Pathways
To
Nature
Newsletter of the Webster
County Conservation Board
Winter-Spring 2003-2004
Contents
Electronic Newsletter | Roadside Report | Critter Corner | Public
Programs | General Info
In order
to cut costs and save a few trees, the county would like to encourage the
public to receive the “Pathways to Nature” newsletter via e-mail. To subscribe, send an
email to: wccnewsletter@webstercountyia.org
Enter
SUBSCRIBE in the Subject line. Your email address will be added to our mailing
list.
This
newsletter can also be downloaded and shared with others. Tell those with internet access to check the web at: www.webstercountyia.org
Introducing………………….A
new WCCB area!
Miller Marsh
The
newest area owned by the Webster County Conservation Board is a 40-acre area
located near Vincent in a region historically presenting wetlands and prairie
habitat. The area is currently not in its
prime habitat state because it is being reconstructed back to its original
habitats.
The
WCCB voted to name the area after our current director, Charlie Miller, who has
been an employee with Webster County Conservation for over 25 years. It was felt that naming a public area after
a hard-working, devoted employee with a passion for conservation was a fitting
token of appreciation. Restoration and
preservation of Iowa’s original habitat is very important to Iowans.
Miller
Marsh was purchased in 2003 with grants from the Webster County & State
Council Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, and the Iowa DNR Wildlife Habitat Stamp fund. Two wetlands have been restored as well as
the planting of a pristine native prairie mix.
A windbreak will be planted next spring on the north and west boundaries
of the property to provide adequate cover for a variety of animals.
This
area is open to the public for all types of recreational uses that are
compatible with wildlife habitat such as nature study, bird watching and
hunting.
Directions
to Miller Marsh are as follows: From
Vincent, go 1 mile North on P71 and 1 mile north on P71, then 1 mile west on
C56. The site is on the north side of
the blacktop.
Spotlight on: Honeysuckles
Bush
Honeysuckles (Lonicera tartarica & Lonicera maackii) are plants that
are very familiar and common to many landowners because throughout the 1900’s
they were extensively planted and were even recommended for planting to benefit
wildlife. These multi-stemmed,
tree-like bushes are actually native to Europe and Asia, and for that very
reason, they are now an exotic nuisance.
The irony lies in the fact that the bushes are actually detrimental to
wildlife because they lack nutritional value and they ruin our native
woodlands.
The effect it has on
woodlands is subtle, but profound.
The plants shade out tree seedlings such
as oaks, maples, hickories, & other natives because:
—-this plant leafs out very early
and keeps its leaves very late.
—-it’s a very dense plant that
reproduces and spreads quickly
(lots of berries spread
by deer and birds).
Once it spreads, it changes the
architecture of the woodlands
It has very little nutritional value in
any part of the plant.
So, when animals eat it, they’re
filling up on “junk food”.
It’s
control is manageable through:
Hand pulling when plant is small.
Cutting & treating with appropriate
chemical to avoid resprouting.
Fire.
Like
nearly all introduced species of plants and animals, if it’s not native to the
area, it should not be brought in because the chance of it becoming an invasive
is great. A common example is the
English house sparrow or the Canada thistle.
Let’s not repeat our mistakes. It’s
not worth the risk!!
EE Info. Books & Literature
A Bird’s Eye View—–This short booklet details migrant birds, habitat
loss, protecting land, management plans, partnerships, and success stories, on
a local scale. Colorful and easy
reading makes it a great book for many readers.
Iowa’s Groundwater
Basics—–A colorful, Iowa-specific
book that takes a statewide, in-depth look at Iowa’s groundwater resources and
provides basic information about the occurrence of groundwater in Iowa. Understanding this information is in the
best interest of all Iowans.
Iowa’s Living Roadway—–This plant profiler published by the Iowa Dept. of
Transportation is a colorful, concise book that offers an understanding into
the state’s roadside management programs.
For those spending time on the road and observing ditches, it’s a great
choice aiding in the identification of flowers, grasses, shrubs, and even
trees.
The staff here at Webster County Conservation Board
often gets questions about different kinds of snakes. People are most concerned about poisonous snakes. Four venomous snakes are found in the state
of Iowa, and none are known to inhabit Webster County. The prairie rattlesnake is found in a
floodplain area along the Missouri River in northwest Iowa, and the copperhead,
although rare, is found in the far southern tip of Lee County. The timber rattlesnake and massausauga both
inhabit similar ranges along the Mississippi River and the southern three tiers
of counties in the state, although the timber rattler is more common in its
range.
