Raccoon River Greenbelt Newsletter Published by the Dallas County Conservation Board SUMMER SOLSTICE EDITION 2015
Inside This Issue Woodland/Prairie Perspectives
Summertime Fun Summertime Fun
By Mike Wallace, Director Orphaned Wildlife A couple weeks ago my son-in law and I spent a day fishing at a local lake. We were Thank You fortunate to be fishing the right day at the right time and at the right place. We caught a basket full of crappies, good sized ones too. We topped off the day by bringing them home, cleaning them and then had a good “ole fashion” fish fry with the rest of the Bow Fishing family. It was somewhat of an unplanned event because I had just made a last minute decision to go fishing and he was available. Having the fish fry was also unplanned Redfield and because we did not give my wife much advanced warning (sometimes we don’t catch Dawson: Two anything), but she and my daughter helped make things happen. I’d like to say that my Towns With Rich grandson helped too, but he was more concerned about eating crackers instead (hey, he is only about 1½ years old!). Histories Anyway, this activity brings back a Calendar of Events lot of memories for me growing up. Summertime fishing with family! It’s an activity that does not really Thank You Beth require much equipment, just a basic Shields rod, reel and tackle, maybe some worms and you’ve got what is really A Wild Story Comes necessary. Head on down to the Full Circle nearest lake, pond or river and there is the chance to catch the big one. I still get excited every time I catch a Unexpected fish. It does not matter what size or Encounters= what kind it is, it’s just plain fun to do this. Just think about it, that hook is under the Teachable water and all of a sudden something grabs and pulls on it. Moments ~ continued on page 2 Email: [email protected] ♦ www.conservation.co.dallas.ia.us
Woodland/Prairie Perspectives
Summer Fun ~ continued from pg 1
You won’t know what it is until you reel it in. Is it a crappie, bluegill, bass, catfish, or walleye? It’s that feeling of excitement of the unknown that keeps you throwing your line out. Of course the one that got away was probably a world record. If anything, the story told about the size of the one that got away keeps getting bigger.
What is even more important about spending time fishing is the fact that you are doing something outside, enjoying our natural resources. The Dallas County Conservation Board (DCCB) has areas that provide opportunities for fishing. For river fishing, the DCCB has areas along the North, Middle and South Raccoon Rivers. These areas include: Kuehn Conservation Area, Hanging Rock, North Raccoon River Wildlife Area (Snyder Tract), Dawson Boat Ramp, Puckerbrush Boat Ramp, and Redfield Dam/Boat Ramp to name just a few. Also at our Glissman Conservation Area we have a 7 acre pond that holds a variety of good sized fish. Our gravel pit ponds located at the North Raccoon River Wildlife Area (Snyder Tract), west of Minburn, is also a great place to go fishing. Beaver Lake (Iowa DNR Area) north of Dexter is a popular site too.
In the 2015 Iowa DNR Regulations there’s a list of a few changes in the fishing regulations that you should be aware of. Those include the following: • It is no longer legal to hand fish. • Walleye length limits will be established by posting or publishing. The Black Hawk Lake daily bag limit and possession limit for walleye is 5 and 10; there is no length limit. • Iowa/Minnesota border lakes regulations have been modified. • Snagging, bow and arrow fishing and spearing is prohibited from several inlet and outlet areas on Clear Lake/Ventura Marsh, Lost Island Lake/ Barringer Slough, and Lower Gar Lake. • Special Paddlefish License for Missouri River and Big Sioux River.
RESIDENT FISHING LICENSES: Annual 16 years old and older $19.00, 3-Year $53.00, 7-Day $13.50, 1-Day $9.50. Annual Third Line Fishing Permit $12.00, Trout Fee $12.50, Lifetime (65 years old and older) $52.50. Boundary Water Sport Trotline $22.50, Fishing Tournament Permit $25.00, Fishing, Hunting, Habitat Fee Combo $47.00. Special Paddlefish License $22.00. ~ Continued on page 14
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Nature Lore
Orphaned Wildlife? By Justin Smith, Deputy Director./Biologist
The onset of Spring and Summer often brings an onslaught of phone calls to our office regarding orphaned wildlife. “I found a baby( insert animal name here). Now what do I do?” In most cases it is best to leave the wildlife there.
