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DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: wildlifeReturn

New Look Lizard Lake Wildlife Management Area

• 11/8/2021 3:46:00 PM
• View Count 1831

Lizard Lake Wildlife Management Area in Pocahontas County has received a massive facelift over the past 10 years turning what was once a shallow lake full of rough fish that suffered from severely degraded water quality to a healthy functioning ecosystem with some of the best water quality in the state.

Open house to discuss Ram Hollow Wildlife Area forest wildlife stewardship plan

• 10/22/2021 2:10:00 PM
• View Count 1665

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public open house on Nov. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Colesburg Community Center, 220 Jackson St., in Colesburg, to discuss a proposed forest wildlife stewardship plan for the area.

Restored Lizard Lake bustling with wildlife

• 10/5/2021 2:13:00 PM
• View Count 2501

Lizard Lake Wildlife Area’s resurgence began 10 years ago, when the 270-acre shallow lake was drained to rid itself of an unwanted carp population and to get vegetation established as a way to improve its poor water quality.

Waterfowl refuge at Hawkeye Wildlife Area closed until mid-December

• 9/28/2021 9:36:00 PM
• View Count 1710

SWISHER, Iowa - The waterfowl refuge at the Hawkeye Wildlife Area is currently closed to hunting all species to allow waterfowl and other birds a place to rest during the fall migration. The refuge closed Sept. 24, and will reopen to hunting mid-December.

Open house to discuss Sunken Grove Wildlife Area forest wildlife stewardship plan

• 9/23/2021 9:16:00 AM
• View Count 2081

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public open house on Oct 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the scenic overlook of the Sunken Grove Wildlife Area, to discuss a proposed forest wildlife stewardship plan for the area

Often overlooked, Eagle Lake is a high quality North Iowa wild place that's ready for prime time

• 9/14/2021 2:50:00 PM
• View Count 3966

Eagle Lake Wildlife Area is a 960-acre high quality natural marsh within a 2,000-acre complex that is an important stop for marsh birds on the migration route and home to unique plant and animal species not found in many places around Iowa.

Arson investigation leads state conservation officers to Williamsburg man

• 9/9/2021 7:10:00 AM
• View Count 5860

Jereme Goltz, of Williamsburg, faces charges including two counts of third-degree arson, felony possession of a controlled substance- methamphetamine (3rd or subsequent offense), and littering following a two-month long investigation by Iowa Department of Natural Resources conservation officers.

Drought impacting Iowa’s shallow lakes and wetlands

• 8/25/2021 8:21:00 AM
• View Count 2982

Parkersburg, Iowa - With much of Iowa currently under drought conditions, many shallow lakes and wetlands will either be dry or nearly dry, making scouting an important part of hunter’s preparation ahead of the 2021 waterfowl season.

Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area adding to southeast Iowa’s recreation options

• 8/25/2021 8:17:00 AM
• View Count 3001

Sometimes, it seems when the stars are aligned, big things can happen. In this case, repeated flood events on the Iowa River in the early 2000s culminating with the flood of 2008 was the thing that allowed farmers who were tired of battling wet farmland to unload that headache and create a 2,800-acre public area.

Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area offers outdoor recreation on a scale rarely found in Iowa

• 8/10/2021 1:14:00 PM
• View Count 4229

Exline, Iowa - Heading east for two miles on gravel from the Appanoose County town of Exline leads to the 7,300-acre Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area, an important birding spot that is popular for duck hunting and home to legendary Iowa stags.  

Open house to discuss Augusta Wildlife Area forest wildlife stewardship plan

• 8/5/2021 2:00:00 PM
• View Count 1637

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public open house on August 18, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cottonwood Loop shelter house of the Welter Recreation Area, to discuss a proposed forest wildlife stewardship plan at the Augusta Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

With its prairie established, Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area is starting to attract attention

• 8/3/2021 1:53:00 PM
• View Count 1902

Heading north on the Asherton Avenue just before the Howard-Chickasaw County line, is a mile-long prairie covered with yellow flowers. The prairie replaced the "Swamp Farm," as it was referred to by its former owner due to its almost constant wetness, and is now the Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area.

Goose Lake Wildlife Area has been a destination for Eastern Iowans for more than 70 years

• 7/13/2021 1:12:00 PM
• View Count 3874

Goose Lake, Iowa - Sitting on the west edge of the town of Goose Lake is a 1,300-acre public area that started as a soggy marsh that no one could tame but has become one of the more popular spots in the region, attracting visitors from Clinton, the Quad Cities and out of state.

Green Hill Wildlife Area won’t remain a secret for long

• 6/23/2021 6:58:00 AM
• View Count 5729

One of Iowa’s newest public wildlife areas is in the backyard of Council Bluffs and outside of a few keen-eyed hunters who noticed the green signs last fall, not many people know about it.

