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DNR News Releases

Bee Beautiful – 5 Tips to Attract Pollinators to Your Backyard

• 4/29/2015 10:29:00 AM
• View Count 27185

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.

Take a Spring Wildflower No-Pick Scavenger Hunt

• 4/24/2015 8:20:00 AM
• View Count 15784

The colorful return of wildflowers to Iowa's woodlands each spring is a thankful sign that winter is (mostly) behind us. Head out to an Iowa state park or preserve to take in the show, and be sure to take along a guide or our no-pick scavenger hunt list.

Are Slugs Just Snails Looking For a Shell?

• 4/22/2015 10:09:00 AM
• View Count 24547

While slugs are pretty much snails without shells, they don’t seem to be jealous of their cousins’ houses on the go.

Helping Kids Be Thankful for Nature

• 4/22/2015 9:35:00 AM
• View Count 11046

Our modern lives are busy, with work, school, errands and all kinds of organized activities – often making it hard to find time in natural areas. Make sure your kids – or any of your friends or family, really – can foster a love of and respect for nature, with these tips.

Foraging for Wild Asparagus: Hunting and Cooking

• 4/22/2015 9:33:00 AM
• View Count 41629

When I was young, I did not like asparagus. But on a spring camping trip, I found a few spears of wild asparagus, and skeptically threw them into a pot of boiling water. The sweet, juicy, fresh taste changed my mind on the spot.

4 Lures You Need for Crappie Fishing in Iowa

• 4/22/2015 8:48:00 AM
• View Count 111554

It’s that time of year that anglers across Iowa have been waiting for – crappies are biting. Crappies are one of the most frequently caught panfish. Add one of these lures suggested by our fisheries biologists to your tackle box and start planning your next spring fishing trip.

7 Easy Ways to Help Nature for Earth Day - and Every Day

• 4/22/2015 5:27:00 AM
• View Count 7837

Earth Day doesn't have to be just one day a year - these simple steps help protect Iowa's valuable natural resources all year long:

Cool Things You Didn’t Know About Wild Turkey

• 4/17/2015 9:25:00 AM
• View Count 68658

'Tis the season to have wild turkey on the brain! Here are some cool facts you may not have known about wild turkey in Iowa:

Four Creative Morel Mushroom Recipes

• 4/17/2015 9:01:00 AM
• View Count 23602

There’s nothing better than some fresh-picked morels lightly sautéed in butter, but if you’re looking for a way to change up your morel routine, here are some new recipes to try. Remember, it's best to learn how to identify mushrooms (including what's edible and what's not) in-person from an experienced mushroom hunter.

Leave Wildlife Babies in the Wild

• 4/17/2015 8:05:00 AM
• View Count 16208

If you find an animal baby that appears to be on its own, don’t worry. Generally, one of its parents is nearby, watching.

Get Ready for Spring Camping [Checklist]

• 4/15/2015 6:56:00 AM
• View Count 7410

It's that time of year when it's time to dust off the tents and equipment or pull the camper out of storage. With water being turned on soon in state park campgrounds (parks vary, always call ahead first), it won't be long before camping become a regular activity again. Use our handy checklist to get ready for that first outing of spring!

Nature's Spring Trifecta: Morels, Crappies, Turkey

• 4/14/2015 10:45:00 AM
• View Count 16122

It’s springtime in Van Buren County. And that means three things: turkey, fish and morels.

7 Things to Try this Week in Iowa’s Outdoors

• 4/10/2015 11:31:00 AM
• View Count 16934

Iowa's great outdoors is waking up from a long winter's sleep, and more seasonable temperatures make this a perfect time to explore.

Four Great Spring Cabin Getaways in Iowa State Parks

• 4/10/2015 10:26:00 AM
• View Count 11206

From now until mid-May, state park cabins can be rented for two-day minimums (instead of the week-long requirement during the summer season). Shake off the winter blues by renting a cabin for a couple of days. Take a spring hike or bike ride. Grab some binoculars and do a little wildlife watching. Birding is great during this peak migration time. And, of course, there is always fishing – spring offers some of the best!

6 Tips for Catch and Release Fishing

• 4/10/2015 8:54:00 AM
• View Count 14848

Every angler should be prepared to release some of their catch. Whether you are practicing catch and release by choice or to comply with regulations, it is necessary to release the fish quickly. Follow these simple tips to give the fish you release the best chance for survival.