As hard as it is, usually the best thing to do the next time you find young wildlife that appears orphaned is to leave it alone. Spring is a busy time for wildlife parents, and they are often forced to spend long periods of the day away from their young.
White-tailed Deer for example may only return to their fawn 2-3 times a day to nurse the young one. The fawn spends the rest of the day utilizing it natural camouflage (spots) hiding in a safe place. Female deer - called does - are very good mothers, but they don't act like human moms. Mother deer often leave their young alone - carefully hidden - while they feed or even sleep. Humans finding young deer alone in the woods or meadows often think the baby is orphaned. But the doe - often frantic at seeing humans so close to her young - is usually very close to the scene. Too often, people take the fawn to a conservation or wildlife rescue group - when the young deer usually doesn't need rescuing at all. A doe will hide from other deer while giving birth and during the first weeks of the fawn's life. The doe wants to keep away from any possible danger to her fawn. The mother deer hides the fawn almost all the time - except when the fawn is nursing. The mother even eats the fawn's droppings and urine to keep the area free of scent that attracts predators.
Wood Ducks are another example of wildlife parents who may not seem to know what they are doing. Wood Ducks, like other waterfowl, spend much of there lives on or near water. Wood Ducks, however, often times nest a substantial distance from water. Being true to their name Wood Ducks nest in trees. The parents pick a suitable site (usually a hollow cavity in a tree or even a man-made nest box) and wait for the eggs to hatch. The day after they hatch, the nestlings climb to the entrance of the nest and jump down to the ground,. The mother calls them to her and leads them to water. This often times happens in urban areas where people become concerned when they suddenly spot a bunch of ducklings scurrying through their lawns. Again the best thing to do is leave them alone. The mother Wood Duck will get them to water.
~ Continued on page 4
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Nature Lore
Orphaned Wildlife? ~ continued from pg 3
Other animals may appear to be orphans but are actually independent at a very young age. Rabbits are independent of their mothers at 16 days. They are still small and will fit in the palm of your hand. Their eyes are open and their ears will rotate. Squirrels are independent when their tails are bushy and they are about half the size of an adult. Opossums are independent when they quit hanging on their mothers back. They are usually about 6 inches long (excluding the tail) and are fully furred, with open eyes and well developed teeth.
Really the best way you can help these animals is to keep pets away. Remember, dogs and cats are predators, so it is up to you to keep them away from the young wildlife. Also, keep children away from the young animals. Too much disturbance can have unintended consequences to the young wildlife.
If you absolutely feel that an animal has been orphaned a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found at the following website: www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/files/wildliferehab.pdf
Be sure to contact a rehabilitator before doing anything else. Never attempt to rehabilitate an animal yourself. It is against the law to do so unless you have the proper permits.
Donations — Thank You! We appreciate your support!
Raccoon River Valley Trail Thomas & Gwendolyn Harvey Phil Tuning Stephen Zimmer Frank & Lonna MeCammond Dave Egleston Jake Ritter David & Linda Gobberdiel Jon & Susan Dutcher Gene Gabus Paved Crossings Project Andrew Gangle Troy & Kim Zeleznik
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Wildlife Management
Bow Fishing Greg Sieck- Natural Resource Manager
For the avid whitetail hunter bow fishing is a way to enjoy the warm summer months as we await the arrival of fall. It is also a fun activity nearly anyone can enjoy.
I find bow fishing extremely challenging and fun. I enjoy wading in the cool water on a hot summer day alongside a shallow lake or trolling around in a boat looking for the slightest movement in a shallow vegetative cove.
