Send Your Question to Pete the MCCB Naturalist

is it illegal to dig up painted turtle eggs and try to hatch them ourselves?

Yes, turtle eggs are protected in Iowa.

Is it legal to kill timber rattlesnakes in Iowa?

NO!  Timber Rattlesnakes are protected where ever they are found in Iowa.

Is it illegal to dig up cattail plants from a ditch in iowa and transplant in my yard?

Cattails you can dig up.  Some rare wildflowers are protected though.

I have some bees that are burrowing in my yard. They look very similar to a honey bee. Can you give me an idea what kind of bee they are?

If they are burrowing, then they are probably a species of bumble bee.

What do newborn quail eat?

Insects

I found 3 wild baby rabbits who's mother is gone. What can I do to help them?

Most mother rabbits leave their babies alone in the nest for long periods of time.  They come back a couple times a day to nurse them.  This keeps the area from being contaminated with her scent and thus attracting predators.  If you leave them alone, they should be fine!

We will soon be visiting Mahaska County and were wondering what are some of the best places to catch walleye in within about a 20 mile radius of Mahaska?

The Des Moines River near Red Rock Spillway and Lake Rathbun are the best walleye spots nearby.

What's the biggest bass you've seen caught out of the russell wildlife ponds?

A six pound largemouth bass, caught from Pond 2

what kind of snakes can live throught the cold winter

All of Iowa's snakes enter a period of winter inactivity underground, known as brumation.  They could not survive the sub-freezing temperature on the surface.

I was wondering if at the cabins at evland is there dogs allowed?

Yes, in the dog kennels outside.  But, not inside the cabins.

Do you have a course were you take kids to look for deer antlers?

We don't have one scheduled this year, but we've done several in the past.

Are there beaver & beaver dens in Maskunky Marsh?

Yes.  At least one beaver lodge that I know of.

after I take the hunter education course could I hunt alone?

Yes

Has there been any bobcats sited in southern Iowa recently?

Sure.  We have a fairly large population of bobcats now.  They are usually seen by people who spend large amounts of time in the woods in the early morning or late evening - bowhunters, trappers, coon hunters.

DO VULTURES GO SOUTH?

Yes they do.  Our turkey vultures usually arrive in Mahaska County by the first week of March.

How can I tell the difference between turkey and pheasant tracks?

Pheasant tracks are about the same size as a chicken's.  Turkeys are twice as big.

Hey Pete! Could you tell me what kinds of fish are fished for at Eveland Access and if bank fishing is practical in that area?

The main thing you'll catch is channel catfish.  I've also caught drum and quilback carpsuckers there.  Up river a few miles is a nice smallmouth bass fishery.

Pete, would a muskrat den in a creek and if so would they live in a small creek? Sam Johnson

Sure - Muskrats den in the banks of creeks, ponds, marshes, rivers - just about any freshwater.  Out at Muskunky Marsh right now there are two muskrat huts, built out of sedges and cattails.

Where do we find more info on the Hunter Safety course for residents of Mahaska county?

We offer several Hunter Education Courses at the Conservation Center each Spring, Summer and Fall.  They are listed on our website, facebook page, quarterly newsletter, local radio, TV, and newspapers.  You can find information about courses offered throughout the state on the DNR's website  www.iowadnr.com

Is the walking trail at the Eddyville Dunes ready to be used and how do you access it?

The Eddyville Dunes Sand Prairie just has open hiking, not an actual trail system.  There is a boardwalk over the pond. You can acces the park from the south side at the end of the old paved road that goes past the Eddyville Cemetery, or from the new highway that goes past the north end of the park.  There are parking areas on both sides.

What is the largest fish caught at Russell Wildlife Pond you've ever seen?

A 12 pound channel catfish.

 

Pete, where can we find shagbark hickory trees & box elder trees?

Shagbark hickory trees can be found in several MCCB paks.  Try Cedar Bluffs State Preserve, Quercus or Ever-Tru.  Box elder trees grow at Russell Wildlife Area and many, many other forested areas.

Do the Bats we have in Iowa migrate?

Some of Iowa's bats move to hibernation caves along the Mississippi River or farther south in Missouri. However, they do not migrate in the same sense that geese do

Are the fossils that we found from a fresh water sea or a saltwater sea?

The fossils at the Russell Wildlife Area are from a shallow coral reef in a salt water ocean that existed in this area during the Mississippian Period, about 325 million years ago.

How long do whitetail deer hold their spots?

Whitetail fawns have white spots until mid-August in Iowa.

Do chipmunks spread disease?

Some rodents like chipmunks have been known to carry plauge (black death), but none around here that I've ever heard of.

Pete, what is going on with all of the swarming dragonflies we see in the evenings? What are they doing?

Hunting and mating.  This is their last ditch effort before the first frost.

What are your hours for the Nature Center and is there a fee? Also, do you have any sort of "Nature Tales" programs for younger kids?

The hours at the Nature Center are Mon - Friday 8:00 to 4:30 or by appointment.  Summer hours include Saturdays 12:30 to 4:40

Sometimes we do have programs for pre-school age kids.  The Oskaloosa Public Library also has story hour for young kids too.

Hi Pete, there are about a dozen dead bats, some very young (small), on the basement floor in my apartment building. Aside from foul play, what may have happened to them? Poison? I watch loads of them fly in and out of our chimneys every night!

Pesticides could be a factor.  All bats in Iowa are insectivores, so if you poison the bugs you could be poisoning the bats too.  Or If something happened to the adults while foraging at night the babies left inside the building could not nurse and would starve to death.

Is it illegal to kill baby rabbits?

Cottontail rabbits are classified as a game species in Iowa and may only be taken during the legal hunting season with a valid Iowa hunting license.  The 2009-10 rabbit season starts on September 5 and runs through February 28.

Are there certain plants that would discourage the Massasauga rattlesnake from coming near my house? For instance, something prickly such as barberry?

Well, since massasaugas are endangered in Iowa and only live in 3 spots around the state, I'm guessing you don't have any in your yard.  Unless you live right on the banks of the Wapsipinicon River. Even then I'd worry more about flooding than rattlesnakes!

When is the 2009 Halloween Hike?

Saturday October 24, 7:00pm to 9:00 pm , at the Russell Wildlife Area.

When does trapping season start?

In Iowa, the trapping season always starts on the first Saturday in November

What type of reptiles can be found in the Cedar bluffs natural area?

Black rat snakes, eastern garter snakes, brown snakes, fox snakes, northern lined snakes, northern water snakes, common snapping turtles,and painted turtles are the ones I've seen personally.

Will racoons kill and eat baby ducks

Yes.  Raccoons are very efficient nest predators. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat about any nestlings or eggs they happen upon.

Do we have a lot of mink around Oskaloosa?

I wouldn't say a lot.  At least not compared to some of our other fur bearers, like raccoons, but there is a healthy mink poplulation in Mahaska County.  Look for them around creeks, ponds and rivers. They are mostly active at night - hunting for muskrats, frogs and fish, but you can find their tracks along the muddy shores.

How much does a eastern fox snake weigh

Our fox snake weighs about 200 grams.

THE southeastern five lined skink lizards KEEP COMING IN MY HOUSE. HOW DO I GET RID OF THEM?

All of Iowa's lizards are rare to see.  If you have them in your house, consider yourself lucky :)

ARE SOUTHEASTERN FIVE LINED SKINK LIZARDS POISONOUS?

No.  The only poisonous lizard in North America is the gila monster in the desert southwest.

What is the gestation period for woodcock bird eggs?

The eggs of the American woodcock generally hatch in May, after an incubation period of 20-22 days.

We live near a forest and one day left our yorkie outside.His remains were strewn all over when we went outside.Do you think he died naturally and was scaveged upon or was killed?

Could be coyotes or stray dogs.

How many birds are there in Iowa?

About 419, if you count all the migratory species.

 

Is a baby Graham's Crayfish Snake poisonous?

No.  The only venomous snakes found in Iowa are the timber rattlesnake, the prairie rattlesnake, the massasauga rattlesnake and the copperhead.  All of these species are very rare in Iowa.

Your answer about bats makes it sound like you can not kill mice? They're non game animals and there's no hunting season?

You're right.  Iowa's native mice - the deer mouse, white footed mouse, meadow jumping mouse, etc. are all protected nongame species and cannot be killed outside of human occupied dwellings.

How tall does a pileated woodpecker get?

Pileateds are Iowa's largest woodpecker, about the size of a crow or a small duck.  They can range from 16 to 19 inches.

How can you tell the difference between a male and female corn snake?

Most snakes are difficult to determine sex, just by looking.  Snake breeders use a special probe, inserted into the vent.  If the probe goes a short ways it's male, a long way and it's a female.  Sometimes female snakes will have a thinner tail as well.

Hey Pete what number are the footholds you use for coon, mink, beaver and bobcat?

Coon   #1 1/2 or  #2

Mink     #1

Beaver   #4

Bobcat  # 2

 

How many babies does a mouse have?

Iowa's most common wild mouse, the deer mouse has an average of four litters per year, two in the spring and two in the fall.  Each litter can have from one to nine young with three to four the most common sizes.  So that's roughly 16 babies each year.

I think I have a Southern bog lemming Short tail; brownish-gray fur living in my basement. How did it get there and how do I get rid of it?

It's probably not a bog lemming -they're pretty rare in this state.  More likely, it's a meadow vole.  They look similar.  Usually they do not inhabit human dwellings.  Chances are you won't see any more.

What are common frogs in Iowa?

We commonly see (or hear) bullforgs, northern leopard frogs, gray tree frogs, cricket frogs, chorus frogs and spring peepers.

I found spots on a channel cat?

Young channel catfish have black spots.  The spots fade as the fish grow larger.

Does the pond at Cedar Bluff have many fish?

Yes,  It's a good bass fishing pond.

How long does it take for a doe to have a fawn?

In Iowa, whitetail deer typically breed in mid November and fawns are born in mid May.  So about 6 months.

Is Russell Wildlife a good place to deer hunt?

Yes, it is.  There are lots of deer in the park.  You'll find them in the upland prairie reconstructions, as well as the floodplain timber along the South Skunk River.

How long do eastern fox snakes get?

Fox snakes can grow to be about 4 feet long.

Pete, we found a small (10-12") non-descript brownish-gray snake in our yard and we can't seem to identify it. Any ideas?

Sounds like you have a brown snake  (Storeria dekayi).  They're one of Iowa's smallest snakes and are fairly common in Mahaska County.  They eat slugs and worms.