North Bear Creek Wildlife Area - Home to legendary wildlife, top trout stream and unique plants

• 6/16/2021 8:54:00 AM
• View Count 5102

Troy Anderson’s phone rang just as he was walking the most recent acquisition to North Bear Creek Wildlife Area. The caller from Florida wanted to know about the deer population on North Bear and if he should put in for a tag in that nonresident hunting zone or should look elsewhere.

Leave wildlife babies where they belong - In the wild

• 5/4/2021 2:39:00 PM
• View Count 4019

It's as predictable as May flowers - from border to border, the Wildlife Baby Season has arrived in Iowa. From now until at least mid-June, DNR field offices across the state will be inundated with hundreds of phone calls and scores of deliveries regarding "orphaned wildlife."

Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning

• 3/25/2021 8:33:00 AM
• View Count 2222

SWISHER - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Iowa River Wildlife Unit in Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, Tama, Cedar and Mahaska counties. 

Iowa DNR to Conduct Prescribed Fires on State Managed Areas

• 3/25/2021 8:28:00 AM
• View Count 1854

SUMNER, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Cedar-Wapsi Wildlife Unit in Floyd, Chickasaw, Butler, Bremer and Buchanan counties.

Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning

• 3/2/2021 11:02:00 AM
• View Count 1814

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Clear Lake Wildlife Unit in Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth, and Wright counties.

Habitat is critical for pheasants during long, hard winters

• 2/24/2021 10:06:00 AM
• View Count 3357

Iowa’s run of mild winters is gone, buried under a head-high snowdrift and frozen from weeks of negative temperatures. This return to the extreme has some residents wanting to help the now highly visible pheasants and quail and calling the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about placing corn and other grains out for the birds to eat.

Chickadee tax check-off donations increased in 2019, but continues overall downward trend

• 1/26/2021 12:08:00 PM
• View Count 3875

Last year, a little over 7,200 Iowa taxpayers helped boost wildlife conservation with donations to the Fish and Wildlife Fund on their state tax form, representing about 0.5 percent of total taxpayers in Iowa.

Iowa DNR plants more than 100,000 trees on public lands in 2020

• 12/29/2020 11:39:00 AM
• View Count 2796

The Iowa DNR reached a milestone goal to plant at least 100,000 trees on state-managed lands in 2020. The tree plantings commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Association of State Foresters, as well as the 100th anniversary of Iowa state parks.

Hunting restricted at Otter Creek Marsh, Hawkeye Wildlife Area refuges to non-waterfowl species

• 12/8/2020 7:08:00 PM
• View Count 2646

The 450-acre wildlife refuge section of Otter Creek Marsh Wildlife Area in Tama County will open for public use on Dec. 9, including for trapping and hunting game species other than waterfowl.  

DNR to present plans to address derecho timber damage at Dec. 10 virtual meeting

• 11/30/2020 10:44:00 AM
• View Count 2564

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting a public meeting at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 10, to discuss a timber salvage project at three public wildlife areas in east central Iowa. The areas were all damaged by the derecho in August.

DNR names new Conservation and Recreation Division Administrator

• 10/12/2020 10:57:00 AM
• View Count 4549

DES MOINES, Iowa – On Monday, October 12, 2020, DNR Director Kayla Lyon named Pete Hildreth of the DNR’s Wildlife Bureau the next Conservation and Recreation Division Administrator.

Forest wildlife stewardship plan for Tyrone Wildlife Area topic of Oct. 13 virtual public meeting

• 9/29/2020 2:19:00 PM
• View Count 2339

RUSSELL, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a virtual meeting on Oct. 13, beginning at 6 p.m., to discuss the recently completed forest wildlife stewardship plan for the Tyrone Wildlife Area.

Vern and Wilmer Petersen Wildlife Area is bringing in visitors year-round

• 9/29/2020 1:12:00 PM
• View Count 3382

Manilla, Iowa – Just southwest of Manilla on the Crawford-Shelby County line is a 450-acre gift to Iowans who love to be outdoors.

Union Hills checks all the boxes as a destination area

• 9/8/2020 3:09:00 PM
• View Count 4406

Union Hills Wildlife Area’s network of wetlands and prairie has that been-here-forever kind of feel to it.

Maturing prairie, improving wetlands make Kiowa Marsh popular for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, and out of state pheasant hunters

• 8/25/2020 1:12:00 PM
• View Count 3703

Rich Feilmeier traces his family connection to Kiowa Marsh back to before WWII when his father purchased the land to farm and have a small cow calf operation. As a kid, he recalls hunting ducks and geese off the pond where they watered their cattle.

DNR project targets grassland invaders

• 8/19/2020 8:59:00 AM
• View Count 2050

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting an aerial spraying project targeting invasive cottonwood and willow trees that are encroaching on grasslands at 15 wildlife management areas.