The term rough fish comes from the course scale of the fish acting like armor. This relates to carp, gar, suckers, bowfin, drum and other various fish species. Many of these species are not sought by sport anglers but are very popular in the commercial fishing industry.
Legal Method of take: Rough fish (carp, buffalo, quillback, gar, sheepshead, dogfish) can be caught day or night, by: hand fishing, snagging, spear, or bow and arrow.
Where to bow fish You can find various rough species of fish here in Dallas County. The most popular would be the Middle and South Raccoon River. I would start out at the various dams, where many fish seem to be drawn. The dam blocks the fish’s movement upstream and gathers them at the base of those structures. During flooding events rough species of fish will travel in shallow areas to gain access to food and are vulnerable to predators and beaching themselves during high water floods.
I encourage you all to practice your aim and give bow fishing a shot on one of these beautiful summer days here in Dallas County.
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DCCB
Raccoon Valley Bank, Major Donor for Perry to Woodward Trail Project Raccoon Valley Bank announced a major donation of $100,000 for the Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail Connector Project. This is the proposed Perry to Woodward trail connection project. “It is donations such as this that will leverage other funds that will help us connect two of the premier trail systems in the state of Iowa. Our department is proud to have Raccoon Mike Wallace, Director, Dallas County Conservation Valley Bank as a partner, and we thank them Board with Terry Nielsen, President/CEO of Raccoon for their outstanding leadership and Valley Bank on Thursday, May 28, 2015. support,” Wallace commented.
Raccoon River Valley Trail Permits Available!
Trail fee required for all users ages 18 and older. $2/daily pass or $10/annual pass (January—December) Children under age 18 ride free anytime.
The RRVT Permit Order Forms (Daily & Annual) can be found in the yellow tubes at each of the trail heads. Fill out the form along with your correct amount of money, drop it in the permit tube, and the permit will be mailed to you. Or download our Annual Permit Order Form at: www.co.dallas.ia.us/ department-services/conservation/parks-recreation/trail-permits
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Museum News
Redfield and Dawson; Two Towns with Rich Histories By Pete Malmberg, Museum Curator
One of my latest projects is writing and designing graphics (photo and text) panels for the Redfield and Dawson Depots. These Depots served the substantial business districts of both these towns for many years and it is an honor to help preserve some of their long history.
For years now I have been to countless meetings and gatherings, discussing the future of rural Iowa. Many lifelong Iowans are proud of Des Moines and other large Iowa cities progress over the last several decades. At the same time, though, there is sadness over the population and business declines all over rural Iowa. There is constant worry about the business districts of towns as large as Perry and Jefferson and the competition for economic development in all of the regional trade towns throughout the state is intense. Every town wants to be as thriving and diverse as Carroll and several other towns that are far enough away from metropolitan areas to support thriving downtown districts, schools and other amenities. I recently talked with Iowa State Extension about these issues. The agent pulled out graphs and charts that explained how most of the towns around the state with populations of at least 5,000 are doing better than people realize. None of these towns are really in serious decline. The empty storefronts in most of them are Dawson, Iowa symptomatic of the small retail situation throughout the entire country. The retail situation is challenging but these are still viable communities with people of all ages living there.