50 Tips to Spot Morels

• 4/8/2015 8:51:00 AM
• View Count 762334

Here’s how to put more morels in your basket from mushrooming expert and former science teacher Mike Krebill.

11 Things You Need in Your Tackle Box Right Now - Spring Fishing Edition

• 4/3/2015 8:10:00 AM
• View Count 17381

Fishing is a great way for families and friends to enjoy being outdoors and learn new skills. Pack your tackle box with these basic necessities for a fun and successful spring fishing trip. Don’t forget to bring along your fishing license and a camera to capture all the memories.

Finding Injured Wildlife: What to Do

• 4/3/2015 7:52:00 AM
• View Count 40302

When Pete Vande Poppe spotted a great horned owl along Highway 60 near Alton about a month ago, he knew something wasn’t right. He swung by home to tell his wife, Gretchen. She grabbed the camera and off they went, finding the owl in the grass alongside the road.

How to Create Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs and Other DIY Projects [Tutorial]

• 4/3/2015 6:39:00 AM
• View Count 10284

Create super intense Easter eggs that outshine those made with store-bought dyes with these foraged, natural dyes. Get outside with a friend or loved one to gather plants and brew a tempest of color. The dyes are easily frozen for later use.

Cool Things You Should Know About Prairie Chickens

• 4/2/2015 10:22:00 AM
• View Count 17320

Early in April, eerie, hollow booming reverberates over a field near Kellerton, the last remnant of greater prairie chicken habitat in Iowa. Go to the lek, or breeding ground, to hear the males begin their courtship rituals. Watch as they shrink and expand leathery orange sacs on each side of their necks to make the haunting sounds that hens love.

Eight Historical CCC Parks in Iowa

• 3/31/2015 11:26:00 AM
• View Count 53831

From the iconic boathouse at Backbone, to the spillway at Beeds Lake, to the varied and beautiful stone lodges and shelters within so many of our parks, we owe a debt of gratitude to the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Celebrate the CCC’s anniversary, March 31, by learning about these stand-out examples of CCC projects in Iowa.

How Do Birds Know to Return in the Spring?

• 3/27/2015 9:07:00 AM
• View Count 11425

Common sense tells us birds fly south in the winter to escape the harsh conditions of the north, and return “home” in the spring when the weather improves. While that theory doesn’t fly in the face of truth, it isn’t altogether factual, given most birds are well-equipped to handle extreme temperatures.

Spring Turkey Hunting Safety Tips

• 3/27/2015 8:43:00 AM
• View Count 9193

An estimated 50,000 hunters will be in the timber this spring pursuing the elusive wild turkey and while the woods will not be crawling with hunters, there is a chance for an occasional encounter. Hunters should practice defensive hunting techniques.  Hunters should make a loud statement like “hey – hunter over here,” if they see someone coming into the same area. One loud noise shouldn’t scare a bird too much because loud noises happen in the woods. However, don’t make motion or throw something to get the oth...

Where Does Water Go After it Goes Down the Drain?

• 3/26/2015 11:28:00 AM
• View Count 53137

Whether it’s rainfall from a summer storm washing over land, or wastewater from your household, all water heads downhill, often through a drain.

Six Surprises to Discover at the Spring Becoming an Outdoor Woman Workshop

• 3/25/2015 5:58:00 AM
• View Count 6511

There's just about a month to go before the second annual Spring Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop gets underway at Honey Creek Resort State Park.

Build a Bluebird House [Tutorial]

• 3/13/2015 5:49:00 AM
• View Count 19102

Bluebirds should be arriving soon in Iowa, so now's a great time to clean out those bluebird boxes, or if you don't have one yet, to build your own!

Gear Up to Start Tying Flies for Spring Fishing

• 3/11/2015 6:50:00 AM
• View Count 7077

Use our list from Iowa Outdoors magazine to start tying your own warm water flies.

Viking Lake Work Has Lasting Effect on Fishing, Water Quality

• 3/6/2015 6:35:00 AM
• View Count 8153

Once so thick with algae that the water looked more like green paint than water, southwest Iowa’s Viking Lake has been on the up and up since a major watershed improvement there wrapped up in 2009.Five years of monitoring Viking Lake in southwest Iowa reveals the lake is clean enough to be removed from the list of Iowa impaired waters for algae growth.

Why Are Robins So Big in the Spring?

• 3/5/2015 10:24:00 AM
• View Count 37606

Just like the first sighting of a robin marks spring for many people, so does the arrival of animal babies. But in this case, robins aren’t big in the spring because they’re ready to lay eggs. They’re not bigger at all – just really cold.

