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DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: BCAReturn

Iowa’s furharvest season began Nov. 4

• 11/7/2023 11:54:00 AM
• View Count 4816

Iowa trappers can expect to find good numbers of furbearers statewide during the 2023-24 season, that began on Nov. 4.

Central Iowa birding opportunities abound at Chichaqua - Neal Smith Bird Conservation Area

• 7/5/2023 12:08:00 PM
• View Count 3852

Dedicated in the spring of 2005, the Chichaqua-Neal Smith Grassland Bird Conservation Area (BCA) is an important stop along the bird migration. Based on weather radar, an estimated 800 million birds migrate through Iowa in the spring, and up to one billion in the fall, which puts Iowa in the top five states in the country for volume.

DNR to discuss bobcat recovery and management Jan. 18 at EB Lyons Nature Center

• 12/21/2022 2:45:00 PM
• View Count 9403

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be discussing bobcat management at 7 p.m., Jan. 18, at the EB Lyons Nature Center, in Dubuque. The meeting is open to the public.

Iowa’s furharvest season starts Nov. 5

• 10/25/2022 11:40:00 AM
• View Count 3261

Iowa trappers can expect to find good numbers of furbearers available statewide when the season begins on Nov. 5.  

7 Iowa Wildlife Comebacks

• 3/2/2020 3:43:00 PM
• View Count 16130

In the last few centuries, a number of Iowa wildlife species have been extirpated from the state - but some have seen successful comebacks, too. Check out these seven animals that have made a comeback in Iowa:

Historic photos guiding management decisions at Hooper Wildlife Area

• 6/6/2018 9:38:00 AM
• View Count 4500

Indianola - The Hooper Wildlife Area is a highly popular place to hunt deer and turkeys, but outside of those seasons, it doesn’t receive much attention, save for the lake. But that quietness of the offseason could be changing thanks to a series of old photos that are helping to transform the area.

Soap Creek and Stephens State Forest to become a bird conservation area

• 1/23/2018 9:07:00 AM
• View Count 5761

OTTUMWA - A public ceremony to dedicate Soap Creek and Eldon Wildlife Areas, Stephens State Forest Unionville Unit, Lake Wapello State Park, and a portion of the Soap Creek watershed as Iowa’s newest Bird Conservation Area (BCA) will take place on Thursday, February 8 at 1:30 pm.

Public meeting to discuss bird conservation area near Ottumwa

• 11/21/2017 11:43:00 AM
• View Count 3973

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will discuss the proposed designation of the region including Soap Creek, Fox Hills and Eldon Wildlife areas, Stephens State Forest, Lake Wapello State Park and Pioneer Ridge Nature Area as a state Bird Conservation Area (BCA) during a public meeting on Dec. 7. 

Iowa’s furbearer season begins Nov. 4

• 10/31/2017 11:38:00 AM
• View Count 9196

Iowa’s furbearer season opens Nov. 4, and the outlook for 2017 is good as populations are stable to increasing statewide.

Meeting to discuss proposed bird conservation area in Lower Loess Hills set for Aug. 17

• 8/1/2017 11:46:00 AM
• View Count 3428

HAMBURG – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will discuss its proposed designation of the region that includes Waubonsie State Park and Riverton and Forney Lake wildlife areas as a state Bird Conservation Area (BCA) at a public meeting on Aug. 17. 

Lake Sugema Wildlife Area offers year round recreation

• 6/27/2017 12:59:00 PM
• View Count 9608

Van Buren County historian Ralph Arnold is the person responsible for naming Lake Sugema and in a twist of mystery, he refused to say what the name meant. Only upon his death in 2002 did a letter show up in the local newspaper, the Van Buren County Register, ending the mystery – according to Arnold, Sugema is a Native American word for Mosquito.

Indian Bluffs and Pictured Rocks wildlife areas to become a bird conservation area

• 4/25/2017 12:27:00 PM
• View Count 5820

MONTICELLO – A public ceremony to dedicate the Indian Bluffs and Pictured Rocks wildlife areas including the privately owned Indian Bluffs State Preserve as Iowa’s newest Bird Conservation Area (BCA) will take place on May 10 at 1:30 p.m.  The event will be held at the Pictured Rocks Pavilion, located about four miles southeast of Monticello at the east end of 190th Street and just north of the boat ramp, located on the west side of the South Fork Maquoketa River.

Iowa furbearer season begins November 5

• 10/25/2016 12:28:00 PM
• View Count 12447

Iowa fur harvesters will find good numbers of raccoons, muskrats, beaver, coyotes, bobcats, river otters and mink when the furbearer trapping and hunting season opens on Nov. 5.

Loess Hills Wildlife Area and State Forest Becoming a Bird Conservation Area

• 5/17/2016 12:21:00 PM
• View Count 7252

CASTANA, Iowa – A public ceremony to dedicate the Loess Hills Wildlife Area, Loess Hills State Forest, Preparation Canyon State Park, and a 42 mile section of the Loess Hills (including the Loess Hills National Natural Landmark) as Iowa’s newest Bird Conservation Area (BCA) will take place on Friday, June 3 at 3 pm. 

13th Annual Prairie Chicken Day April 2

• 3/22/2016 8:34:00 AM
• View Count 6411

Kellerton, Iowa - The Kellerton Grasslands Bird Conservation Area in southeast Ringgold County will be the site for the 13th annual Prairie Chicken Day on April 2, beginning at 6 a.m., at the booming ground viewing platform.

Meeting Set to Discuss Proposed Bird Conservation Area in Loess Hills

• 3/1/2016 9:31:00 AM
• View Count 4596

PISGAH, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will discuss the proposed designation of the region including Loess Hills State Forest, Preparation Canyon State Park, and Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area as a state Bird Conservation Area (BCA) at a public meeting on March 16. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Loess Hills State Forest Visitor Center in Pisgah, two blocks west of State Hwy. 183, at 206 Polk Street.

Cool Things You Should Know About Bobcats in Iowa

• 10/21/2015 8:42:00 AM
• View Count 146585

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.

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

• 9/29/2015 12:00:00 PM
• View Count 5249

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.