What kind of water snakes live in Iowa and are some poisnious?

We have NO venomous water snakes in Iowa.  We do have several harmless ones though.  Around here, the most common water snake is the northern water snake.  He does a pretty good mimic of a cottonmouth, which is why many people get them confused.  Rarely you might find a Graham's crayfish snake in Mahaska County.  In other parts of the state you can find diamondback water snakes and yellowbelly water snakes.

How long does it take for a bass to weigh 5 pounds?

About 6 or 7 years, depending on the water temperature and amount of food available.  Largemouth bass in southern states, with longer growing seasons, grow bigger faster.  Bass in northern climates have a slower growth rate. 

My wife doesn't like this idea, but my two boys and I would like to put up a bat house. Do they work and do you have any recomendations for location and such?

Sure, bat houses do work.  You can find plans for them on line or pick up some here at the Conservation Center.  You'll want to paint your bat house a dark color  to absorb more heat from the sun and keep the little guys warm.  It's a good idea to put it high in a tree on the south or east side (away from bad weather).  The trick to getting bats to move in quickly is to smear bat droppings (I'm not kidding) inside the new bat house.  That way it will smell like a good place for bats to live and they take to it more readily. 

Pete: I found a dark green snake with a white stripe on either side of its body and red markings between the white stripes down its back. Its tongue was very red when I disturbed it. The snake was approximately 30 inches long but very slim.

Sounds like you may have a western ribbon snake.  They are not very common around here.  If you still have it, bring it out to the Russell Wildlife Area sometime - we'd like to see it.

How can bull snakes get in your house?

Bull snakes are pretty rare in Iowa these days.  They are found mostly in grassy areas - prairies, old pastures. I doubt that one would be around your house to come in. 

Fox snakes, garter snakes and brown snakes do commonly enter houses though.  Any small hole (1/2 inch or so) in your foundation will let them in.

Where is the best place in mahaska county to find the northern water snake?

White Oak Lake.  Look around the docks and the rocks of the fishing jetty. 

What edible wild berries can be found in Mahaska Co. and where during mid July?

Blackberries are ripe in July and so are mullberries.  Wild grapes might be turning purple by then too.  You can find them in any forested area.  Russell Wildlife Area, White Oak, Quercus, Cedar Bluffs, and Ever Tru all have them.

Are bats cousins of crows?

No!  Bats are mammals and crows are birds.

How long does it take dove eggs to hatch?

In Iowa the incubation period for mourning dove eggs is 14 days.  The usual number of young per brood is two. Incubation is shared by both parents.  Nestlings begin to fly when they are ten to twelve days old. When the young are about four weeks old, they leave the vicinity of the nest to feed and flock with other doves.

How can you tell the difference between a male and female evening bat?

Males are identified by the penis.  Females are distinguished by the opening of the vagina, which is visible between the large urethral papilla (often misidentified as a penis) and the anus.  There is one pair of teats in the chest region of both males and females.

Why is it illegal to kill or harm bats in Iowa?

As with all protected non-game species in Iowa, if there's no hunting season for the animals, you can't kill them.  Bats play an important role in the ecosystem by eating literally tons of insects.  Think of how many millions more mosquitoes and moths we'd have around if it weren't for bats. 

Like other small mammals, bats provide little food value for humans.  There's no value in selling their fur, so the Iowa legislature has given them protected species status.

Hi Pete, my wife recently rescued a baby ground hog whos mother was struck by a car. When would be the appropriate time to release it to the wild again?

By fall most young mammals are able to fend for themselves.  Although I'm sure your wife has good intentions, she could be getting herself in trouble with the game warden.  Groundhogs like all wild animals in Iowa are illegal to keep in captivity without a special permit.  In Mahaska County Joan Boer is the licensed wildlife rehabilitator and cares for orphaned and injured animals.  She can be reached 641-673 -9486.

How many babies do river otters usually have?

River otters usually produce 2 to 4 offspring with extremes of 1 to 5 in a litter.

Are barn owls still present in Iowa?

Yes.  Barn owls are a state endangered species in Iowa, but you can find them occasionally, especially in the southern tiers of counties.  Iowa is at the northern edge of their range and our winter's are too cold to support a large population of barn owls.

Do snakes leave a white foam on blades of grass?

No, but spittle bugs do.  Those white gobs of foam are a protective coating for the insect and its eggs.

What do salamanders eat?

In Iowa the tiger salamander is the most commonly found.  They eat a variety of insects and worms.

What type of reptiles do you have in the Russell Wildlife Area?

In the nature center we currently have a fox snake, a black rat snake, 2 kingsnakes, 3 painted turtles, a snapping turtle and a 3-toed box turtle.

Out in the park there are painted turtles, snapping turtles, softshell turtles(in the river), garter snakes, fox snakes, brown snakes, and northern water snakes

How long does it take for a snapping turtle to hatch from its egg?

Snapping turtle eggs hatch in late summer after an incubation of 2 to 3 months. If the eggs are laid late in the season, they may not
hatch until the following spring. The incubation temperature of the eggs determines the sex of the hatchlings. Males result if
the eggs are maintained within the temperature range of 72 to 82 degrees F.

Do blue jays kill baby rabbits?

Not usually.  Blue jays will eat baby birds and eggs, but rabbits would probably be harder for them to find.  Anything older than newborn cottontails would be pretty large for them to eat.  The blue jay's cousin, the American crow will eat baby rabbits.

What type of cat about 2ft tall is found in Mahaska County?

Both bobcats and large feral tom cats are about 2 feet tall.

How many babies does a woodchuck have?

Woodchucks can have from 2 to 9 young in a litter, but 4 or 5 young are born on average.  One year old females tend to have smaller litters, while larger litters are born to older females.

How many eggs does a hen lay in a day?

Usually one egg per day.  Very, very rarely a domestic hen will lay two eggs in a day.

What seem to be a good lure at the Russell wildlife ponds to get the big uns and outfish my pals?

Nightcrawlers work the best in the Russell Wildlife Ponds.

My son found a thin triangle arrowhead pink in color in mint condition. Would you have any idea how old it may be?

Without looking at it, it sounds like you've found a Madison Point.  This type was used as an arrowpoint about 1000 to 500 years ago in Iowa.  The pink coloration comes from heat treating the chert it was knapped from.  "Baking" the rock overnight under a campfire made it easier to shape and also changed the normally gray colored chert to colors of red, orange, pink or yellow.

If the snake population is increasing in your backyard every year. What can you do to get rid of these slithering creatures?

Most likely the snakes are there because the habitat is suitable. They're finding food and cover and they like it.  If you change their habitat, they might go away.

We had 2 mourning doves that had hatched and the parents fed them but one day all were gone. The birds had only hatched a few days ago. Im so scared that a cat may have got them but I see no sign of a struggle or feathers.do they leave the nest so soon?

No.  Something probably ate them.  Cats, raccoons, starlings, crows, sometimes even squirrels.... Lots of critters like to eat baby birds.

Do blue racer snakes eat baby rabbits?

Maybe very tiny baby rabbits.  Mostly they eat frogs and mice.

Is it true the Iowa state bass record has been spotted in Russell Wildlife Pond by divers?

No. 

There have been divers using the Russell Wildlife ponds before, and they did say they had seen some big fish down there, but there's no way to say they were state record fish.

How much does a full grown raccoon weigh?

Iowa's raccoons are usually under 25 pounds.

We have discovered moths eating away at our deer head mounts... what can we do?

You could check with a pest control company to see what insecticides would be good to spray on them.  Seal them in large garbage bags, spray the bug killer and leave them for a few days.

Another option, if you have access to a walk-in freezer this time of year, is to freeze the deer heads for a couple days - pull them out to thaw for a day and then re-freeze for a few days.  If you do that every couple years it should control moths, dermestid beetles and other hide eating insects. 

At our nature center we pull out all the mounts every winter when it drops below zero and do the freeze treatment in an unheated garage.   Good luck!

Do blue jays have crests?

Yes, our eastern blue jays found in Iowa do.  The scrub jays of western north America do not have head crests.

Why would a shrew be inside my house?

Warmth and food would draw them in.  Shrews are insectivores.  If you don't have many bugs in your house it will starve to death very soon.

What month are painted turtles hatched?

In Iowa the painted turtle lays 7 or 8 eggs in May or June.  The eggs hatch in late August.

What time of year do white tail deer lose their sheds?

Right now.  In Iowa some deer start losing antlers in late December.  Other deer (usually younger ones) may keep one or both antlers into March.

Where is Caldwell Park?

Caldwell Park is on the east side of Oskaloosa.  It's right on the south side of Hwy 92, near the vet clinic.

Does the color of the mouse affect how long it takes a snake to attack?

Not that I know of.  Snakes have very limited vision.  Most rely on their tongue and Jacobsen's organ to find prey.  I've seen our captive snakes with their eyeballs inches away from a mouse and not react to it until it they smelled it.

Are the slender glass lizards a danger to humans?

No.  They're six inches long with very tiny teeth.  Look out if you're a cricket though....   I found a dead legless lizard in Appanoose Co. once but as far as I know these state threatened lizards do not live in Mahaska Co.

What is bullfrog in Latin?

Rana catesbeiana

Do Turtle Doves winter in Iowa or migrate?

Iowa does not have a population of turtle doves.  We do have mourning doves.  Like several other bird species (crows, woodpeckers, some hawks) many of our resident doves migrate south in fall along with doves from areas to the north.  Some of these northern migrants stay in Iowa for the winter.

How many working water wells are still in Mahaska County?

According to county Sanitarian Don Russell there are about 30,000 active wells in Mahaska County.  He fills and caps an average of 70 wells per year.

How long do bullsnakes live?

The longest recorded living bullsnake expired after 22 1/2 years.   Most live 10 - 15 years in the wild.

Do white tigers hibernate?

No.

What is the main climate for bobcats?

Temperate.  Bobcats range from southern Canada to southern Mexico.

How long does a snake look after its young?

Snakes in Iowa do not care for their young.  They are independent at hatching.

Do southeastern five lined skinks migrate?

No, five lined skinks hibernate below ground for the winter.

A bat was flying around our basement on Jan. 7. My husband went down but couldn't find it. Do you think it's hibernating again? and if so, why did it wake up? What should we do?