The towns with populations of under 1,000 people are typically in a much different situation. Many state and federal agencies are giving up on them and most of them have an aging population. In spite of this, some of them are continuing the fight for survival with small groups of citizen activists. In Dallas County, all of the towns are within driving distance of Des Moines and should be able to remain alive for some time to come. ~ Continued on page 10
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Calendar of Events
Summer 2015 Nature On Call Programs NOTT In My County! Raccoon River Paddle Trips – Nature on Call ~con’t Nature On-Call – April through October As in the past, we will attach a lesson about the river to Raccoon River Valley Trail our paddling and we will provide registered paddlers with NOTT (Naturalist On The a shuttle back to the put in point. Here’s hoping for a Trail) is a great learning summer and fall of great water shared with our wild river experience. Do you know friends. which snake is sunning itself on the warm trail? Which White Water Kayak Clinic warblers are migrating through July 13 our areas? Which flowers have Whitewater Park, Charles City, Cedar River the pollen that is making you DCCB is hoping to stretch your limits a bit this summer sneeze? One day per month by inviting you to join us for a trip to the whitewater (April through October) a course on the Cedar River in Charles City. An old low- Dallas County Naturalist will be on a section of the head dam was removed and a whitewater course Raccoon River Valley Trail ready to talk with you about constructed in its place. CrawDaddy Outdoors offers the nature you are seeing as you enjoy our longest park. clinics, providing kayak, all the gear, and instructions Please check our website and Facebook page for necessary for a ride on some of the wildest waters in Iowa. updates on dates, times and trail sections. No DCCB will provide a van to transport a registered crew of registration is required for this program. paddlers to Charles City where we will meet up with Darrin Siefken of CrawDaddy’s for the clinic. The cost for Raccoon River Paddle Trips – Nature on Call this clinic is $40, which covers the clinic and Summer / Fall of 2015 transportation. Pre-registration is required for this River Floats ( Nature on Call Programming ) program. Dallas County– North, Middle, South Raccoon Rivers Rock Bar Ramble DCCB would like to offer Sunday, July 26 2 pm – 4 pm you an invitation to join us Snyder Tract Rock Bar for a paddle down a stretch Preregistration is required for this FREE event. of one of the three ‘Coons. Every time the waters rise Due to the unpredictable and wash through our river nature of the water levels, valleys, they uncover and we will let the river decide deposit new geologic and when we dip a paddle. If you would like to join us for a human treasures. In float, just call our office and provide us with your contact addition to the wide variety information and you will be included in our Paddlers’ of rocks and minerals Nature on Call list. Each month, June through October, including quartz, as the ‘Coon decides where and when we can enjoy a chalcedony, chert, and jasper, past groups have found float, we will contact our Paddlers’ list and post the float fossil crinoids and brachiopods, arrowheads and spear on our website, so you can register for our float. tips, crockery chunks and other relics. This program is ~continued in next column dependent on river levels, so preregistration is required! Wear sunscreen and old shoes, and bring For more information or to register for along a bucket to carry your treasures. any of our programs, contact: Dallas County Conservation Board
14581 K Avenue If you are a group leader and your group is interested in Perry, IA 50220 515-465-3577 attending one or more of these programs, please contact Office Hours: M-F 8 am - 4:30 pm our office for alternate arrangements. [email protected] www.conservation.co.dallas.ia.us 8
Calendar of Events
Summer 2015 Thank you Beth Shields
Beth Shields has been a friend of DCCB for Insect Sweep decades. As a middle Saturday, Sept. 19 ~ 1:00–3:00pm school teacher at Adel- Forest Park Museum, Perry DeSoto Minburn There is a lot of life going on in the Middle School, Beth prairies that is usually undetected. was always one of our Get a close and personal look when favorite educational you join a naturalist in a romp colleagues. Field days through the fields around Forest with Beth’s students Park, insect nets in hand. We’ll tag were always filled with any Monarchs we see, marvel at stick bugs, praying her enthusiasm, energy mantises, beetles and more. Long pants are and her smiles, as Beth’s recommended as are close-toed shoes. Bring the whole learners experienced the family to this free program!. Program is weather wilds of Dallas