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Archive by tag: snakesReturn

It's NOT a Rattlesnake!

• 9/23/2022 4:56:00 PM
• View Count 25917

Rattlesnakes can be scary. They have fangs and venom and can potentially kill or maim you if startled or threatened. Rattlesnakes are very uncommon in Iowa with the Timber Rattlesnake being the most widespread species.

What's a Mudbug?

• 7/12/2022 3:15:00 PM
• View Count 15689

If you’ve ever been out hiking and noticed a tiny volcano made of mud, you’ve seen the home of a mudbug!  Actually, mudbug is just another name for crayfish...just like crawdad or crawfish!  We have 8 species of crayfish in Iowa, but in this article we’re going to talk about 3 species that commonly dig burrows. 

Why Do Snakes Shed Their Skin?

• 8/25/2015 9:13:00 AM
• View Count 174284

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.

What Do Snakes Do in the Winter?

• 1/9/2015 5:43:00 AM
• View Count 16930

Snakes, being cold-blooded, rely on their surroundings to regulate body temperature. Like other ectothermic animals, they bask in the sun to warm up, seek shade or water to cool down. So, when conditions are not conducive for temperature regulation, they brumate.

6 Cool Things You Should Know About Snakes

• 10/28/2014 8:37:00 AM
• View Count 33249

One of Iowa’s most misunderstood creatures, snakes are a vital part of our ecosystem. Undeserving of a reputation as one of Iowa’s scariest critters, snakes serve an important role in nature.