Last weekend was pretty warm for January in Iowa.  The bat may have thought it was spring and woke up.  Chances are it's sleeping again.  Unless the bat is flying around the living quarters of your house there's nothing you really need to do.  I wouldn't worry about it.  He'll find his way back outside in the spring.

Western Chorus Frog, do they hibernate how can you tell if they are dead?

Chorus frogs do hibernate in Iowa - usually in the leaf litter or just below the soil surface.  They can withstand freezing temperatures because of natural antifreeze in their cells.  If you dig one up this time of year you could bring it inside where it  is warm - maybe place it on a damp paper towel in a jar.  If it's still not moving after a couple days, it's probably dead.

How can you tell the difference between a newborn mouse and a squirrel?

For starters, this is December. If you are looking at newborn rodents right now they cannot be squirrels.  Gray and fox squirrels will have usually have two litters each year - one in early spring and one in mid summer.  House mice can have up to 14 litters per year.

Location should also tell you what kind of baby critter you have - mice nest on the ground, in sheds, your closet, your truck... just about anywhere - squirrels have leafy nests high in the trees. 

New born squirrels are also much bigger than newborn mice. New born squirrels have well developed toes and claws - mice have fused toes at birth.

How many babies do wood bison have?

Wood bison, as well as plains bison, usually have one calf each spring.  Twins are very rare.

How many babies does a blue catfish have ?

Depending on the age and size of the female catfish she may lay 2,000 to 21,000 eggs.  The eggs hatch in 6 to 10 days and the fry are guarded by the male catfish until they leave the nest, about a week later.

Do you know how many geocaches are on MCCB property?

There are 22 geocaches in MCCB parks that I know of right now.  You can check for new caches by logging on to www.geocaching.com

How long does a snake hibernate?

In Iowa, most snakes are hibernating by early November and emerge sometime in mid-March.  Depending on the weather, the hibernation period may be longer or shorter from year to year.

How long are white tigers pregnant?

The same amount of time as orange tigers.

Do rattlesnakes and bull snakes interbreed?

No!  I've heard that one several times (that and garter snakes breeding with rattlers).  They are two different species and it just wouldn't work .

Tell me about Hawthorn Wildlife Area is it the same as Hawthorn lake (aka Barnes City lake)?

Yes, they are the same.

What are the best MCCB areas to see fall colors?

Cedar Bluffs State Preserve,  Quercus Wilderness Area, and Ever Tru Natural Area are the best.  Russell Wildlife Area can be nice in mid September when all the cottonwoods are turning yellow. 

On 11/12 I saw what seemed to be a frog migration towards the skunk river in my tree stand. They looked like leopard frogs. .Any thing to this or just a coinsidence?

The abnormally warm fall we had kept many hibernating animals active longer than usuall.  I heard many chorus frogs and spring peepers calling throughout November and saw lots of active leopard frogs around the skunk river.  Your frogs were likely headed to a hibernation spot ( the river bottom) to spend the winter.

What do rattlesnakes eat?

Mostly small rodents.

Where do slender glass lizards live?

In Iowa the slender glass lizard, or legless lizard is a threatened species.  Glass lizards live in open, grassy areas, dry, rocky hillsides, open forest, oak savanna, and prairies (especially sand prairies).  I once found a dead one at Honey Creek State Park on Lake Rathbun, but I've never seen one since.  They are found in just a few counties in south eastern Iowa.

Why don't cougars hibernate?

Cougars are predators and can find plenty of deer and small mammals to eat during the winter.  Most animals that hibernate are herbivores that eat soft green plants or insectivores - there would be no food for them in winter if they stayed active.

What country will I find Milkweed bugs

If you're from Iowa you're in luck.  Milkweed bugs can be found all over the state.  Look on milkweed plants in late summer and fall to find them.

How much does a baby wood bison weigh?

Bison weigh 40 - 50 pounds at birth.

What is the scientific name for guarder snakes?

If you mean Garter Snakes, the scientific name is Thamnophis sirtalis.

Do small brown bats hibernate ?

Yes, Little Brown Bats do hibernate.  All of Iowa's 9 species of bats are true hibernators.

Do bobcats effect the turkey population? Do they mostly eat rodents?

In Iowa wild turkey populations do not seem to be affected by bobcat predation.  A study in Missouri showed that a bobcat's diet was about 67% rabbits, 10% squirrels, 8% roadkill deer, 8% wild turkeys, 7% mice, rats and shrews, 2% opossums, 2% domestic cats, 2% quail, and 1% grasses.

How do muskrats hunt for food?

They sneak up on an unsuspecting catttail and chew it to death!

Muskrats are not hunters, they're herbivores.  Some populations have been known to eat the occasional freshwater mussel, but plants make up the bulk of their diet.

Why do rattlesnakes den together?

For warmth while hibernating.  Rattlesnakes are known to den with their own species as well as other types of snakes.  You might find a few fox snakes, bull snakes or racers in the same hibernaculum.

Are there red and grey squirrels in Mahaska County?

Gray squirrels yes.  Red squirrels no - they live in the mixed hardwood-conifer forests of northern Iowa.

We also have large populations of fox squirrels and southern flying squirrels in this area.

Where could I get a horsechestnut or buckeye leaf for a class project (here in mahaska county)?

Eveland Access-Sheets Addition.

Is the Hawthorn Wildlife Area the same as Hawthorn lake (aka Barnes City lake)?

Yes it is.  It's a DNR area managed for public hunting.  It also has some great prairie remnants around the lake.

What is the diference between male and female doves?

The male and female mourning doves have no external difference in plumage or size.  Sex can be determined by either a surgical probe, endoscopy, or by DNA testing, usually a blood sample or a few plucked feathers sent to be diagnosed in a lab.

How much does a grown shrew weigh?

Of Iowa's shrews, the masked shrew weighs 2 - 5 grams. The short-tailed shrew weighs 14 - 28 grams and the least shrew weighs 2 - 5 grams.

What isSix lined-racerrunner habitat?

Racerunners come from sandy prairie areas, and open rocky bluff prairies on the eastern side of the state. In western Iowa, they are found in the open, dry, rolling, loess hills.

When I Get Older Shoud I Have A King Snake,Milk Snake Or Corn Snake?

They all make good pets and are easy to obtain from snake breeders and pet shops.  They are all constrictors and eat mice.  Just take your pick -whatever color you like the best.

Does muskrat eat white oak?

Not usually.  Unless it was a very small seedling.  Muskrats usually prefer softer vegetation, like cattails.

Is there any evidence of asexual reproduction among turtles?

Not that I've ever heard of, but turtles in captivity will sometimes lay unfertilized eggs.

What's the difference between a prairie and a wood bison?

Wood bison are found in Canada.  They are generally larger and darker than plains bison, with longer horns and a double hump.  Wood bison have no clear cape demarcation between the front and hind quarters.  The head is covered in long black straight hair, not the wooly bonnet found on plains bison.  Wood bison have smaller throat manes and a more pointed beard. 

Do cougars hibernate?

No.

When are you having youth field day again? Logan Plate

Saturday September 29, 2007 

9:00am - 3:00pm

Russell Wildlife Area

Can I keep a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake?

Depends on what city/county you live in.  Check you local ordinances - and your sanity....  

What do western diamondback rattlesnakes eat?

Mice.

How can you tell if your toad is a female or male?

Males sing.

If I took a newly hatched baby painted turtle out of a man made pond in order to make sure it survived. How long should I keep it to know it is out of danger and will the parents harm it when I return him?

No, the parents will not harm the young.  The eggs are abandoned after laying and chances are the mother is not even in the same area any more.  To my knowledge, painted turtles are not canabalistic.  However, young turtles are eaten by a variety of birds, fish, snakes and small mammals.  You'd have to keep your turtle for 4 or 5 years to be sure it was big enough to not be eaten by something.  That's why turtles lay so many eggs - most of the turtles that hatch will not reach adulthood.

Do diamondback rattlesnakes lay eggs?

No.  They are ovoviviparous and give birth to young inside individual membranes.

How long does it take 5-lined skinks to hatch?

In Iowa five-lined skinks lay about 10 eggs in June in small excavations under rocks, logs or boards. Females guard the eggs and eat the ones that have spoiled.  The eggs hatch in August.

How many babies does a water snake have?

Personally, I've seen northern water snakes give birth to litters of 22 and 33 babies.  Both were in late August.

What is the gestation period of a mourning dove?

Like all birds, mourning doves do not have a gestation period - they lay eggs!  The female mourning dove lays 2 white eggs that are incubated for 14-15 days. The young will leave the nest in 12-14 days.  Usually 2 - 3 broods raised each season.

How do you take care of six lined racer eggs (lizard)?

In Iowa six lined racerunners are a protected species.  They are also very rare due to the limited amount of suitable habitat for them.  If you are in possesion of any native Iowa lizard eggs you are breaking the law.  You should put them back where you found them and allow them to incubate naturally (if you haven't already killed them by moving the eggs)

How do you get rid of four horned sphinx caterpillars on our tomato plants?

The easiest way to remove them from your tomato plants is by handpicking. Once removed from the plant, they can be destroyed by dropping them into a bucket of soapy water.

You can also release beneficial insects such as lacewings, braconoid and trichogramma wasps, and ladybugs that will attack the eggs. For best results, make releases when pest levels are low to medium.

If populations are high, use a least-toxic, short-lived natural pesticide to establish control, then release predatory insects to maintain control. Both Dipel Dust (Bacillus thuringiensis, var. kurstaki) and Monterey Garden Insect Spray (spinosad) are very effective, especially on young caterpillars.

Roto-tilling after harvest destroys overwintering pupae in the soil. This is especially effective since pupae are large and not buried very deeply in the soil. Results have shown that greater than 90% mortality is caused by normal garden tilling.

If you have caterpillars that have parasitic wasp cocoons attached to them, don't destroy them! Collect them instead and allow them to eat unwanted or volunteer tomatoes until the wasps hatch inside. Now you've got an army of free, natural predators to work for you.

How long does it take dark eyed junco babies to leave the nest?

The female junco incubates the eggs for 12 to 13 days and the young leave the nest about 9 to 13 days after hatching.

At what age do white tail deer lose their spots?

In Iowa, fawns loose their spots at about 3 months of age.  This is when they start growing their winter coat.

In 1800 what large game was in Mahaska County?

Whitetail deer, elk, bison, black bears, mountain lions, gray wolves, coyotes, eastern wild turkeys.  Those are the biggest critters

I have had a corn snake for 5 years, she is about 15 years old and hasn\

Some snakes (and turtles) will lay eggs without being fertilized.  The eggs wont' hatch.