County. dependant. Registered participants will be Beth’s teaching led by informed of any changes. e x a mpl e a s s he challenged herself to step inside the stories of the wilds by Lunar Eclipse joining our inaugural Adult Wilderness backpacking trek Sunday, Sept. 27 8:00pm - 11:30 pm in 2011. Kuehn Conservation Area Preregistration is required for this FREE This spring we really put our friendship with Beth to the For the fourth time in two years, the full moon will slip test as we cajoled her out of retirement to join DCCB’s into Earth’s shadow for a lunar eclipse – with the moon interpretive staff. Due to an unexpected reduction in our in total eclipse for over an hour! Unlike the previous staff, Cindy and Chris were faced with a three naturalists three, seeing this eclipse will not require an early rising, schedule, and only two naturalists to present it. Thanks to as the moon will start its slow disappearance shortly Beth, DCCB was able to invite all our scheduled field days after 8 p.m. By 9:45, the entire moon will be occluded, to Dallas County’s wilds and encourage all of these and it will stay that way until close to 11:00 p.m. Bring learners to grow wilder. Beth stepped inside DCCB’s wild comfortable chairs, blankets plus snacks and classrooms and shared her love for nature with a whole new set of students from around the county. beverages and join us for a bonfire, discussion and great company as we witness another celestial In the words of the old rocker– Joe Cocker- “We’ll get by marvel. event. with a little help from our friends.” Thanks Beth, from DCCB and all the students you shared the wilds with this Rock Climbing and Rappelling Clinic spring. If we were not blessed with great friends like you, September TBA the wilds of Dallas County would have been less wild this Backbone State Park spring. This new program is another attempt by DCCB to stretch your limits a bit this summer. Here we are inviting you to join us for a trip to the oldest - protected wild place in Iowa, Backbone State Park. DCCB is cooperating with Eric Knoblock, a certified climbing instructor, to provide you a chance to climb and rappel on the rock features at Backbone. We will provide a van to transport a registered group of climbers to Backbone where we will meet up with Eric and his crew for the clinic. The cost for this clinic is $40, which covers the clinic and transportation. Pre-registration is required for this program. 9
Museum News
Redfield and Dawson; Two Towns with Rich Histories ~ continued from pg 7 some time to come. This doesn’t mean that they will return to the peak activity they enjoyed in 1910, but it means they will still be a living, breathing town. None of the present Dallas County towns are ready to become part of Rod Stanley’s “Ghost Towns of Dallas County” lecture any time soon.
Redfield goes back to 1850 and has around 800 people in 2015. This is one of the oldest and most patriotic towns in Dallas County. A thriving brickyard, several general stores, a pharmacy, physicians, attorneys, a small hospital, meat markets, two hotels, a furniture store, pool halls, saloons, and even a movie theater supported a dynamic small town known for its many festivals and celebrations. One of these, Old Settlers Days, still continues. The town still boasts several very viable businesses and a good restaurant. There are many historical and natural attractions around the area and it is my hope that a strong tourism base can be established in Redfield and neighboring Dexter.
Dawson has always been considerably smaller, with less than 150 people in 2015. The town got its start in 1881 as a railroad town and boomed when coal seams were discovered in the area. The community boasted a Brick and Tile Plant, a bank, a hardware store, saloon, restaurants, a pharmacy, several general stores, a grain elevator, a meat market, a shoe repair, livery stable, hatchery, millinery, a doctor, barbershop, a hotel, a lumberyard, Methodist Church, and a large brick school. Later businesses included several filling stations and mechanic shops, along with a trucking company. Today only the elevator and post office remain, but there are plans to start at least one restaurant in the town now that the Raccoon River Valley trail is in Herndon, IA Depot as it looked in 1907 operation.
I hope newsletter readers planning to use the trail this season or go for a drive around Dallas County will explore these two towns and their restored Depots. I plan on being in both of them on a weekly basis this season and hope to see you at the Depots!
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Nature & the Naturalist
A Wild Story Comes Full Circle By Chris Adkins, Environmental Education Coordinator/Naturalist
Every once in a while, something happens to you that both breaks your heart but mends your spirit. So it is with this story.
