The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has rescheduled a public meeting over the Iowa Communications Network for March 25 from 6 to 9 p.m., to listen to the public’s thoughts on the hunting and trapping regulations for this fall. Meetings will be held in Atlantic, Boone, Calmar, Chariton, Clear Lake, Council Bluffs, Creston, Dubuque, Eldridge, Johnston, Marshalltown, Monroe, Ottumwa, Sac City, Sergeant Bluff, Sheldon, Spencer, Tiffin, Tripoli and West Burlington.

Complete ICN locations are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting. The meetings are part of the process for making rules in state government. At each meeting DNR staff will facilitate a discussion about what went well last fall, what didn’t, and what changes hunters and trappers would like to see for this fall.

These discussions along with the data that the wildlife bureau collects on harvest and population numbers will be used to develop recommendations for any rule changes this fall. Any changes must be approved by the Natural Resource Commission and then go back to the public for further comment before taking effect next fall.

On Wednesday, February 26th, members of the Atlantic FFA chapter hosted the Sub District Career Development Events with several advancing to District FFA Convention, which is to be held on Saturday, March 8, in Denison. FFA member Clint Hansen competed in Extemporaneous Speaking and Adam Freund competed in Ag Broadcasting, both advancing to Districts. Clayton Saeugling was the alternate in the Job Interview category. Colin Peterson competed in the FFA Creed. Freund, Hansen and Marshal McDermott competed in the Farm Business Management Test, each earning a bronze rating. Haylee Valeika and Morgan Barkley competed in the Greenhand Quiz. Valeika earned a silver and Barkley a bronze. FFA advisor Eric Miller commented, “I was proud of all the hard work each member put into preparing for their event.”

Haley Carlson was a candidate for District Office. She had a series of interviews beginning with an individual interview, which was a long process to help sort the candidates. After five candidates had each completed their interview, a group interview was held. The group interview is a team exercise designed to see how each member works in a group. This year team members had to make a mock presentation to a school board trying to convince them to start an FFA Chapter. Each contestant also took an FFA knowledge quiz. Although Carlson was not chosen to be on the ballot, this was an excellent springboard in preparation for next year. Carlson said, “It was a great experience! I learned a lot and that will help me prepare for next year. I also made many new friendships in the process.”

w/ Kate Olson

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Most Iowans are anxious for spring to start in a few weeks, but others don’t look forward to the sneezing, stuffy noses and watery eyes that come with allergies. As many as four in every ten Iowans suffer from seasonal allergies. Doctor Jill Poole, an allergist in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says if you have allergies, you need to prepare. “They should start getting their medications out, get on board before they get behind the eight ball on their allergy symptoms,” Dr. Poole says. “If they need refills, contact their doctor and try to be proactive about keeping on top of their medication supplies and start taking them.”

It may sound hard to believe, especially as cold as it’s been, but some trees in Iowa are already pollinating. “March and April is when the tree pollen gets to be its highest counts,” Poole says. “This year, we’ve seen tree pollen counts a little bit early, even in January, but we still expect it to continue into April and even into May.”

She says allergies are the body’s immune system reacting to a normally-harmless substance. Over-the-counter medications work well for many people but Poole says there are some who need more help.  “Be tested so they know what they’re allergic to,” Poole says. “Maybe they can change things in their environment or there’s prescription medications they can take. Ultimately, there’s allergy desensitization programs.”

Those programs involve exposing patients with low doses of allergens, then increasing the dosage over time to make the symptoms less severe. Other tips include keeping doors and windows closed and to shower or wash your hands and face after being outdoors. Poole is an associate professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

(Radio Iowa)

Camping options for the Memorial Day weekend in a state park are quickly shrinking. The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources says campers wanting to spend the holiday weekend at Backbone, Black Hawk, Brushy Creek, Elinor Bedell, Emerson Bay, George Wyth, Lake Ahquabi, Ledges, Lewis and Clark,
Pleasant Creek, Prairie Rose, Rock Creek, Viking Lake, Walnut Woods and Waubonsie state parks should plan to arrive a few days early for one of the walk up sites with electricity – all the reservation sites have been taken. Other parks are close to hanging up the no reservations sign.

Bellevue, Dolliver, Green Valley, Gull Point, Lake Anita, Lake Macbride, Lake of Three Fires, Maquoketa Caves, McIntosh Woods, Palisades, Springbrook, Stone, Union Grove, Volga River, Waubonsie and Wilson Island state parks have only a site or two remaining.

Lake Geode State Park is not taking reservations for camping or for the beach shelter until the construction on the wastewater system is complete. The park is open and is accepting campers on a first come, first served basis. At this time there is no water available for the showers, restrooms, or for the dump station.  Water is available from the campground hydrants.