Are fish ok to eat if they have small yellow worms in them?

Yes.  Just cook  them normally and you'll be fine.  The secondary host for yellow grubs are snails.  To reduce the number of grubs in your fish you need to reduce the number of snails in your pond.  You can A)  control the amount of nitrogen runoff that enters your pond - this will slow the growth of aquatic plants that the snails are living on.  Or B) introduce a snail predator to your pond, like red-eared sunfish.

We have 8 Monarch Butterfly caterpillars eating the leaves of our butterfly plant and I am afraid they are going to kill it. Can they be relocated to some milkweeds that we have growing in our yard?

Sure.  Sounds like a good plan.

How to get rid of a badger?

Buy a fur bearers license and trap it or shoot it when the season opens on November 3.

I live in Jasper County, and I have not seen any black and yellow garden spiders or black capped chickadees for some time. Any ideas why?

Garden spiders are largest (and most visible) in late summer and early fall.  So it's still a little early to be seeing them often.

Chickadees are probably deep in the woods catching insects.  I've seen them recently at the Russell Wildlife bird blind.

What is floating on the back pond at the Russell wildlife area?

Those are catfish cages.  The MCCB in cooperation with the Iowa DNR is raising channel catfish from fingerling to catchable size.  The cages allow the fish to be fed daily and grow faster during the summer.  Keeping them in a natural pond instead of a hatchery raceway lowers the chance of disease outbreaks.  The catfish will be released later this summer at Russell Wildlife and other MCCB ponds.

Theres a small prairie in Aplington,IA, Butler county. I've seen animals in there, but what animals live in dry prairies?

Iowa's dry prairies are home to hognose snakes, 6-lined racerunners, ornate box turtles, coyotes, badgers, 13-lined groundsquirrels, horned larks, upland sandpipers, western meadowlarks, pocket gophers, jackrabbits, and burrowing owls, just to name a few. 

How many babies does a gopher have?

4 to 5 young is the normal litter size for the plains pocket gopher.

If you have a mourning dove couple(male and female)how do you get them to trust you and not be scared?

Wild animals have a natural fear of humans for good reason.  Wild animals that learn to trust people usually end up dead.  Use binoculars for a closer look and the birds will live longer.

How much does a rattlesnake eat a day.

Most rattlesnakes only need to eat a small rodent once every few days.

What is the growth through the years of River Otters?

River Otters are born blind, toothless and dark brown in color.  One young otter studied weighed 6 ounces at one week old and 1 pound ten days later.  By their first year otters will have reached an adult weight of 10 - 25 pounds.  Males are larger than females.

How long doesit take for house finch eggs to hatch?

The female house finch builds a nest of twigs, grass, leaves, rootlets, bits of debris, and feathers.  Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days.

Pete, how can I tell the difference between a male and a female chipmunk?

There are no obvious size or coloration distinctions between male and female chipmunks.  Dead or captured specimens can be identified by the usual external sex organs.

How long is a blackbird in its egg for?

The female red-winged blackbird incubates her eggs from 3 to 11 days.  Breeding begins in the early spring and continues until mid-summer. Females may raise as many as three broods in a single season.

Where does a shrew live?

Iowa's masked shrews are found in low lying damp areas like stream banks and river floodplains.  Short-tailed shrews live in damp,weedy areas and often use the burrows of other small mammals.  Least shrews live in open grass, brush and crop field edges.

How do you take care of newborn Bobwhite quails?

Just like baby chickens.  Keep them warm with a lamp.  Feed them lots of bugs or the protein equivalent found at a feed store.

Can you reserve a campsite at eveland access over the internet?

No, not at this time.

Where is the cabin located at eveland access?

The Apple and soon to be completed Birch cabins are on the west side of the park - the second driveway at the new Sheets Addition to Eveland Access.

How long does it take to hatch toad eggs?

About 10 weeks, depending on the water temperature.  In mid-April the female releases 20,000 eggs in a string that are fertilized externally by the male as they emerge. These hatch into little black tadpoles with gold speckles. They morph into toadlets in July when hundreds of little, tiny toads may be seen hopping around the shore.

Are Spotted Salamanders migration animals or do they hibrinate?

Iowa's blue spotted salamander, like all of our amphibians, hibernates in winter.

How to tell if my Ornate Box Turtle is pregnant?

I hope you're not writing from Iowa...  Ornate box turtles are a threatened species and it's illegal to keep them for pets!  

Female turtles are not pregnant - they lay eggs. 

How do you get rid of Five-lined Skinks?

Five lined skinks are very rare in Iowa.  If you have them on your property consider yourself lucky!   They are harmless and will eat many insect pests for you.  All of Iowa's lizards are protected species, so it's illegal to kill or harm them.

How do wild turkeys eggs get fertilized? I have a wild turkey in my yard sitting on her nest but we have never seen a male turkey around could her eggs have been fertilized? When do they get fertilized?

All that gobbling and strutting we saw the toms displaying back in March, April and early May is how turkey hens get fertilized.  Chances are they didn't perform the act in your yard, but off in a field somewhere in the early morning hours.  Wild turkeys mate the same way that domestic chickens do.  There are no external sex organs.  Both males and females have an opening under the tail called a cloaca, where waste is excreted, eggs are laid, and fertilization takes place.  A receptive hen squats in front of the tom and he mounts her from behind.  The sperm cells are transfered to the female in what ornithologists term a "cloacal kiss".  After mating the female goes off to a secluded spot to lay her eggs.  Eggs are laid one each day for about 2 weeks.  When she has a full clutch the hen will begin sitting on the nest night and day for about 4 weeks, until the poults hatch.

How do you tell the difference between a male or female baby raccoon?

The same way you can determine the sex of a dog or cat.

What insect would leave a white foam on tall grass blades in Iowa?

A spittle bug.  There are 23,000 species of spittle bugs, but you usually do not see them, because of the unusual way that they protect themselves. They actually produce a liquid that they whip up into a mass of bubbles, and then they hide in it. This mass of bubbles is called "spittle" and is where the insect gets its name.

how many babies does a mink have?

A female mink gives birth once a year to an average litter of 4 young.

How many egss does a rattlesnake lay?

Rattlesnakes don't lay eggs!  They are ovoviviparous and give birth to about 6 young inside individual membranes.

What do salamanders eat?

Iowa's most common salamander, the tiger salamander will eat anything smaller that itself - worms, insects, frogs, even other salamanders.

Hi Pete, my son is 17 months old and loves animals and being outdoors. Do you have any activities or programs we could participate in? Do you have special hours for the center?

There's a kid's fishing derby on June 2, a frog catching program on June 6, a fish/campfire program on June 15 and a snake program on June 30 that young kids would enjoy.  This summer the nature center will be open 12:30 to 4:30 Monday - Saturday.

Pete, Seems like everyday I see at least 4-5 garter snakes on my southside of house, in my perinnial garden and pond, I found that most repellents don't work and the snakes scare me to death. Any suggestions?

Don't bother with snake repellent, there's no such thing.  Anyone trying to sell it to you is ripping you off. 

As for the snakes...  Garter snakes are harmless and you really don't need to be afraid of them.  They're in your yard because they've found good habitat and food there (toads, frogs, mice, insects, worms).  Unless you pave over your garden, the snakes are going to be there.  But there are no dangerous snakes in Mahaska County, so don't worry

Right now we have 2 garter snakes at the Nature Center.  You could come out to Russell Wildlife to get used to them, touch/hold them and try to overcome your fear.

Do slender glass lizards eat thier babies?

Not that I've ever heard of.  Glass or legless lizards usually eat insects.

I saw one of my turtles pulling somthing black out of my other turtle's tail. What is that?

Without a picture, I'd guess it's the male reproductive organ.  Our male box turtle's pops out all the time, but I've never heard of another turtle pulling it out.

What do rattlesnakes eat typically?

Small rodents.

How long does a timber rattlesnake live?

Timber rattlesnakes normally have a long lifespan in comparison to many other snake species. The record longevity in captivity is 29 years.

how frequently can the fox reproduce in one year?

The red fox has one litter per year.  Individual females have a very short period of heat, lasting only 2 to 4 days in January or February.  A litter of 1 to 10 pups is born in March or April.

What do you think the amout of deer there is here?

In the summer months (after fawns are born) Iowa has about 400,000 whitetail deer.  By the end of all hunting seasons we kill about 150,000 deer each year.  Last year 1,641 were shot in Mahaska County.

What is the gestation period of a mourning dove?

Mourning doves, like all birds do not have a gestation period -they lay eggs!  Two or three days after the nest is finished, the female lays her first egg. A second egg comes two days later, and incubation begins at once. (On rare occasions, a third egg is laid.) Eggs are glossy, white and unmarked. Incubation and brooding are shared; the male sits on the eggs during the day, the female at night. After 14-15 days the eggs hatch.

How long does a garter snake live?

The Eastern garter snake lives about 8 years in the wild.  Some captive snakes have lived to be 14.

How much does a Rattlesnake weigh?

The timber rattlesnake in our freezer weighs about 2 pounds.

How many eggs do newts have?

Iowa is home to one species of newt, the central newt.  Females will produce several dozen to several hundred eggs in one season, usually depositing them a few at a time over a period of weeks or months.

How does a spotted turtle care for its young?

Turtles abandon their eggs after laying them.  They do not care for their young.

How old is the oldest raccoon?

Most raccoons live less than 5 years in the wild.  In captivity, 17 years is the oldest record for a raccoon.

What is the difference between a female and a male yellow-spotted salamander?

I'm guessing you're refering to the Eastern Tiger Salamander.  In this species the males have two swollen bumps on the ventral side, near the base of the tail.

How long does it take for a baby orb weaver to grow?

 In Iowa the eggs of orb spiders hatch in the late summer or autumn, but the hatchling spiders become dormant and do not leave the egg sack until the following spring.  Hatchlings generally resemble small adults, there are no major changes in anatomy or structure as they grow.  Orb spiders undergo 5-10 moults to reach adulthood.   In Iowa, that means they live a little over a year - from their hatching in the fall until the first hard frost in the following year. In warmer climates and in captivity females of this species may live for several years. Males die after mating in their first year.

What is the golden finch's body temperature?

About 106 degrees F.

How big is a snake when it is born?

That depends on the species of snake.  Common Iowa snakes like the garter snake or fox snake are about 3-4 inches long at birth.