Last November, a phone call came into our administrative office, that a farmer over Dawson way had an injured raptor and wondered what he should do with it. I was at Forest Park that day so I fielded the call and began this wild story with Joe Scheib and a northern harrier. Joe had been working a field in his family’s operation when he came upon this injured wild one. Hopefully my recanting of this story can serve as a guide to you when one day you are both blessed and broken with an encounter with a wild one. Northern Harrier in Flight
I thanked Joe for his concern and interest and gave him the prescribed instructions. The goal is to prevent any further injury to the wild one and to keep its rescuer equally injury free. To accomplish this I had Joe place a coat, blanket, or towel over the harrier’s head. For reasons unknown to me, this calms the beast – preventing it from exacerbating its injuries. In this reduced stress state, the next goal is to further protect the injured one from any cats or dogs in the vicinity by enclosing it in a large cardboard box or pet kennel.
Joe successfully settled the harrier under his coat and ventured back home to retrieve a dog kennel to serve as a bird haven. When I arrived at the site Joe had a settled, protected raptor.
At this juncture in the narrative, I want to be sure to point something out, in rather Seuss-like fashion– Thanks Joe! “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” Joe and I were blessed with a rare viewing– a northern harrier in close proximity. Many a harrier has graced my binocs from a distance over the years as they swooped above the Iowa prairies. I had an academic appreciation of their unique ornithological sensory apparatus. Harriers have both the keen eye sight of diurnal raptors and the almost owl-like facial disk of feathers common to the nocturnal avian predators. At this close viewing, the wildness of the harriers face, wings, talons was intense. Sharing a space this personal with such a piece of wild beauty, injured, perhaps never to fly again is at once heart lifting and heart rending.
Joe and I, two souls along side a rural Iowa gravel road could ascertain that this harrier had an injured wing. Most likely due to a collision with an overhead power line. Luckily for the harrier its future health did not depend on my expertise. Guide Point # 3– relocate the injured wild one to a wildlife rehabilitator. Points 1 and 2 in hand: secure the injured, call Dallas County Conservation– led next to Injured Northern Harrier in step 3, a conversation with Kay Neumann, Director of S.O.A.R, Saving Our Avian Kay Neumann’s Hands Resources. ~Continued on page 12
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Nature & the Naturalist
A Wild Story Comes Full Circle ~ continued from pg 11 For several decades now Kay has been the go to person for central Iowa conservation personnel presented with an injured raptor. Kay is a licensed, skilled wildlife rehabilitator, trained to provide injured wild ones with their best chance to heal and return to the wilds. Kay has dedicated her skills to not only mending injured raptors, but championing efforts to reduce threats to raptors in the wilds. If you are not aware of the danger of lead, introduced into the environment by lead ammunition, you need to follow this link, to S.O.A.R’s website to become educated and involved in removing this toxin from our wilds. http://www.soarraptors.org
So far, this wild harrier had led me to one new friend– Joe. That was about to triple. Kay informed me that she had a new protégé, a rehabber in Panora, that would provide care and safe haven for our raptor. This new friend, Cassie Wendl, like Kay, is a keeper of the wilds and assists S.O.A.R’s mission. It is my good fortune that you can’t bring a wild one into Cassie’s care without meeting her two assistants – husband, Sam, and son, Clayton. So, I showed up at Cassie’s, crest-fallen with an injured harrier, and departed knowing this wild one was in the best possible care, while having my spirit lifted by the gift of three new wild friends.
Over the winter, Cassie and Kay’s care at S.O.A.R mended the harrier’s wing. A March conversation informed me that the harrier needed to now return to the wilds. Harrier’s habitat in Iowa favors short grass prairies, pastures and wetlands. As luck would have it, the Scheib farm has a large wetland area. We always do our best to connect the person whose concern for the wilds first started the story, for this harrier– that would be Joe, to a spirit lifting celebration of releasing the healed raptor to the wilds. You could not script it better than to meet Joe on his own ground to bring the story full circle.