Remnant prairie is the jewel of Blackmun Prairie

• 8/4/2020 11:38:00 AM
• View Count 2966

Ackley, Iowa - Two miles northeast of Ackley off 320th Street blacktop is one of the rarest of Iowa’s habitat - roughly 60 acres of high-quality remnant prairie that is part of the Blackmun Prairie Wildlife Area – and is a popular site for prairie enthusiasts.

Hawthorn Wildlife Area is emerging as a must visit place for birders, hunters, anglers

• 7/14/2020 12:33:00 PM
• View Count 6142

Barnes City, Iowa - The change going on at Hawthorn Wildlife Area has been nothing short of extraordinary. Gone are hundreds of acres of non-native invasive brush and in its place is reconstructed prairie using local native prairie grass and wildflowers.

A quiet wild place

• 6/30/2020 2:42:00 PM
• View Count 3731

Mt. Sterling, Iowa - The Fox River Wildlife Area is about as far off the beaten path as person can get without getting totally lost. The public hunting area in southern Van Buren County is on the way to nowhere and except for some nonresidents who show up each deer season, it doesn’t get too many visitors.

Meet Phyllis Kimball, a Monarch Champion

• 6/22/2020 2:33:00 PM
• View Count 6628

Phyllis Kimball, of Creston, enrolled 160 acres in CRP pollinator mix in Ringgold County. Kimball had been away from the farm for more than two decades but returned to manage the day to day operations after an agreement with a local farmer was voided. What she found upon returning was failing terraces and trees that had taken over the valley. She stopped on the gravel road and cried at seeing what had happened to her land.

Heritage Hills is developing into a destination public area 45 miles south of Des Moines

• 6/16/2020 1:47:00 PM
• View Count 5938

It’s not often that the opportunity to build a large wildlife area from the ground up comes along, but that’s what’s happening right now at Heritage Hills Wildlife Area on the Madison and Clarke County line. 

Forney Lake Wildlife Area offers outdoor recreation all year long

• 6/9/2020 3:21:00 PM
• View Count 6149

Thurman, Iowa - Sitting 30 miles south of Council Bluffs is a been-here-forever, old school kind of place that has been attracting duck hunters from across southwest Iowa for more than 100 years. Forney Lake Wildlife Area, acquired by the State of Iowa from the Forney family in 1943, has become a 1,317-acre public land mix of natural wetlands and Loess Hills bluffs, bisected by Bluff Road, in northwest Fremont County.

Lost Grove Wildlife Area is living up to high expectations

• 6/2/2020 11:42:00 AM
• View Count 7332

Eastern Iowa’s newest public wildlife area is also one of its most popular.

Volunteers step in to clean up popular shooting range

• 4/21/2020 12:42:00 PM
• View Count 2814

Swisher, Iowa - One of Iowa’s most heavily used shooting ranges was the recipient of a cleanup project led by volunteers who stepped in after the local range manager was sidelined with a non-work related injury.

Leave wildlife babies where they belong -- in the wild

• 4/14/2020 2:23:00 PM
• View Count 4375

It's as predictable as May flowers - from border to border, the Wildlife Baby Season has arrived in Iowa. From now until at least mid-June, DNR field offices across the state will be inundated with hundreds of phone calls and scores of deliveries regarding "orphaned wildlife."

Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning

• 3/16/2020 9:26:00 AM
• View Count 2461

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Maquoketa Wildlife Unit in Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones and Scott counties.

Iowa DNR to conduct prescribed fires on state managed areas

• 3/12/2020 8:41:00 AM
• View Count 2247

SUMNER, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Cedar-Wapsi Wildlife Unit in Floyd, Chickasaw, Butler, Bremer and Buchanan counties.

Chickadee tax check-off donations continues downward trend in 2018

• 1/21/2020 2:07:00 PM
• View Count 3936

Last year, more than 7,200 Iowa taxpayers helped boost wildlife conservation with donations to the Fish and Wildlife Fund on their state tax form, which is roughly 300 fewer donors than in 2017. Donors represent about 0.5 percent of total tax payers in Iowa.

Hunting restricted at Otter Creek Marsh Wildlife Area refuge to non-waterfowl species

• 12/16/2019 1:08:00 PM
• View Count 2864

The 450-acre wildlife refuge section of Otter Creek Marsh Wildlife Area in Tama County is open for public use, including for hunting game species other than waterfowl, and for trapping.

Otter Creek Marsh Wildlife Area refuge opens Dec. 13

• 12/5/2019 9:00:00 AM
• View Count 2469

The 450-acre wildlife refuge section of Otter Creek Marsh Wildlife Area in Tama County will be open for public use, including hunting and trapping, beginning Dec. 13. 

Creating a better home for birds in Iowa

• 11/21/2019 1:53:00 PM
• View Count 7056

North America has lost approximately 2.9 billion birds since 1970

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