We
have a fox snake here in our nature center, and it is often confused with a
rattlesnake because of its ability to rattle its tail. Fox snakes are common in Webster
County. They are easily distinguishable
from other Iowa poisonous snakes because they are not as wide bodied. The timber rattlesnake also has a head
larger than its body, while the head of the fox snake is small, and about the
same size as its body.
For
information, contact us at 576-4258;
e-mail at mailto:khansen@webstercountyia.org
Wildlife
Watch Reward for shooting
Trumpeter Swan
Disbelief & Disappointment—both words to
describe the feelings this fall after hearing that at least 8 trumpeter swans
were shot in the wild in Iowa, 2 more being suspicious shootings. My first question is…...How can this
happen? Misidentification is a hard-to-swallow
excuse since a swan has a 58-65” wingspan and a snow goose has a 28-32”
wingspan. The size alone should be an
obvious difference. If it’s not
obvious, no shot should be taken! Of
course there is the chance that it was not a mistake. This is even more horrifying.
Trumpeter
swans are the largest free-flying waterfowl in North America and until
recently, through the great efforts of many conservation groups and
individuals, these majestic birds were extirpated (completely wiped out of the
borders of Iowa) for approximately 100 years.
There were only 69 pairs left in the U.S. until the 1990’s. Much time, money, energy, and emotion has
gone into restoring swans to Iowa. The
500 swans released and 13 wild nesting pairs now in Iowa is a success story in
itself. Unfortunately, this program has
suffered downfalls, such as power line collisions, including one this Dec. 2003
in southern Webster County, and lead poisoning deaths. However,
it’s very upsetting when so much effort is literally shot down by
uncaring humans. Honest mistakes I can
accept, but intentional shootings are heart wrenching.
There
have been TIP calls about swan shootings in the past, but not yet this
fall. Currently, the reward for
conviction of a swan shooting is $2100.
The TIP number is 1-800-532-2020.
Our local conservation officer contact number is 515-571-0127.
Project A.W.A.R.E
Project
A.W.A.R.E., a week-long event to make Iowans more aware of water
quality, started when Brian Soenen with
the state’s IOWATER program wanted to try something similar to the Mississippi
River’s Living Lands and Waters program instituted by Chad Pregracke. The first Project A.W.A.R.E. took place in
2003 on the Maquoketa River and is now a cache of awesome memories, but the
incredible journey has just started.
Overview of 2003 Project A.W.A.R.E.
Over
100 people, at various times, hauled out 109 tires, 16 chairs, 91 bags of
trash, some methamphetamine lab items, and an EasyBake Oven, to name just a
fraction of the garbage. Water monitoring was done at every starting, midway
and end point along the trip. Each night presentations were offered ranging
from botany, history, poetry & philosophy. The common thread was the health
of a particular watershed, the Maquoketa. It rained & hailed, and several
canoes dumped, but a fun time and great memories were shared by all.
Overview for 2004
WHAT—Canoe
trip on the Des Moines River from Gotch Park in Humboldt County to Jester Park
in Polk County that focuses on water quality and river cleanup. The expedition will include free camping,
low-cost meals, and educational programs.
WHEN—June
19-26, 2004; Participation the entire
week is not required—Spend one day, the whole week, or anywhere in between on
AWARE.
WHY—Focus
on checking Iowa’s water quality, cleaning up the river, and HAVING FUN!
WHO—For
anyone who is interested, co-hosted by the IOWATER Citizen Water Quality
Monitoring Program and the Department of Natural Resources KEEPERS OF THE LAND
Volunteer Program
To
register for this event contact Brian Soenen at 515-281-6640 or Brian.Soenen@dnr.state.ia.us
Prairie Rescue at Carlson
Recreation Area
With winter in full force, I’ll give
you something else to ponder: Imagine
working in a prairie and woodland in the fresh spring air, surrounding yourself
with the new life that’s just starting to awaken from a long winter
dormancy. The thought of cutting and
dragging small trees through tall grass may not sound very appealing, but
imagine the chorus of spring frogs and migratory birds some people seldom
hear. There’s often a refreshing
feeling after a good workout and a sense of accomplishment!