Lake Keomah State Park is closed to allow the roads to be replaced. Nine Eagles State Park modern campground is closed while a new shower and restroom facility is installed. Most parks will have nonelectric sites available for the Memorial Day Weekend. Information on Iowa’s state parks is available online at www.iowadnr.gov,  including links to the reservations page.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and several agriculture groups have convened to launch new efforts to conserve the monarch butterfly’s habitat across the state. Iowa State University on Monday announced its involvement in the so-called Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium with the DNR and the state Department of Agriculture, among other farmer and conservation organizations. Officials say the project employs a science-based approach to improve monarch butterfly reproduction and foster community conservation efforts.

The partnership comes after the federal government allocated $3.2 million to help save the monarch butterfly, whose population has seen a 90 percent decline in recent years. According to a news release, ISU has been tasked with leading research to develop best practices for maintaining milkweed plants in both rural and urban areas of the state.

Getting caught stealing a horse was a serious crime in the wild west. A small group of Iowa legislators has been mulling the idea of tougher penalties for modern day cattle rustlers, pig thieves and corn snatchers. Representative Lee Hein raises livestock and grain on a farm near Monticello and he says, unfortunately, it’s far easier to catch a car thief than to catch someone who’s stolen agricultural commodities.

“You always count everything going into the yard and then as we sell them, we count them going out,” Hein says, “And there’s been times when I’ve probably been short maybe 10-15 hogs and I wonder: ‘Did you miscount or did somebody slip in there at night and load a load up and is gone with it.” Hein first considered establishing a minimum prison sentence for those caught stealing livestock or corn and beans, but he’s now considering other options. And He’s not sure whether the bill he’s trying to craft will survive this Friday’s deadline to pass a House committee.

“But the biggest thing I want is to let agriculture understand that this is a bigger issue than what I realized,” Hein says. “Maybe we need to start figuring up ways to put up cameras or start lockimg things up way tighter.” 2011 is the most recent year for which data is available and there were more convictions in Iowa that year for stealing livestock or grain than for car theft.

(Radio Iowa)

Paddlefish season in Iowa begins this weekend on the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers. Iowa residents can no longer apply for licenses or paddlefish tags, but D-N-R fisheries biologist Van Sterner says those who are eligible for the season — which opens Sunday — are required to follow strict rules.  “We do have a protected slot limit,” Sterner says. “Fish measuring 35 to 45 inches, measured from the front of the eye to the fork in the tail, must be released immediately, unharmed.”

The odd-looking fish has a flat front that looks kind of like a paddle. It’s also known as a spoonbill. Sterner says some of the fish may have a tag in their lower jaw that’s very similar to those seen on waterfowl. Those who snag a tagged fish are asked to report it to the Department of Natural Resources to help track and research the population. “Nebraska and South Dakota do have a fairly valid estimate up there in the Gavins Point area but down this way, in the channelized stretch of the river, we just haven’t collected enough tag returns,” Sterner says. “This is all based on mark and recapture and we haven’t collected enough recaptures to give us a valid estimate yet.”

He says the department is hoping to increase interest in catching paddlefish in the future. “We offered 1,000 licenses, 950 resident licenses and 50 non-resident licenses,” Sterner says. “The 50 non-residents sold out and we sold a total of 743 licenses, so we didn’t sell out this year.”

This will be the first time anyone can legally go after paddlefish on the two rivers since 1986 when fishing was cut off out of concern for the survival of the species. The season opens Sunday and will continue through April 15th.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is encouraging hunters to be aware that gray wolves are once again a protected federal species. D-N-R furbearer biologist, Vince Evelsizer, says they want to remind Iowa hunters after the gray wolf protection was reinstated near the end of December. “It just means to be sure of your target — especially if you are out coyote hunting this time of the year when the season is still open for coyotes — to keep an eye out. Because now the gray wolf is protected both federally and state protected,” Evelsizer says.

The change protects gray wolves in all of Wisconsin and Michigan, the eastern half of North Dakota and South Dakota, and the northern half of Iowa. Evelsizer says it is possible a hunter might mistake a gray wolf for a coyote and fire at the animal. “I think you could, I think it’s possible. I think most Iowans when they are out coyote hunting are not expecting or really keeping an eye out for a gray wolf when they coyote hunt,” according to Evelsizer. “We are just reminding folks that it’s time to start doing that more. We’ve had a few larger canines in our state recently.”

Wolves generally are larger and bulkier while coyotes are shorter, sleek and lighter on their feet. Evelsizer says there is not a breeding population of gray wolves in Iowa. He says it’s hard to figure just how many might be here. “It’s been occasional, it’s always a little tough to tell as there is sometimes dog-wolf hybrids out there,” Evelsizer says.

The D-N-R has information and identification tips online at www.iowadnr.gov/wolves.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Host Bob Bebensee and Brian Smith, Conservation Officer for Cass and Adair Counties.

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