Snakes that have special heat-sensitive pits on thier head are called what?

Members of the Crotalidae Family are commonly known as pit vipers.  Iowa's pit vipers include the Timber Rattlesnake, the Prairie Rattlesnake, the Massasauga Rattlesnake and the Copperhead.

What are the bugs that plug all the little holes, on things ouside, with mud?

Could be mud dauber wasps.

How can you tell the difference between a newborn mouse and a squirrel?

Newborn squirrels are bigger.  They weigh about 1/2 ounce, while a newborn deer mouse weighs 1/15 ounce.  Newborn squirrels also have well developed feet and claws.  Mice have no separation between their toes at birth.

How much does a baby shrew weigh?

Shrews are tiny at birth, about 7/8 of an inch long and weighing 1/100 ounce.

How long does a jackrabbit live?

5 to 8 years in the wild if it's lucky.

How do pig nosed turtles reproduce?

Mahaska County is home to the smooth softshell and the spiny softshell turtles (both of which have "pig noses").  Softshell turtles reproduce by internal fertilization and produce shelled eggs deposited on land. Most mating takes place in spring after a brief courtship, which begins shortly after turtles emerge from their hibernation sites.

How much does a toad weigh?

An American Toad (the most common toad in Mahaska County) weighs about 100 grams.

Will there be a prairie burn this year at Russell Wildlife?

Yes!  Here's the details:

Nighttime Prairie Burn 

Friday, April 20

8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Russell Wildlife Area

If you think a prairie fire is impressive then you should see one at night!  Come out to enjoy this incredible display of natural pyrotechnics.  We’ll learn about prairie management techniques and how to safely conduct a burn on your own prairie or CRP acres.  All ages welcome.  Note:  This program will be rescheduled if conditions are too wet or too windy to burn.  Call ahead 641-673-9327 or check the website www.mahaskaconservation.com if the weather is questionable

Are there hiking trails at Eveland Access?

No, not at this time.  With the addition of the the new campground, a hiking trail is planned for the west side of the park.

How do you take care of woodhouse toad eggs?

Woodhouses toads are found in extreme western Iowa.  These toads breed from May through June.  To hatch toad eggs you'll need to put them in a fish tank or something similar filled with pond water.  The tadpoles will need algae to feed on when they hatch, so you'll want to add some free floating plants or algae covered rocks and sticks to your tank.  Sometime before the tadpoles metamorphose into toads you'll want to add rocks or something for them to climb out of the water onto.

How long does it take for a Spring Peeper to have a baby?

Like all amphibians, spring peepers are aquatic egg layers.  Their normal breeding season lasts from April through May.  The female lays between 800 to 1,000 eggs, in small clusters, onto stems of aquatic plants. The eggs hatch within a few days, but most will fall prey to insects, turtles, fish, snakes or salamanders.  The small tadpoles transform into frogs in about three months.

How many babies does a mountain lion have?

See answer below.

Is the cabin rate of $65 per person?

No.  The Cabin at Eveland Access Campground is rented for $65 per night or $425 per week.  The cabin will comfortably sleep 6 people.

How long does it take for a meadow vole to have a baby?

Meadow voles breed throughout the year, but peaks occur in spring and fall.  The gestation period is 21 days and females can be both pregnant and nursing.

how long are cougars breastfed

Young cougars are weaned at about six weeks of age.   By then they are beginning to chew bones and eat solid food that the female brings to them.  At about 2 months the young begin to accompany the her hunting.

How many offspring does a meadow vole have?

Each litter has from 1 to 7 young, but 3 to 5 is the most common litter size.  A captive meadow vole was known to have 17 litters in one year. 

Does the cougar hibernate?

No.

How do stinkpot turtles react to a seasonal change?

Stinkpots hibernate in winter.  They may aestivate in the dry conditions of late summer.

How do you take care of baby tiger salamanders in the winter?

If they are inside where it's warm you can care for them the same as you would in summer.  Give them leaves and soil to burrow in and a dish of water to "swim" in.  They will readily eat worms and crickets.

Do mother tiger salamanders eat their babies?

Both adults and larvae alike are extremely voracious feeders consuming anything that is smaller than themselves.  Some salamanders may become canabalistic.

How many babies does the Blue-Spotted Salamander have at one time?

Like all amphibians, blue spotted salamanders are egg layers.  Fertilization is internal.  The male will drop one to three spermatophores, which the female will pick up with her cloacal lips. Eggs are laid singly or in small clusters of about a dozen attached to plants or submersed logs.

How much does a red salamander weigh?

The red salamander is not found in Iowa.  It lives in eastern north America.  It weighs about 5 grams.

How long is the gestation period of a five lined skink and how many babies does it have?

In Iowa five lined skinks breed in spring. They are oviparous laying about 10 eggs in June in small excavations under rocks, logs or boards. Females guard the eggs and eat the ones that have spoiled.  The eggs hatch in August.

How much does a baby Badger weigh?

About 2 ounces.

What is the weight of an average vole?

An average meadow vole will weigh 1 - 2 ounces.

How many hearts does a rattlesnake have?

One.

How often does a rattlesnake eat?

Timber rattlesnakes prey upon small mammals. Mice, chipmunks, ground squirrels, voles, shrews, and squirrels comprise the majority of this snakes diet. Birds and birds eggs (primarily ground nesters) are consumed at times.  They catch prey about once a week in the summer.  They do not eat in cool weather or when hibernating.

How long does a gold finch live?

About 5 years.

What is the Timber Rattlesnakes ecosystem?

Timber rattlesnakes live in wooded areas with large rock outcrops. They are usually found on south facing slopes. 

Can a komodo dragon have a baby without mating with a male?

Yes,  sometimes...   Most reptiles reproduce sexually, but parthenogenesis (growth and development of an embryo without fertilization by a male) has been observed in certain species of rock lizards, geckos, whiptails, and Komodo Dragons.  The Komodo Dragon normally reproduces sexually but because the genetics of sex determination in Komodo Dragons uses the WZ system (where WZ is female, ZZ is male, WW is inviable) the offspring of this process will be ZZ (male) or WW (inviable), with no WZ females being born. A case has been documented of a Komodo Dragon switching back to sexual reproduction after a parthenogenetic event.   It's thought  that this gives an advantage to colonisation of islands, where a single female could theoretically have male offspring asexually, then switch to sexual reproduction to maintain higher level of genetic diversity than asexual reproduction alone can generate.  Parthenogenesis may also occur when males and females are both present, as the wild Komodo dragon population is approximately 75 per cent male.

How much does a raccoon weigh at birth?

About 2 oz (60 g).

How much does a cougar weigh?

Fully grown, males weigh from 120 - 160 pounds and females weigh from 90 - 110 pounds.

How does a blue spotted salamander take care of it's eggs?

Like most amphibians, the blue spotted salamander is not an egg guarder.  After the eggs are laid, the young are left to hatch and fend for themselves.  The female lays small clumps of eggs attached to twigs, rocks or plants at the edge of a woodland pond or ditch. Clutches average a dozen eggs, and females may lay up to 500 eggs yearly.

How many babies can a lion have in a month?

I guess that would depend on the month...

If it was the 4th month of  a female lion's pregnancy, she could give birth to a litter of 1 to 4 cubs.

How many babies does the puma have?

The average litter for a puma (aka the mountain lion, cougar, panther, painter or catamount)  is 2 or 3.  Litter sizes may range from 1 - 6.

How long is a tiger pregnant for?

A female tiger's gestation period is about 100 days. Gestation may range from 93 to 111 days.

How much does a western spotted skunk weigh when pregnant?

That really depends on what state of pregnancy the skunk is in.  Like most mustelids, the western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis) delays implantation of the embryo after mating.  Sexually mature females come into heat in September and most of them are bred by the first week in October. The blastula stage of the embryo spends 180-200 days floating free in the uterus of the female before it becomes implanted. The two to five (average, four) young are born in late April and May after a total gestation period of from 210 to 230 days.  A female with four fully developed young would weigh about 600 grams.

How many babies does the corn snake make in a year?

The number of eggs laid depends on the size of the female but can vary from 3 to 40.   Hatching will begin about 55 to 60 days after laying. The hatchings will occur over several days. The baby uses an egg tooth to slice one or more small slits in the leathery egg shell.

How do I get rid of least shrews that are living under my house?

Rodent-proofing will exclude shrews from entering structures. Place hardware cloth of 1/4-inch mesh over potential entrances to exclude shrews. Coarse steel wool placed in small openings can also exclude shrews.  Regular mowing around buildings should decrease preferred habitat and food, and may increase predation.

Mouse traps (snap traps), box traps, and pit traps have been used to collect shrews. Set mouse traps in runways or along walls, with the traps set at a right angle to the runway and the triggers placed over the runway.  Small box traps can be set parallel to and inside of runways, or parallel to walls around structures.  Bait the traps with a mixture of peanut butter and rolled oats. A small amount of bacon grease or hamburger may increase the attractiveness of the bait.  A pit trap consists of a gallon jar or a large can sunk into the ground under a runway until the lip of the container is level with the runway itself.  Bait is not necessary. A small amount of bacon grease smeared around the top of the container may be an effective attractant, but this may also attract large scavengers. Pit traps are more effective for capturing shrews than snap traps, although the increased labor involved in setting a pit trap may not be justified when trying to capture only one or two animals.  Place cotton wool in the pit trap containers to reduce the mortality of trapped animals. This is especially important to ensure the successful release of nontarget animals. Since shrews are generally beneficial in consuming insects, live-captured animals can be relocated in suitable habitat more than 200 yards from the capture site.

Where does a woodchuck live?

The most common locations of permanent woodchuck dens are fence lines and thickets bordering hay and corn fields, vegetable farms, and fruit orchards. Here tangles of multiflora rose,  honeysuckle and small trees provide the kind of cover that enable a woodchuck to enter and leave its den, shielded from the rushing attack of farm dogs, coyotes, and fox.

Drainage is a critical issue for woodchucks.  Dens are never dug in damp or swampy areas, and stony ground is avoided as well. Look for woodchuck dens in hedge rows, under barns and sheds, along the edges of rolling farms fields, often on slight rises or on gentle slopes.

How do bats use their ears to help them catch insects?