In an effort to reclaim our prairie
that invaders have taken from us, we will be sponsoring a Prairie Rescue Day at
the Carlson Recreation Area south of Dayton on Sat., April 17th. The purpose of this event is to remove the
invasive species (mostly small fast-growing trees) of the upland prairie of the
Carlson Recreation Area in order to restore the integrity of the diverse
prairie community.
Cutting and piling the invader
trees, then treating the stumps will facilitate future management techniques
through mowing and burning. Using
volunteers will help educate about prairies and inspire a connection with the
earth. This Earth Day Event will be
under the direction and supervision of Webster County Conservation. Directions to the area are as follows: Follow Hwy 175 through Dayton, turn south on
Taylor Ave. for 1.5 miles; turn east on 390th St. (toward Hidden Acres) and
follow the signs.
If you are interested or know of an
ambitious group that would like to work with the earth, please call Karen at
576-4258 to inquire or sign-up to volunteer for as much as you can offer.
CHANGE—Heels down or Arms open?
Change is never easy, and the longer
that things stay the same, the harder change is to accept. However, change is often necessary.
You’ve probably heard about the
budget cuts the state has been experiencing and the ripple effect it’s had on
other agencies like schools and cities.
At the county level, we’re now experiencing the ripple for next fiscal
year. Talk of unprecedented changes and
drastic cuts continue to be heard and at this time no one knows the final
outcome.
What changes are in store with
Webster County Conservation is a question none of us can answer at this time,
but I have a feeling that substantial change is on the horizon. If so, I hope that I am not digging my heels
down in resistance but rather opening my arms with a positive attitude. I think that using our God-given creativity
will be even more necessary at we discuss budget issues. And partnerships will be not only helpful
and handy, but quite possibly necessary to continue meeting our goals.
We can’t change the fact that things
are changing all around us, but we can impact how we react to these
changes. Will we dig in our heels or
open our arms? I hope I find myself
with outstretched arms and an open mind.
It’s much easier to see the BIG PICTURE this way.
Don’t Veer for Deer
The
Department of Public Safety has organized an effort, in conjunction with
insurance companies, AAA Minnesota/Iowa, local law enforcement, and many others
to educate the public about the deer vehicle crash problem and to equip them
with information that will help them to prevent serious injury or death.
In
vehicles, you are more at risk of death or serious injury if you veer (swerve)
to avoid hitting deer. It is generally
safer to hit a deer than to risk hitting another motorist.
If
you are about to hit a deer, your best action is to BRAKE firmly, STEER in your
lane, STOP with control.
But
DO NOT VEER out of your lane!
Swerving
(veering) can be worse because:
Oncoming
traffic may collide with your vehicle.
Vehicles
roll easily when swerving and braking.
Hitting
a fixed object such as a driveway, telephone pole, culvert, etc. are possible.
These
consequences of veering have a high risk of serious injury or death.
Adults,
and parents in particular, please tell young drivers how to avoid more serious
injury by remembering…………………...DON’T VEER FOR DEER
Visit
the website at www.dps.state.ia.us/deercrashes
for more info. and photographs.
Public Programs
Webster County
Conservation
Environmental Education Programs
Winter-Spring 2003-2004
Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Date:
Sat., Jan. 10, 24, 31, Feb. 21 Location: Kennedy Park Reception Center
Time:
10:00am—12:00pm with instructor
12:00pm—2:00pm on
your own Cost: $7 skis /
$5 snowshoes
Join
the naturalist for lessons in the morning if you like or ski on your own on the
park’s groomed trails. Meet at 10am or
anytime between 12—2pm to rent skis.
Cross-country skiing is a great aerobic exercise and an environmentally
friendly winter activity. If you tend
to hate winter, one of the best ways to make it go faster is to bundle up and
try to enjoy it.
Date: Sat., Jan. 31 Location:
Kennedy Park Reception
Center
Time: 12:00 pm Cost: $ 140 (including bindings)
If you
enjoy making things and are up for a challenge, building snowshoes may be just
for you. Used to keep from sinking
through deep snow, these have a practical purpose. However, they add the outdoor look to a home when merely hung on
a wall. With guidance, we will lace
snowshoes together. Or a person may
construct them completely at home. Call
or email Karen to order.
