Cool Things You Should Know About Iowa Hawks 2/27/2015 9:24:00 AM View Count 35508 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 24587 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 15493 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 19777 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 19022 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 78157 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 6835 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 11317 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 7058 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 9700 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 6411 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 7294 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 10297 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.
Go Shed Antler Hunting 2/13/2015 8:54:00 AM View Count 101195 Whitetail deer have about a two-month shedding period in Iowa, beginning mid-Jan. and ending mid-March. Around Feb. 20 is the best time to start looking for shed antlers.
The Mighty Mink: Cool Things You Should Know 2/13/2015 7:12:00 AM View Count 45067 Built much like its larger relative the otter, the mink has a long, sleek body about 2 feet long. It has short, stubby legs, a long neck, small ears and eyes and a long, thick tail. In fact, one third of the mink’s length is tail.
Saw-Whet Owls: Iowa's Mysterious (and Tiny) Winter Visitor 2/13/2015 5:29:00 AM View Count 12819 The secrets of northern saw whet owl migration are coming to light, and an Iowa research effort is contributing greatly to understanding this mysterious winter visitor.
Tutorial: Tie Your Own Soft Hackle Fly 2/12/2015 9:53:00 AM View Count 13767 There are few better feelings for an angler than hooking a fish with a homemade lure. The soft hackle fly is one of the oldest and most varied patterns; tie your own orange and pheasant breast fly in minutes with these simple steps.
Explore Pine Lake State Park This Winter 2/11/2015 10:04:00 AM View Count 17932 Pine Lake State Park provides the winter adventurer 650 acres of woods garnished with a labyrinth of powdery trails to hike, ski and snowshoe; and spacious, remodeled cabins sporting super-sized stone fireplaces that breathe hickory-tinged heat into every nook and cranny.
The 9 Things You Need For Ice Fishing 2/6/2015 10:09:00 AM View Count 15515 Stock your tackle box with these basic necessities to get you started, and be sure to check local ice conditions before you go.
Go Ice Climbing this Winter - on an Iowa Grain Silo 2/6/2015 9:07:00 AM View Count 14873 There it stands: a shimmering, crystal tower. A frozen waterfall. A spire of ice. That’s if you look at it from the north side. From the south, it’s just a grain silo.
Make Your Own Snowman Bird Feeder 2/6/2015 5:11:00 AM View Count 7113 Add bird and wildlife foods to your snowman to make this seasonal rite of passage fun and functional.
How Many Iowa Birds On Our Winter Birding Checklist Have You Spotted? 2/6/2015 4:09:00 AM View Count 13337 Whether it's on one of Iowa's birding trails, state parks or at your own backyard feeder, winter is a great time to enjoy birdwatching. Use our checklist to see how many Iowa birds you can spot this winter!
Prairie Strips Help Iowa Farmers, Land and Water 2/4/2015 9:47:00 AM View Count 7063 “Conservation with a purpose” is how Tim Smith describes his newest farming venture that builds on past work to protect water quality on his Wright County farm.
8 Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Ice Fishing 2/4/2015 9:08:00 AM View Count 24905 While we can't necessarily improve ice conditions, we can help you be a better ice angler with these tips - when Mother Nature cooperates with good ice, of course.
Go Calling Under the Owl Moon 2/3/2015 8:57:00 AM View Count 23989 February’s full moon is nicknamed the owl moon, as the crisp night air is filled with the calls and hoots of mating owls. Trek into the woods with the young and young at heart to practice calling owls.
What's the Difference Between a Groundhog and a Woodchuck? 1/29/2015 9:08:00 AM View Count 24380 How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? We’ll never know because the Marmota monax’s common name (woodchuck) is not representative of this mammal’s habits or habitat, but reflects the early English pronunciation of the Cree word for this creature—wuchak.
Winter Photo Tips from One of Iowa's Top Nature Photographers 1/29/2015 8:46:00 AM View Count 9048 Don’t let winter weather keep your camera up on the shelf, as the season can provide excellent opportunities for shooting picturesque winter landscapes and photographing Iowa’s wildlife at a time when they’re most visible and easy to find.
Can You Guess the Mystery Animal? 1/29/2015 8:10:00 AM View Count 6414 Can you guess the Iowa animal featured in this extreme close-up?
Cool Things You Should Know About Bald Eagles 1/28/2015 9:30:00 AM View Count 39779 An eagle can fly 35 to 44 miles per hour solo, or about 30 mph carrying a freshly caught meal. It can dive at speeds reaching 100 mph.