Echolocation is used by bats to fly and catch prey in the dark.  Ultrasonic sounds, uttered at frequencies above the range of human hearing, are made with the bat's mouth and larynx.  When a sound is made, a tiny muscle in the bat's ear contracts momentarily, preventing the bat from hearing its own cry, which might interfere with the reception of the echo.  The ultrasonic sound strikes an object and the echo is received by the bat's inner ear.  By analizing the echo, bats measure the distance to a given object, the direction it is from the bat, whether or not it is moving, the size, shape, and surface characteristics of the object, as well as the bat's own flight speed. 

Bats may call at any frequency in the ultrasonic range, may vary the frequency by sweeping from a high to a low range, and may change the duration of the individual calls.  A cruising bat may emit cries at a rate of 8 - 15 per second, but when making a sudden maneuver it may increase the cries to around 150 - 200 per second.  When the bat is closing in on prey, the cries become so fast they resemble a continuous buzz.

What's the difference of a female and male garter snake?

Male garter snakes have a hemipenis.  Females do not.   You can determine the sex of garter snakes by visual appearances - male snakes have a thicker tail base where the two hemipenis lie. This can be seen, even in juvenile garter snakes, with practice. 

You could also perform a surgical probe.  The probe is inserted into the vent on either side of the mid-line and gently pushed towards the tail. In a male, the probe inserts several scale-lengths inside the inverted hemipenis, whereas in females it will stop at around 2 or so scale-lengths. This technique should only be used by those experienced in the technique as it is easy to damage the snake.

You could also gently squeeze the tail base.  On a male the inverted hemipenes are everted, and become visible as they ’pop out’.

What degree's could I consider for a future carreer in conservation and is it a hard job to attain?

The field of conservation encompasses many different job titles.  You could work as a park ranger, naturalist, wildlife biologist, fish hatchery technician, game warden, administrative supervisor, hog lot inspector, botanist, forester, or wildland firefighter just to name a few.  The type of degree you work towards will depend on your field of interest.  These could include wildlife biology, ecology, environmental science, law enforcement, botany, zoology, etc.

Competition for conservation jobs is intense.  After obtaining a bachelors or masters degree you can plan on working seasonal jobs for an average of 4- 5 years before getting hired for a full time position.  Pay is low but the work is fun and rewarding.

How do I find out about special seasons for deer in restricted areas such as state parks, and when do these seasons take place?

Go to www.iowadnr.com for the most up to date hunting regulations.

How much does a Baby Painted Eastern Turtle weigh?

Painted turtles are about the size of a U.S. quarter when they hatch in late summer and weigh only a few grams.

What are the most poisinious insects?

In Iowa, the only insects you really need to watch out for are the assassin bug which has a very painful bite and of course the stinging wasps and hornets.

What are the population esitmates of Golden and Bald Eagles in Mahaska County or for SE Iowa?

Roughly 2,000 bald eagles overwinter in Iowa each year.  Most of those fly back to northern nesting grounds in spring but about 200 will stay throughout the summer and nest along Iowa rivers.

The golden eagle is mainly a western species.  Most winters, one or two will be seen flying through Iowa.

What do yellow spotted salamander babies look like?

In Iowa we have tiger salamanders and the endangered blue-spotted salamander.  Tiger salamander larvae can be found in ponds during spring.  Sometimes we call them mudpuppies.  They have bushy gills and are much paler in coloration than adults – an olive-gray with small black dots –similar to a channel catfish.  The larvae metamorphose between June and August.  The young adults are yellow spotted and as they age the spots turn to bars (like a tiger’s) or irregular blotches. Adults have a dark brown or dark green coloration with spots, bars, or irregular blotches that can be dark brown to yellow-green or yellow-gold.

 

The newly transformed larvae of  blue-spotted salamanders have yellow spots that turn blue at the onset of their terrestrial lifestyle. Juvenile blue-spots are usually more intensively spotted and may have many spots on their backs. Occasionally, completely black specimens are found.

Why do cats have an extra layer of skin that cover thier eyes when thier sleep?

All cats have an opaque, white third eyelid, called the nictitating membrane, between the lower lid and inside corner of each eye. This layer helps moisten the eye and clear dust from the surface of the cornea. When dozing, this third eyelid closes, to act as an additional shade.

 

How much does a mink license or permit cost?

A resident fur harvest licence costs $21.00 if you are age 16 or over.  For kids 15 and under it costs $6.00.  A fur harvest license allows you to trap mink, muskrat, raccoon, opposum, red fox, gray fox, badger, weasle, striped skunk, beaver and coyote as well as two river otters per trapper (river otter season is now closed).

Trapping season runs from November 4 - Jan 31.  Beaver may be trapped until April 15.  There is no closed season for coyotes.

Hi Pete, How many types of woodpeckers do we have in Iowa? I saw 3 different types at our feeder yesterday.

We have 7 species of woodpeckers that are regularly seen in Iowa.  The red-headed woodpecker, the red-bellied woodpecker, the yellow-bellied sapsucker, the downy woodpecker, the hairy woodpecker, the northern flicker, and the pileated woodpecker.

Sightings of Lewis's Woodpecker and the black-backed woodpecker have been recorded rarely, but these are birds that have ended up in Iowa accidentaly. 

What is the least deadliest snake?

Iowa has 27 species of snakes.  23 of those are harmless.  Of the 4 venomous species - Timber Rattlesnake, Prairie Rattlesnake, Massasauga, and Copperhead - the Copperhead has the least toxic venom.

How much does a squirrel weigh?

In Iowa we have 4 species of tree squirrels.  The fox squirrel weighs 2-3 pounds.  The eastern gray squirrel weighs .75 - 1.5 pounds.  The red squirrel weighs about 1pound. The southern flying squirrel weights 1.5 - 5 ounces.

Names for baby, male and female massasauga rattlesnakes?

Baby massasaugas are called young.  As they grow older they're called juveniles.  Adult snakes are just referred to as male and female.

What would most likely live in a hole around 6-8 inches wide along a fence line of a corn field?

Probably a groundhog.  Possibly a badger.  A good way to tell is to check the hole this winter.  If you see fresh digging around the hole it's a badger.  If the entrance looks undisturbed it's because the groundhog is hibernating until spring. 

Do flying fox bats hibernate?

No.  Flying foxes, fruitbats or megabats are herbivores.  They eat mostly flower nectar and pollen as well as some fruits.  Since they have a stable year round food source in the tropics of northern Australia and Indonesia they do not need to hibernate.  Our North American microbats are insectivores and can't find bugs to eat in the winter.  Microbats hibernate to avoid starvation in the cold months.

How do eastern newts hunt their food?

Newts have no claws and are not fast runners like lizards. They usually lie in ambush, waiting for prey to walk or swim close enough to grab with their mouths.  Newts feed on small insects, small crustaceans, and worms as well as amphibian and fish eggs.

How long is monarch gestation?

See answer below...

How long have the western harvest mice been around?

Western harvest mice belong to the Muridae family in the subfamily Sigmodontinae.  These appeared in the fossil record during the Upper Miocene, 10–15 million years ago.

We saw a hornets nest along the skunk river about 20 feet in a tree. Are they usually by rivers and what is thier life cycle in the winter?

I've seen a lot of bald-faced hornet's nests in trees along rivers and lake shores when I'm out in my kayak, but I think that's just because they're easier to spot there.  I've also seen them in middle of forests, in pasture trees, and in my yard.

In the cold weather of late fall the hornets die (there's no bugs for them to catch and eat in the winter). The young fertilized queens are the only hornets to live throught the winter - they hibernate underground or in hollow trees. The nest is generally abandoned by winter, and will most likely not be reused.

When spring arrives the young queens emerge, and start to lay eggs.  The workers that hatch will begin nest building by chewing up wood that mixes with a starch in their saliva, which they spread with their mandibles and legs to dry into the paper walls of the nest.

How long does a snake live?

Some species of snakes have been known to live over 20 years in captivity.  Most wild snakes live 5 to 10 years.

What does a timber rattlesnake look like?

Timber rattlesnakes have a diamond shaped head which is set off from the relatively thin neck. The pupils of the eyes are elliptical in bright light and there is a heat-sensitive pit between the eye and nostril on both sides of the head.

Ground color may be variable, but a banded pattern is almost always present. Ground color may be yellow, gray, or brown with or without a rusty orange stripe down the center of the back. There are thin black bands or chevrons (not spots) that run across the back for the entire length of the snake. These bands are from 2 to 4 scales wide with a space of about 4 to 6 scales between them and have a light border.

The belly is usually the same color as the dorsal ground color and unmarked, except for some darker stippling on some specimens. The tail is solid black above and below with a tan rattle at the end. This is an excellent field mark; no other patterned Iowa snake has a solid black tail with a tan rattle at the end.

How long do eastern brown snakes look after their young?

Iowa is home to two subspecies of brown snake, the Texas brown snake (Storeria dekayi texana), found in all of Iowa but the northwestern corner and the southeastern corner and the midland brown snake (Storeria dekayi wrightorum), which occurs in southeastern Iowa. They breed in spring and give birth to 3-20 live young at a time. Like most snakes, the brown snake is independent at birth and requires no parental care.

How big can a timber rattlesnake get?

Timber rattlesnakes are the largest venomous snakes in Iowa. They are very heavy bodied and measure from 36 to 60 inches in length.  The record timber rattler was 74 1/2 inches.

Which county do milkweed plants grow?

A recent survey found common milkweed growing in 71% of Iowa roadsides.  But that's just one type.  There are over 100 species of milkweed known to exist in North America.  I think it's safe to say that milkweed is found in every county.

How much does a toad weigh?

The most common Iowa toad, the American toad (Bufo americanus) weighs about 30 grams fully grown.

How does a red fox take care of its young?

Red fox litters generally are born in March or April.  There are one to 10 young in a litter, but the usual number is between three and six. The female stays in the den with the young the first few days after their birth and the male brings food to her. Later on, she hunts at night and nurses by day while he hunts more by day.

At birth, the pups are blind and helpless. They weigh about 3 1/2 ounces. Their eyes open around eight days after birth. When they are about a month old, the pups begin to come out of the den and play in front of it with  bones and left-over food items. They are fed here, too, by the adults. Although the parents carry away the droppings and foods that spoil, the outside of a fox den has an untidy appearance and often an unpleasant odor. If the young are moved to another den, the parents frequently take the play things along.

When the young are about 10 weeks old, they leave the den vicinity for the first time and accompany their parents on hunting trips. The family disperses in fall. The young breed the first year following their birth.

How many babies does the gopher give birth to?

In Iowa the plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) gives birth to an average of 4 -5 young in March, April or May. 

