popular term among women who turn vintage campers into personalized, stylized retreats.
Iowa State University to host exhibit on early Iowa state parks system

Iowa State University to host exhibit on early Iowa state parks system

  • 5/18/2017 8:31:00 AM
  • View Count 3722
The Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives is hosting an exhibition entitled “This movement for a more beautiful Iowa”: The Early Years of Iowa’s State Park System. The exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of Iowa's State Parks Act, signed into law on April 12, 1917.
Local fishing club pays it forward

Local fishing club pays it forward

  • 5/16/2017 12:15:00 PM
  • View Count 4046
A central Iowa fishing club is the 2017 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.
Time to register for popular U of Iowa wildlife camps at six state parks

Time to register for popular U of Iowa wildlife camps at six state parks

  • 5/2/2017 12:11:00 PM
  • View Count 5786
Looking for a fun, enriching adventure for the kids this summer? Six Iowa state parks will host the popular University of Iowa Wildlife Camps for local families. The conservation education day-camp program will be offered at Maquoketa Caves, Mines of Spain, George Wyth, Springbrook, Viking Lake and Ledges state parks.
A Spring Quadfecta

A Spring Quadfecta

  • 4/7/2017 11:15:00 AM
  • View Count 24938
Last year was the first year I attempted a spring quadfecta: a turkey, a limit of trout, morels and wild asparagus.
2017 DNR sale set for April 22

2017 DNR sale set for April 22

  • 3/28/2017 12:02:00 PM
  • View Count 125140
DES MOINES – The Iowa DNR will hold the 2017 spring auction on April 22, at Pioneer Livestock Pavilion on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, in Des Moines.  Doors will open at 7 a.m., and the auction will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Unplug at Pictured Rocks Park

Unplug at Pictured Rocks Park

  • 3/10/2017 2:58:00 PM
  • View Count 16916
The first oar through the cool clear water sends ripples of excitement down my spine. I’ve never canoed the Maquoketa River from Monticello to Pictured Rocks Park/Indian Bluffs, but trust the stream will get me there safely.
Five reasons to rent an Iowa State Parks cabin in the off-season

Five reasons to rent an Iowa State Parks cabin in the off-season

  • 3/10/2017 1:13:00 PM
  • View Count 23205
Have you ever considered staying in a cabin in Iowa state parks? We offer more than 90 cabins in 19 parks across the state. Here are five reasons why you might want to book now and stay in a cabin before Memorial Day:
Go south for spring break - in Iowa

Go south for spring break - in Iowa

  • 3/1/2017 2:14:00 PM
  • View Count 13975
In Keokuk—Iowa’s southernmost city—it’s always numerous degrees warmer, so cozy up with eagles, ducks and pelicans and a fancy bed in Lee County.
Group mapping out way to save the monarch butterfly

Group mapping out way to save the monarch butterfly

  • 2/28/2017 12:52:00 PM
  • View Count 10824
The recent study by the Mexican government released on Feb. 9 found the monarch butterfly population wintering in Mexico dropped by 27 percent this year, returning its population to historically low levels.
Memorial Weekend campsites soon available for reservation

Memorial Weekend campsites soon available for reservation

  • 2/21/2017 3:11:00 PM
  • View Count 7137
The three-month window to reserve a state park campsite for a Friday arrival on Memorial Day weekend opens this Sunday, Feb. 26. More than a few campers will plan their arrival for the weekend before Memorial Day and stay through the holiday, which means their window is open now.
Action cameras: a user's overview

Action cameras: a user's overview

  • 2/16/2017 3:36:00 PM
  • View Count 9308
Walk through many outdoor stores and videos are playing non-stop—skiers in powdery snow on a mountaintop, divers swimming in crystal clear water or incredible views of wildlife from unusual perspectives. The videos are outstanding and help sell action cameras. But, for the ordinary person, do the cameras justify the expense? Are the cameras worth the trouble? What should you look for in an action camera?
Warden's Diary: Wild Things

Warden's Diary: Wild Things

  • 2/3/2017 3:54:00 PM
  • View Count 21005
“Welcome to Wild Things,” I told the group, “You will find that Wild Things is different than school. Here, it’s okay to get dirty. It’s okay to get muddy. It’s okay to get wet.” A big grin broke out on every kid’s face. And so began the first session of “Wild Things,” my new after-school program. 
Get creative with venison cabbage rolls

Get creative with venison cabbage rolls

  • 2/3/2017 3:20:00 PM
  • View Count 11747
Cabbage rolls are pure comfort food. Savory meat, grain and seasonings wrapped in a slightly sweet, slightly bitter cabbage leaf that absorbs other flavors well—baked, simmered, slow cooked or fried—nestled in a sweet, savory, tangy or creamy sauce. So pull out some ground venison, and try out this traditional cabbage roll recipe.
Bellevue: A winter escape between the bluffs

Bellevue: A winter escape between the bluffs

  • 2/3/2017 2:22:00 PM
  • View Count 16817
Think there’s nothing to do in Iowa in deep winter? Bellevue’s abundant bald eagles, active main street and quirky lodging may change your mind.
Walleye season closes Feb. 14 on Iowa Great Lakes

Walleye season closes Feb. 14 on Iowa Great Lakes

  • 2/1/2017 8:48:00 AM
  • View Count 3785
SPIRIT LAKE – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through February 14, 2017. After that date it will be closed and reopens again on May 6, 2017. These are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye.
Be bold and try winter camping

Be bold and try winter camping

  • 1/11/2017 8:47:00 AM
  • View Count 17307
Let’s face it—winter camping has some initial challenges, but the rewards are silence, serenity and having big places to yourself. Create active daytimes with hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, then be prepared for winter’s long nights with good lighting gear to illuminate camp. Breaking into winter camping isn’t hard, but you’ll rely on good gear and solid skills. Here’s a  few basics.
How do plants come back each year if they die in the winter?

How do plants come back each year if they die in the winter?

  • 1/10/2017 10:23:00 AM
  • View Count 25020
As the wind grows cooler, leaves drop and snow begins to fall, it’s easy to look at a shriveled, brown plant in the yard and think it’s dead. But that’s just what’s above the surface. Below ground, the plant is still alive, just settled in for a long winter’s nap.
Take a winter retreat at Lake of Three Fires

Take a winter retreat at Lake of Three Fires

  • 12/8/2016 4:22:00 PM
  • View Count 18190
For a weekend getaway with friends, where nothing will interrupt relaxation or quiet connecting, this southern Iowa park, 25 miles east of Clarinda, is ideal.
Why do bats hang upside down?

Why do bats hang upside down?

  • 12/8/2016 3:06:00 PM
  • View Count 73853
Unlike birds, bats have trouble with takeoffs from the ground. Their wings are not as strong as those of birds and they cannot run fast enough to build up flight speed. Bats have an easier time flying when they start already in the air. They use their front claws on their wings to climb to a high spot and launch themselves to achieve flight.
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