Water Quality Efforts Soak Up the Benefits in Monona

• 3/5/2015 5:00:00 AM
• View Count 6623

Imagine the flooding and runoff—and the destruction it could cause—from dumping 2,000 gallons of water on a parking lot in only one minute.

Wetlands Project Sinks Hole-in-one

• 3/5/2015 4:35:00 AM
• View Count 7303

The cackle of pheasants has returned along the north and west sides of Okoboji View Golf Course in Spirit Lake after a major watershed improvement project created wetlands and native prairie on 350 acres.

7 Reasons to Visit Honey Creek Resort this Spring

• 2/27/2015 9:50:00 AM
• View Count 6796

Enjoy a close-to-home getaway for a wonderful meal or an outdoor spring break adventure. Honey Creek Resort State Park has seven exciting reasons to visit this March and April.

Cool Things You Should Know About Iowa Hawks

• 2/27/2015 9:24:00 AM
• View Count 35796

After all, Iowa is the Hawkeye state, so read on to learn about some of Iowa’s coolest raptors.

Knots Every Angler Should Know

• 2/25/2015 8:15:00 AM
• View Count 24805

Knot tying is an essential skill for beginning anglers to learn. It's not hard - it just takes some practice. Knot tying is best learned with monofilament fishing line. Try these easy to tie knots to get you started.

Learn More About the Least Weasel

• 2/25/2015 4:10:00 AM
• View Count 15669

While it can still be common in specific locales in northern Iowa, for the most part, the least weasel is now pretty rare in Iowa.

Jump Into Winter Wildlife Tracking

• 2/25/2015 3:28:00 AM
• View Count 20047

Kids (of all ages!) love discovery, and what better way to feed that need than by turning snowbound winter days into a fun family or couple’s outing. Better yet, set aside time for regular outdoor jaunts to create a memorable tradition.

Snag a Paddlefish This Spring With These Pointers

• 2/25/2015 2:57:00 AM
• View Count 19204

Anglers fishing the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers this spring have a new angling opportunity. The new paddlefish fishing season opens March 1 and runs through April 15 (sunrise to sunset).

Turkey Vultures Don’t Deserve the Bad Rap: Cool Facts on These Iowa Scavengers

• 2/20/2015 8:27:00 AM
• View Count 78546

These scary looking vultures may be nature’s garbage collectors and have some especially gross (but effective!) defense mechanisms, but they are also very clean, curious and quite likeable creatures.

Central Park Lake Poised for Return

• 2/20/2015 4:56:00 AM
• View Count 6943

Central Park Lake encompasses only 25 acres, but the 297-acre park is a popular recreation destination in Jones County, despite the lake’s listing as “impaired” due to excess algae, bacteria and pH.

Winter Camouflage and Coloration in Iowa's Wildlife

• 2/20/2015 4:18:00 AM
• View Count 11449

For many Iowa animals, the stark landscape – bare trees and a bright white groundcover – makes them stand out more in the winter, which is good news for those who enjoy watching wildlife. But for a few Iowa critters, winter is a time for them to blend in with the scenery.

Can You Find the "Hidden" Animal?

• 2/20/2015 3:24:00 AM
• View Count 7172

Can you tell which Iowa animal is "hiding" in the photo?

Top Calorie-Burning Winter Outdoor Activities

• 2/19/2015 10:25:00 AM
• View Count 9837

Need to work off those Valentine’s Day chocolates or finally make good on a New Year’s Resolution? Or just looking a fun activity to try this winter weekend? Try these top outdoor activities for burning calories.

Six Things You Need to See and Do at Pheasant Fest

• 2/19/2015 9:51:00 AM
• View Count 6509

The 2015 National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic returns to Des Moines this weekend, February 20-22, at the Iowa Events Center.

Louisiana Jambalaya The Iowa Way

• 2/13/2015 9:55:00 AM
• View Count 7405

After years of painstaking research—and many trials and errors—to come up with the best jambalaya recipe, we at the Iowa Outdoors test kitchen think we have a winner.

Rice Lake Returns

• 2/13/2015 9:03:00 AM
• View Count 10399

The topic was lake restoration, but in 2009, the small group of lake users living near Rice Lake wasn’t ready to discuss pulling the plug on the 1,000-acre shallow lake straddling the Worth-Winnebago county line.

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