As seen here in this picture, the release celebration became a family affair with Brother Dane, Uncle Kent, Father Chuck, and Joe, all of the century farm family attending the release. Picture yourself now as this scenario plays out in your future. Fate brings you an opportunity to help an injured wild one. You secure and protect the bird and contact DCCB to deliver the critter to S.O.A.R, giving it a fighter’s chance. These wild stories do not always follow the Walt Disney-like script of Joe and the harrier. Kay has a very good success rate with the wild ones coming into her care. Such is life. But, a failed rescue attempt may create new opportunities. Any of you readers that have experienced one of DCCB’s owl presentations have met our resident rehab barred owl, Strix. This wild one’s story did not end with a return to the wilds, but in place it provided us with the best teacher on our naturalist staff.
This image is from March 16, 2015, a date I will remember. Joe and his clan gathered on the land that has been farmed by their ancestors Brother Dane, Uncle Kent, Father Chuck and Joe for more than a century and experienced a wild friend that had entered their life– returning home to the wilds.
For me, I’m glad I had a chance to break and mend in this circle of friends. A broken raptor’s wing, the sorrow that fills my heart witnessing wildness diminished, a decision to care, new friends, dedication-commitment, and the sound of the wind as a mended wing and spirit lift up once more over the wilds in Dallas County.
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Naturalist
Unexpected Encounters = Teachable Moments By Cindy Blobaum, Naturalist
After researching the April 4 lunar eclipse and learning that it would become complete AFTER the moon had set for us in Iowa, we decided not to host a formal program. That night was clear, and the temperature was relatively mild. When I went out for my usual early morning (4:30-ish)walk, I could hardly avert my eyes from the event occurring overhead. There were several other people out walking and jogging – and I could not resist calling out to them – “Look at the moon!” Most of them seemed stunned at my unprovoked outburst, and would take a quick skyward glance. Then I would notice a double-take. “What is happening?” was a frequent reply. I think the longest I spent explaining the eclipse was about 15 seconds, but that was enough. They were looking!
In a different encounter this spring, I was presenting my twenty minute monthly intro to local animals program at a local school. The topic was birds, and the kids were excited to learn how to identify some common local birds by sight and by sound. One teacher engaged her students in a conversation about nesting, and gave an example of the bluebird house she has at her home. She talked about finding an old nest in there, and I explained that it would be best if she cleaned it out, as mice and bluebirds do not like to co-exist so closely. We chatted for just another minute on that topic, then I sent her one of our guides to monitoring blue bird houses in the mail. The following month, she was so excited. Her bluebird house was getting some activity – and she felt more confident in her ability to identify and predict future behavior.
At the beginning of May, I embarked on one of my monthly N.O.T.T (Naturalist On The Trail) in my County rides on the RRVT. Another cyclist stopped me to chat. We talked about the bluebird houses recently erected between Forest Park and Waukee, the wetlands projects at Voas which was a popular stopping place for migrating waterfowl this spring and the singing chorus frogs and American toads. We were headed in different directions, so we split up and then met again on our returns. This time, she brought out her phone and asked me to identify a flower she had seen riding on a different trail. It was Sweet William, and after identifying it, I made the quick remark that people often use its emergence as a guide for when to hunt for ~Continued on page 15
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DCCB
Summertime Fun ~ continued from page 2
In the Iowa DNR regulations there is a list of what is called the GOLDEN RULES FOR ANGLERS. These are things that we should always be aware of but sometimes it is worth a reminder. • Be considerate of anglers having special physical needs when fishing universally accessible facilities. • Leave the fishing site as clean or cleaner than you found it. • Never discard trash, fishing line, old tackle on shore or in the water. • Do not spill gas, oil or other pollutants on land or into the water. • Take precautions not to spread invasive plants or animals. • Report fishing and boating violations at 1-800-532-2020. • Comply with all fishing regulations. • Treat other anglers and boaters with courtesy and respect. • Sinkers, including split shots, are now made from steel, tin, bismuth and tungsten for anglers who are concerned about using lead tackle.