Date: Sat.,
Jan. 24 Location: Badger Lake at Kennedy Park
Time: 2:00—5:00pm Cost: $2 per participant
Learn
from experienced fishermen about ice safety and general basics of ice
fishing. Following safety precautions,
ice fishing is a great way to spend time with family and friends and it creates
lasting memories. Meet at the boat ramp
at Badger Lake and use our equipment or bring your own. Call Karen at 576-4258 to pre-register any
age. Adult supervision required.
Date: Sat., Jan. 24 Location: Kennedy Park, Bob Heun shelter
Time: 6:30pm Cost: See below
Building
nest boxes for our wild birds and mammals is a fun and memorable pastime shared
with many family members. Because of
habitat loss, nest boxes have become very important. Call or e-mail your choice of boxes and a pre-cut nest box will
be ready for you to build.
The
choices are:
Wren, Bluebird, Chickadee $5;
Robin, Barn swallow
$8;
Bat, Screech Owl, Saw whet Owl, Kestrel $12;
Flicker $15
Date: Sat., Feb. 7 Location: Dolliver Park (watch for signs)
Time: 6:00pm Cost: free
Bring
the family and friends for an evening of tracking and owling. Learn about the interesting characteristics
of owls and then brave the elements for owl calling and tracking with special
effects. Dress warmly in hopes of
seeing or hearing some silent fliers and other nighttime wildlife.
Date
& Location to be announced
Come
hear a whitetail deer program by the DNR deer biologist and bring your deer
rack to have it scored. Learn more facts
about deer populations in Iowa and management practices.
Habitat Workshop for Landowners
Tentative
date set for March 20 or March 6. Details
to be announced.
This
workshop will be helpful for landowners and tenants who have land they’d like
to develop for optimum wildlife habitat.
Topics may include: land
management options, government programs, cost-share programs, and individual
assistance from conservation experts.
Date:
Sat., April 17 Location:
Carlson Recreation Area
prairie
Time: 1:00-4:00pm Cost: Free
The
purpose of this event is to remove the invasive species (mostly small
fast-growing trees) of the upland prairie of the Carlson Recreation Area in
order to restore the integrity of the diverse prairie community. Cutting and piling the invader trees then
treating the stumps will facilitate future management techniques through mowing
and burning. The purpose of using
volunteers is to educate and inspire a connection with the earth. This Earth Day event will be under the
direction and supervision of Webster County Conservation. Directions to the area are as follows: Follow Hwy 175 through Dayton, turn south on
Taylor Ave.; go 1.5 miles and turn east on 390th St. (toward Hidden Acres) and
follow the signs. If you or an
ambitious group would like to work “with the earth”, please call Karen at
576-4258 to inquire or volunteer.
Date: Tues., April 20 Location: Izaak Walton League Chapter House
Time:
7:30pm Cost: Free
Larry
Stone, a famous Iowan with particular talents in photography and writing and a
real passion for the earth and our environment, will be presenting this evening
in conjunction with Earth Week and the upcoming Earth Day on April 22nd. This will also help kick-off the upcoming
Happy Trails clean up in Fort Dodge on April 24th.
Directions to
Program sites
To Kennedy Park - Located 5 miles north of Fort Dodge (north of the airport) on the west side of P56 or Nelson Ave.
To Skillet Creek Indian Mounds—–Follow Hwy 175 (east out of Dayton or west out of Stratford). At the Des Moines River bridge, turn left (north) onto River Road. Turn left again onto Skillet Creek Road; parking lot is on the right side.
To Liska-Stanek Prairie—– Located on P51 south and west of Fort Dodge. Take Hwy 20 west of Hwy 169 for 2 miles; turn south on P51 for 2.5 miles. Park in the Bohemian Hall parking area.
To Kalsow Prairie—–Located north and west of Manson. Take Hwy 7 to Manson and turn north onto N65 for approx. 3 miles, then west on gravel for 1 mile. Follow brown signs from N65.
To Deception Hollow State Area—–Located south of Lehigh. From P73, turn east onto 320th St. and follow the signs.
To Dolliver State Park—–Located west of Lehigh. Follow signs from Hwy 50 or Hwy 20.