Where does a woodchuck live?

Woodchucks prefer to live in timber bordered by open land or along fencerows and heavily vegetated stream banks.  Here they dig their burrows, showing a preference for rocky or sandy sloping land.  In Iowa they often burrow under barns and sheds.

How does a garden spider care for its young?

She doesn't.  When Autumn dies so do the black and yellow orb weavers.  During winter young garden spiders hatch in sacks that may contain as many as 1,400 eggs.  They molt inside, then emerge in spring, crawling off or flying away on silk parachutes thrown to the wind.

How many babies does a lion give birth to each time?

Usually three or four cubs per litter.  Extreme variations of 1 to 6 cubs.

How do cougars take care of their young?

Female cougars nurse their young kits.  At about 6 or 7 weeks of age the young weigh nearly 10 pounds and begin to chew bones.  The female carries food to them until they begin to accompany her hunting at about 2 months.  Young cougars may stay with their mother until they are 2 years old.

Is Switchgrass a good birdfood?

The seeds of switchgrass are eaten by many species of birds - bobwhite quail, wild turkey, Canada goose, mallard ducks, mourning dove, northern cardinal, red-winged blackbird, dark-eyed junco, brown-headed cowbird, and sparrows just to name a few.

Small mammals such as voles, mice, squirrels and chipmunks eat the seeds as well.  Cottontail rabbits and muskrats eat the leaves of switch grass and whitetail deer dig up the rhizomes in winter.

Eastern Cottontails and Muskrats eat the leaves of Switchgrass, and White-tailed Deer dig up the rhizomes in the Winter.

Switchgrass also provides excellent cover for birds and small animals. Geese, ducks, bobwhite, and other birds build nests in clumps of this grass. Many songbirds also use leaves and stems as nest materials.

How do silver haired bats take care of their young?

Silver-haired bats give birth to 1 or 2 young sometime in mid-June to early-July.  Females and young live in nursery colonies for the summer, seperate from the males.  Like all mammals, bats feed their newborns milk.  At 3 to 4 weeks of age the young bats learn to fly.

How long does the jack rabbit live?

The white-tailed jack rabbit population in Iowa usually renews itself every 5 years.  However, a few rabbits have been known to live for 8 years in the wild.

Does a cougar hibernate?

No.

How much does an adult least shrew weigh?

The least shrew (Cryptotis parva), one of the smallest mammals in Iowa, can weigh between 2 and 5 grams when fully grown.

We have boxelder bugs they always come out when it gets warm do you have any suggestions on how to get rid of them?

You can start by finding all the tiny cracks in your house and flilling them with expanding foam sealant.  A time consuming but effective way to keep them out of your house.

You can also discourage them from hanging around your house by getting rid of any boxelder trees in the area or by eliminating hiding places such as piles of rocks, boards, leaves and general debris close to your house.   Rake leaves and remove weeds, grass and other protective debris from a strip 6 to 10 feet wide around the foundation of your house, particularly on the south and west sides of the structure. This kind of clearing discourages congregations of bugs near the foundation.

If you want to kill the insects you can spray them directly when you see them massing on trees or on the side of buildings on warm fall days.

what is echolocation?

Echolocation is used by bats to fly and catch prey in the dark.  Ultrasonic sounds, uttered at frequencies above the range of human hearing, are made with the bat's mouth and larynx.  When a sound is made, a tiny muscle in the bat's ear contracts momentarily, preventing the bat from hearing its own cry, which might interfere with the reception of the echo.  The ultrasonic sound strikes an object and the echo is received by the bat's inner ear.  By analizing the echo, bats measure the distance to a given object, the direction it is from the bat, whether or not it is moving, the size, shape, and surface characteristics of the object, as well as the bat's own flight speed. 

Bats may call at any frequency in the ultrasonic range, may vary the frequency by sweeping from a high to a low range, and may change the duration of the individual calls.  A cruising bat may emit cries at a rate of 8 - 15 per second, but when making a sudden maneuver it may increase the cries to around 150 - 200 per second.  When the bat is closing in on prey, the cries become so fast they resemble a continuous buzz.

Are bats true hibernaters?

Yes.

How do silver haired bats get water?

Like most bats, silver-haired bats often go for a drink as soon as they emerge for the evening.  Flying over rivers or lakes they will dip down to lap up water.  Silver-haired bats are also strong swimmers over short distances.

What does river otter mean in Latin?

The scientific name for river otters is Lutra canadensis.  Lutra is the Latin word for "otter" and canadensis is the Latinized form "of Canada" ( the country from which the first specimen was collected and technically named).  The common name has two sources - "river " denotes the habitat of the animal and "otter" comes from the Anglo-Saxon words oter or otor.

At what age is a hummingbird sexually mature?

 Hummingbirds are sexually mature at 2-12 months of age.

How big does a ringneck racer get?

I've never heard of a ringneck racer....

In Iowa we have ringneck snakes which grow from 10 to 15 inches in length.  We also have blue racers which grow from 23 to 50 inches in length.

How long are tigers pregnant for before they give birth?

A female tiger's gestation period is about 100 days. Gestation may range from 93 to 111 days.

How many babies does a tiger have in one year?

Most adult tiger females give birth about every 2 to 3 years.  2 to 4 cubs are normally born per litter, but litter size can vary from 1 to 6 cubs.

How many babies do mule deer have?

Mule deer are known to sometimes cross the Missouri River and take up residence in the Loess Hills of western Iowa. After a 200 day gestation period the females give birth in the spring (April-June). 1 to 4 fawns may be born at a time. On average a female will give birth to two fawns.

How do you tell the difference between a male and a female deer in the winter?

A great question for all you late antlerless season hunters.  It's easy to tell the difference between bucks and does in the summer and fall by their antlers, but in January it can be a little trickier. The purpose of Iowa's special late deer season is to reduce the number of does, not to shoot bucks that have already shed their antlers.  A good way to make sure you've got a doe in your sights is to observe the deer for awhile before you pull the trigger.  As a general rule of thumb don't shoot a lone deer.  Bucks tend to be loners at this time of the year, while does and yearlings will usually bunch together.  In a group of deer an adult buck will have a larger body size than the females.  If you look at the deer head on a doe will have a rounded top to her head, while the top of a buck's head will be more flattened.  With binoculars you should be able to see the antler bases on buck's head.

If you're looking at a group of deer, an adult doe will have a long nose and a sloping forehead, while a yearling will have a shorter muzzle.  The yearling or button bucks will be taller and lankier than the shorter, rounder young of the year does. 

How long do monarch butterflies carry their young?

Female monarchs do not carry their young inside them like mammals do.  These insects are egg layers.  In summer monarchs live from 2 to 6 weeks.  In that period they will mate up to seven times. The male courts the female in the air, tackles her and breeds with her on the ground.  After fertilization the female looks for milkweed plants to lay her 400 -900 eggs.  If she cannot find milkweed she can hold her eggs for a long time until suitable host plants are found.  The eggs take 3-15 days to hatch into larvae.

How long can a crayfish get?

There are over 250 species of crayfish in North America.  Adult size is 2" to 6" for most US species. Some Australian varieties can be much larger.

when is hunter safety course open.

Mahaska County has held 5 Hunter Education courses in 2006.  There are currently no more scheduled for this year.  You can check the Iowa DNR website for course listings in other counties.

What type of habitat does a rattlesnake live in?

In Mahaska County the only type of rattlesnake that you might find would be a timber rattlesnake.  These live in wooded areas with large rock outcrops. They are usually found on south facing slopes.  Although not listed on the state endangered species list, the timber rattlesnake is becoming increasingly rare, due to habitat loss and persecution by humans.

About how long does a bat usually live?

Longer than you would think!  While the deer mouse (which is roughly the same size) might live for 1.5 to 2 years in the wild, the big brown bat can live from 9 to 18 years in the wild.  Another common Iowa bat, the little brown bat, normally lives about 12 years in the wild.  Some banded and recaptured bats have been known to live for 30 years.

What was the estimated population of deer in Iowa in 1850, 1900, and 1950? What is the estimated current population and what does the DNR want it to be?

When Iowa was settled by Europeans whitetail deer were reported to be numerous.  Pioneer accounts from all corners of the state talk of viewing 50, 100, even 300 deer at one time.  After 1857 deer numbers began to decline across Iowa.  Severe winters in 1857 and 1881, combined with unregulated hunting led to the extirpation of deer in Iowa by 1900.  The Iowa legislature had granted complete protection for whitetail deer in 1898, but by then it was too late.

In the early 1900's a few private farms around the state had deer herds that escaped and multiplied in the wild.  14 deer were released from the state game farm (near Ledges State Park) in 1933 and another 20 were released in 1934.  As these populations grew the Iowa Conservation Commission moved deer from these herds to repopulate other parts of the state.  In 1936 Iowa's deer population was estimated to be around 700.

By 1950 deer were established in 89 counties with a population estimate of 4,530.  By 1953 the population had grown to 13,000 and legislation was passed to allow a limited deer hunting season.

After the 2005 hunting season Iowa's deer herd was estimated to be roughly 310,000.  Liberalized doe tag limits and extended hunting seasons have been in place the last few years in an effort to reduce this number.  The DNR has a target goal of 270,000 for Iowa's deer population.

Are there plans in the making for MCCB to purchase kayaks for the annual canoe floats and for year round rental? I think they would be a great asset to the MCCB, Mahaska County and South East Iowa as there are no places to rent them in the area.

Currently, the board is discussing purchasing kayaks and canoes for river floats and rentals.  We have recently received one memorial donation to purchase one canoe and to construct a trailer that would be able to haul multiple canoes.  We would purchase more canoes if additional funds can be found.

How rare is the moth hummingbird?

Do you mean the hummingbird moth?  They are fairly common in late summer.   There are actually several moth species that people commonly refer to as hummingbird moths.  While they lack the bright colors of  our ruby-throated hummingbirds, these moths are the same size.  Thier feeding patterns are also similar to hummingbirds, as they dart from flower to flower, hovering for a few seconds while they sip nectar. 

These moths are also known as hawk moths or sphinx moths.  You've probably seen them in the caterpillar stage too.  They are the big green hornworms often found feeding on tomato plants.

How does the Six-lined Race Runner take care of it's young?

It doesn't! How's that for easy parenting? Once the eggs are laid, the young lizards are left to hatch and fend for themselves.

Why don't birds hibernate, while mammals do?