So, whether you are spending time fishing, hiking, enjoying our trails, birdwatching, or just having a picnic or camping in a park; enjoy the summer in Dallas County and spend some time OUTSIDE!!
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DCCB
Unexpected Encounters = Teachable Moments ~continued from pg 13
morel mushrooms. She seemed quite pleased to have learned that little nugget, as well as the identity of the flowers.
As naturalists, we most often work with schoolkids for nearly an entire day. There are plenty of chance encounters during those times, and we often see and hear the kids share their newfound wisdom with each other throughout the day. It is even more rewarding when we see the kids again – later in the same school year, during the following school year, or even better –for multiple years in a row. They share with us what they remember, and often times accompanying parents share stories with us of the treats and tales their kids bring home. Recently, I was thrilled with the experience of one of my own. I was picking up my youngest daughter. She had gotten a ride to a tournament with a friend’s mom. As the mom and I were chatting at the school, the girls were horsing around. Oxalis, also called Wood Sorrel When we finally got in the car, my daughter shared with me, “When we were over by the grass, my friend said she saw a four leaf clover. I said it wasn’t a clover. She insisted it was. I had her lean over, pull off the small yellow flower and bite the end. She loved the sour taste! So now I have taught more than just our neighbors about it!” (Just so you know, this very common plant is Oxalis, also called wood sorrel.)
From my own experience, both as a learner and an educator, I have come to believe that these chance encounters often have a greater impact on people than pre-arranged programs. Why? Perhaps because when people attend a program, they are in the “school” mindset, which I have seen in my kids. We will listen and learn, but learn only long enough for the test. Even though we don’t give tests, many people simply have that habit ingrained. However, serendipitous learning seems to stick simply because it is that – unexpected. And I must admit, I am more likely to bring up the unexpected encounter as a conversation starter or reply to “what did you do today” than I am to share the usual.
Even with all that in mind, I am encouraging everyone to attend the lunar eclipse program we will be hosting at Kuehn on Sunday, September 27. The eclipse will occur relatively early (the totality phase is from 9:11 – 10:23 Central time) and while there, ask about anything else odd or unusual you notice. Don’t worry, if I see or hear anything unexpected while there, you’ll hear about it!
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Raccoon River Greenbelt Newsletter
Phone: (515) 465-3577 Fax: (515) 465-3579 Email: [email protected] Website: www.conservation.co.dallas.ia.us
Dallas County Board of Supervisors Dallas County Conservation Board Staff Kim Chapman Mike Wallace ...... Executive Director Brad Golightly Sherry James ...... Administrative Assistant Mark Hanson Justin Smith ...... Deputy Director/Biologist Pete Malmberg . . Museum Curator/Hist. & Cultural Resources Coord. Dallas County Conservation Board Chris Adkins . . . . . Environmental Education Coordinator/Naturalist Lorinda Inman - Chairman Cindy Blobaum ...... Naturalist Mark Powell - Vice Chairman Mike Beeler ...... Natural Resources Manager Nancy DeLong - Secretary/Treasurer Greg Sieck...... Natural Resources Manager Glenn Vondra Connie Miller...... Office Assistant Jim Miller Doug Menz ...... Natural Resource Technician Jim Brauckman ...... Natural Resource Technician Mike Murphy ...... Seasonal Natural Resource Technician I Dan Archip ...... Seasonal Natural Resource Technician I No qualified individual with a disability will be excluded on the basis of a John Chapman ...... Park Attendant disability from participation in meetings, hearings, programs, activities or Nick Boyle ...... Seasonal Maintenance Worker services conducted by the Dallas County Conservation Board. To request Cody Ridnour ...... Seasonal Maintenance Worker information in an alternative format or request an accommodation to participate in a meeting, hearing, program, activity or service, contact the Dallas County Conservation Board, Forest Park, 14581 K Avenue, Perry,
Iowa, 50220, (515) 465-3577