To Brushy Creek State Rec. Area—–Located east of Fort Dodge and Lehigh, and south of Duncombe. Follow the signs from Hwy 20 and from 320th St. heading northeast out of Lehigh. From P73, turn east onto 270th St. and look for the handicapped accessible fishing dock.
To Webster County ISU Extension – From Business 20 going through Fort Dodge, turn onto 8th Street. Turn left at the stoplight and make a quick right into the corner parking lot. The Extension office is on the second florr of United Bank of Iowa. Enter the door from the alley and follow the signs.
Tracks to Learning
News for Educators of
all types
Karen
Roosa Hansen, naturalist khansen@webstercountyia.org 515-576-4258
Programs offered by the Environmental Education program :
Year-round
(indoor):
If
you are teaching formally or informally about a conservation or environmental
topic, contact me to see if I have a program I can offer. If I don’t, I may be able to work a program
together for a certain topic. A few I’ve
been doing repeatedly are: Owls, Owl
pellet dissection, Animal Groups (of Iowa animals), Birds, Snakes, Bats,
Nature’s Unhuggables, Nest Boxes, Bugs, Trees, Outdoor Survival, etc. Most of these can be adapted for outdoor
classrooms too. A couple nice features
are that nearly all of the programs are free and that because I have access to
special permits, I have some unique props.
Also, I believe in hands-on learning and try to incorporate this as much
as possible.
Seasonal
(outdoor):
Iowa offers us great seasonal changes and a wealth of teaching opportunities to go with them.
Spring & Fall —– popular times for field trips or what I like to term Outdoor Classrooms because they are truly structured for learning about the environment. I try to work with staff to enhance school curriculum.
Winter—–not a popular outdoor time, but certainly should be. We offer cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, snow tracking, hiking, & bird watching to name a few. There is a student fee for the cross country ski equipment of $3.50 and snowshoes of $2.50 per person.
If expenses are keeping your class from attending an outdoor classroom or from taking part in something I am offering, please let me know. Though I may not be able to do anything immediately, these concerns are important to me, and with partnerships or other sponsors, we may be able to make a difference.
**************************************************************************************
Trumpeter Swan Activity booklet—–Though the birds and these booklets have been around now for a few years, the whole program is still very exciting. Since I’d like all students to learn more about these birds and other endangered animals, I want your school or agency to have a booklet and I can present a slide program too. Check with your school & town library for “Iowa’s Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program” booklet. Contact me for a free copy.
Stuff book—–I have a few extras of these small, yet humbling books about daily consuming and what we do with our STUFF. An eye-opening look at consumer waste and the environment. Teachers covering the topic of waste management will want this book.
Bird Workshop for Educators—–I’d like to offer a bird workshop for educators where free materials (including a bird call identification CD), fun activities, research, etc. can be utilized. Please contact me with your level of interest and best times. The outcome will be determined by the response I get.
I would like to get a
data base of teachers in my email system so I can forward info. that you may
find useful in some way. Please email
me with your name, school, grade level, and subjects. Thank you!
Karen
Roosa Hansen, naturalist for Webster County Conservation (at Kennedy Park)
1415
Nelson Ave., Fort Dodge, IA 50501 phone 515-576-4258 fax 515-574-3763
khansen@webstercountyia.org website: www.webstercountyia.org
Staff
|
Director |
Charles Miller |
|
Roadside Manager |
Scott Gebers |
|
Naturalist |
Karen Roosa Hansen |
|
Park Ranger |
Dave Scherff |
|
Park Ranger |
Matt Cosgrove |
|
Park Ranger |
Pat Shehan |
|
Secretary |
Cindy
Knickerbocker |
Board Members
|
Dave Cramer |
Dayton |
|
Joan Harp |
Fort Dodge |
|
Brad Luke |
Fort Dodge |
|
Orville O’Connell
|
Fort Dodge |
|
Mark A. Thompson |
Fort Dodge |
Webster County
Conservation
1415 Nelson Ave.
Fort Dodge, IA. 50501
Phone: 515-576-4258
Fax: 515-574-3763
E-mail: conservation@webstercountyia.org
Webster County Web Page: http://www.webstercountyia.org/
From the Director’s Desk | Roadside Report | Critter Corner | Public
Programs | General Info