Trout in the Classroom 1/27/2015 4:52:00 AM View Count 6778 Some classes have a pet hamster or guinea pig. But some northeast Iowa classes have trout—and they’re raising them from eggs and releasing them in Iowa streams. A national Trout Unlimited program, Trout in the Classroom, allows students to raise fish and learn about their habitat and the importance of clean water.
Cooperation builds lasting results at North Bear Creek 1/26/2015 5:48:00 AM View Count 6256 When the hit film A River Runs Through It was released in 1992, it helped rejuvenate local economies and waterways in northeast Iowa, as the beauty and skill showcased so vividly in the film helped inspire more than half a million trips to trout streams, injecting more than $14 million into Iowa’s economy every year.
Tips for Better Winter Bird Feeding 1/15/2015 10:37:00 AM View Count 19911 If winter cold and snow drive you indoors, open a colorful cold-weather window with hours of bird-watching entertainment. Iowans spend more than $300 million annually watching wildlife, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Much of that comes from feeding birds, especially through our cold weather months. Use these tips to attract the most birds.
Here's Why It Sometimes Thunders When it Snows 1/15/2015 3:10:00 AM View Count 11543 If you hear a rumble in the distance this winter, it may not be the snow plow plodding along the road. It might actually be thunder.
Tips for Spotting Bald Eagles this Winter 1/9/2015 10:18:00 AM View Count 11897 Winter is the best time in Iowa to spot a majestic bald eagle soaring overhead or swooping down to the water to catch a fish.
Make Your Own Winter Survival Kit 1/9/2015 9:58:00 AM View Count 8597 Winter outdoor lovers should take extra travel precautions as rural and natural areas can put you alone against the elements during emergencies. A skid into a ditch, mechanical problems, black ice, drifting snow or sudden storms can lead to unplanned, dangerous situations in areas where passersby are rare.
What Do Snakes Do in the Winter? 1/9/2015 5:43:00 AM View Count 17056 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.
Build Your Own Simple Peanut Butter Birdfeeder 1/9/2015 5:08:00 AM View Count 7314 Attract chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, house finches and woodpeckers with this simple, inexpensive and effective bird magnet.
Cool Things You Should Know About Deer 1/9/2015 4:56:00 AM View Count 23121 Even though the white-tailed deer is one of Iowa’s most well-known critters, here are some cool facts you may not know about deer.
Backyard Ben & Jerry's: Make Your Own Snow Ice Cream 1/9/2015 3:14:00 AM View Count 8921 County fairs have sno-cones, convenience stores have slushies and the Hawaiian Islands have shave-ice. Now, there's snow ice cream.
Iowa Winter Treks and Trails to Test Those Fitness Trackers 1/7/2015 8:59:00 AM View Count 12099 If you’re looking for a way to put that new fitness tracker to the test and you’re sick of walking circles at the gym, take it outside and try some of these top winter trail activities in Iowa’s state parks, recreation areas and forests.
Four Animals You Didn’t Know Lived In Iowa 1/7/2015 4:04:00 AM View Count 87140 Before Europeans began settling in Iowa, our landscape looked much different – not just the vista views of prairies and oak savannas, but the wildlife that called it home. You’d be hard pressed to find many elk, bison, black bear or lynx in the Iowa wild today, but not that long ago, they roamed our state.
Myth Busters: Do Cold-blooded Animals Get Cancer? 1/6/2015 10:29:00 AM View Count 8955 Cold-blooded animals like snakes, fish and sharks do get cancer, likely from polluted waters and foreign substances. While many questions still surround this issue, scientists hope the unique ways these animals deal with cancer might give hope for cancer treatments and possible cures in humans.
New Year's Iowa Checklist: Where to Go, What to Do Month By Month 1/6/2015 7:42:00 AM View Count 22971 It’s a New Year. I don’t do resolutions. So, call this a New Year's Outdoor Checklist; places or events across Iowa for each month. Most are return trips for me; worth a second or seventieth visit. A couple, I haven’t taken the time yet to check out. Maybe it will remind you of a few special outdoor ports of call, in the months ahead.
Feeling Sleepy? Learn About Iowa's True Hibernators 1/6/2015 4:57:00 AM View Count 15022 Winter has a lot of us wanting to settle in for a long nap and wake up when spring arrives, but Iowa actually has very few true hibernators.
Cool Things You Should Know About Owls 1/2/2015 11:05:00 AM View Count 27426 If you give a hoot about owls in Iowa, here are some cool facts you should know.