The common poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) of the American southwest is the only bird known to hibernate.  It becomes torpid in winter, sleeping with a much reduced body temperature for weeks or months. 

Most mammals that hibernate do so to cope with a lack of available food in winter, not because it's too cold.  Birds on the other hand have wings and can simply fly to where food is more plentiful in winter.  Some birds, such as bluejays or goldfinches can find enough seeds to eat in the winter months and stay in Iowa year round.

What is the estimated population of bobcats in Mahaska County?

About 60.  Bobcats are mainly found in areas of heavy timber, especially those with creeks.  They will use the tall grasses of prairies or CRP acres for hunting but stay away from open crop ground.

how much does a licence cost?

A resident Iowa hunting license is $17.50

A resident Iowa fishing license is $17.50

A fall turkey license is $23.00

A deer license is $27.00

do monarch butterflies bite and are they poisonous?

Monarchs are poisonous...   if you eat them!  Their bodies contain cardiac glycosides from the milkweed they eat as caterpillars.  I've never heard of a biting butterfly.  They have mouthparts called a proboscis, shaped like a straw for sucking nectar from flowers.

How much does a cougar weigh at birth and adulthood?

An cougar (or mountain lion, puma, painter, panther or catamount depending on which part of the country you're from) is about 12 inches long and weighs just a pound at birth. 

When they are fully grown, males weigh from 120 - 160 pounds and females weigh from 90 - 110 pounds.

are bats protectected in Iowa?

Yes, all bat species are protected in Iowa.  It is legal to kill a bat that is in your house, but it's not recomended. It's much easier for you (and the bat!) to just open the doors and windows for it to fly outside.

How many babies does a rattlesnake have at 1 time?

That depends on the species of rattlesnake.  In Iowa we have three species of rattlesnakes.  The endangered prairie rattlesnake is only found in Plymouth county in north west Iowa.  Females give birth from August to early October and litter sizes ranges from 6 to 16 young. Like all rattlesnakes, prairie rattlers are ovoviviparous which means that the egg membranes split open inside the female and the young appear to be born live.

The massasauga, another endangered rattlesnake is found in a handful of locations in north eastern Iowa.  They are sexually mature at the age of three or four and breed every 2 to 3 years. Litter sizes range from 5 to 24.

The timber rattlesnake is not protected in Iowa, but it should be!  This rare snake has very low reproductive rates.  They do not reach sexually maturity until they are 7 to 12 years of age. The females may breed only every 2 to 4 years (3 is the most common interval)  They give birth to about  6 young in August or September.

How many babies does the mountain Lion does have

The female mountain lion starts breeding after she's reached 3 years of age and generally gives birth every two years after that.  Litter size may range from 1 to 6 with an average of 2 to 3 kittens per litter.

Could you explain which specific iowa animals hibernate and which merely fall into winter dormancy?

Most of Iowa's insects hibernate - many in a larval state, but some as adults.

Iowa's fish do NOT hibernate.

Most of Iowa's amphibians hibernate.  Those that do are the northern cricket frog, cope's gray treefrog, eastern gray treefrog, spring peeper, western chorus frog, crawfish frog,  pickerel frog, American toad, great plains toad, Woodhouse's toad, plains spadefoot, blue-spotted salamander, smallmouth salamander, and tiger salamander.

The plains leopard frog, northern leopard frog, southern leopard frog,  green frog and bull frog are not true hibernaters but spend the winter in a semi-active state at the bottom of lakes and ponds. 

The mudpuppy and eastern newt are active underwater year round.

All of Iowa's reptiles hibernate, including snakes:  The Western Worm Snake, Blue Racer, Ringneck Snake, Black Rat Snake, Fox Snake, Western Hognose Snake, Eastern Hognose Snake, Prairie Kingsnake, Common Kingsnake, Milk Snake, Smooth Green Snake, Plainbelly Water Snake, Diamondback Water Snake, Northern Water Snake, Bullsnake, Graham's Crayfish Snake, Brown Snake, Redbelly Snake, Western Ribbon Snake, Plains Garter Snake, Eastern Garter Snake, Lined Snake, Smooth Earth Snake, Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake, Prairie Rattlesnake, and Massasauga.

lizards: The Six-lined Racerunner, Five-lined Skink, Great Plains Skink, Northern Prairie Skink, and (legless)Slender Glass Lizard.

and turtles: Common Map Turtle, Smooth Softshell, Spiny Softshell, Snapping Turtle, Painted Turtle, Wood Turtle, Blanding's Turtle, Ouachita Map Turtle, False Map Turtle,Yellow Mud Turtle, Stinkpot, Ornate Box Turtle, and Red-eared Slider.

Iowa's birds do NOT hibernate.

Iowa's true hibernating mammals include the bats: big brown bat, little brown bat, northern myotis, Indiana bat, silver-haired bat, eastern pipestrelle, red bat, hoary bat, and evening bat.  The woodchuck (groundhog), meadow jumping mouse, thirteen-lined groundsquirrel, and Franklin's groundsquirrel.

Iowa mammals that become semi-active or torpid in winter include the black bear, eastern chipmunk and plains pocket mouse.

Iowa mammals that will sometimes sleep for a few days during cold spells are the raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, eastern spotted skunk, southern flying squirrel and badger.

Iowa mammals that are active year round include the whitetail deer, mule deer (rarely in western Iowa), fox squirrel, gray squirrel, red squirrel, plains pocket gopher, beaver, marsh rice rat, western harvest mouse, deer mouse, white-footed mouse, hispid cotton rat, eastern wood rat, meadow vole, prairie vole, woodland vole, muskrat, southern bog lemming, norway rat, house mouse, eastern cottontail rabbit, white-tailed jackrabbit, coyote, red fox, gray fox, least weasel, long-tailed weasel, mink, river otter, bobcat, mountain lion, masked shrew, Hayden's shrew, short-tailed shrew, least shrew, and eastern mole.

I found a snake in my basement that was at least 3 feet long, stuck in a sticky mouse trap. Also snake skin in our attic, how can I remove snakes from my house and keep them from getting in?

Ouch!  I hate sticky mouse traps - talk about cruelty to animals...  If you have to kill something, do it quickly.  To keep snakes out of your house you'll have to plug every possible hole you can find (then go plug the ones you can't find).  There are no effective "snake repellents" made, so don't waste your money buying any.  The easiest way to remove snakes is just to pick them up when you see them and carry them outside.  Don't worry, 99.99999% of snakes in Mahaska County are harmless.  I actually like to have a few snakes in my house.  I've released several in my basement to control rodents.

 

If I live trap a groundhog, how can I get rid of it?

If you don't want to eat the groundhog (They're in season until October 31) just find a suitable grassland habitat for it and release it.  Don't turn it loose just down the road or it will come back to it's den. 

how do you get rid of a bat in the upstairs

Bats in your belfry? Most likely they are little brown or big brown bats. The seven other species of bats in Iowa don't come in peoples houses. They like to hibernate in caves or old mine shafts. The only real way to keep bats out of your house is to seal up all the holes they may be getting in from. Remember a bat can crawl through any hole a mouse can (thats about the size of your thumb). To find the holes, go out on a summer evening as the sun is going down. Get all your family and friends to surround the house and watch where the bats fly out (bring lawn chairs and make a party of it!) After the bats have left for the night then close up the entrances with caulk or wire mesh. You should always wait until after August 1 to do this though - thats when the baby bats will have grown big enough to fly on their own. Otherwise you trap the babies inside your attic and they'll starve to death without their mothers to nurse them. Good luck!

is the black and yellow argiope spider poisonous to humans?

All spiders are poisonous to humans, but the black and yellow argiope is not deadly.  The only spider bites to worry about in Iowa are from the black widow and the brown recluse.

Is switchgrass a native Iowa grass?

Yes, switchgrass is a native species in Iowa.  However in the early days of CRP a non local ecotype switch grass was often planted.  This variety is very aggressive and can take over a prairie planting, leaving little else but switchgrass.  That's why some prairie managers tend to avoid switchgrass in their seed mixes.

Pete.. How long does a BIG BUCK usually live? Jacob Huedepohl

In Iowa, because of surplus food supplies and good genetics for antler growth in our deer population, any antlered deer over 4 years old would probably be considered a "big buck".  Most deer in Iowa are either shot by hunters or hit by cars before they are 2 years old.  Deer are in the prime of life between 2 1/2 and 7 1/2 years of age.  After that a buck's antlers begin to shrink in size each year.  In the wild, some deer may live up to 15 years.

how many babies does a woodchuck have

A woodchuck can have anywhere from 2 to 9 young.  4 or 5 to a litter is average.  Smaller litters are born to one-year-old females, while larger litters are produced by older females.

Pete-- What is the largest spider living in Mahaska County? Jacob Huedepohl Age 6 Kindergarten Ms. Combs Class Jacob enjoyed your class visit!

The black and yellow argiope, aka the garden spider is the largest spider I've seen around Mahaska County.  Females can grow to be over one and one half inches long (males are about 3/4 inch long).  You'll find them in the tall grass resting on large orb webs in late summer.

A close second is the female wolf spider which can grow to be an inch long.  These are not web spinners, but chase down their prey on the ground like small tarantulas.

Pete. Is there any fishable population of small mouth bass in the area?

Yes.  The Des Moines River from Red Rock dam down to Eveland access has pockets of good small mouth habitat.  Look for for places where the river narrows and creates riffles.  Small mouth will be hanging out in the rough water where the oxygen levels are highest.  They'll bite on minnows, crawdads or lures that look like either of those.

Besides poison ivy, what other plants in Iowa are poisonous to the touch?

Stinging nettles will get you if you're down by a river or creek.  The hairs on the stem will cause your skin to burn and itch on contact.

The juice from wild parsnip will cause a photochemical burn to  your skin.  So that means if your weeding the garden or trimming the yard and the juice gets on you it will react with sunlight and cause burns.

We have NO poison oak in Iowa.

Do water snakes side across the ice in the winter?

No. Water snakes, like all Iowa reptiles, hibernate in winter.

What kind of water snakes live in Iowa and are some poisnious?

Iowa is home to the Northern Water Snake, the Diamondback Water Snake,the Yellowbelly Water Snake, and the Graham's Crayfish Snake. None of these are venomous. The Northern Water Snake is the most commonly seen water snake in Mahaska County. Although harmless, it is an agressive snake and will usually bite if handled.

do you see marmots in the winter

In Iowa the only species of marmot is Marmota monax, the woodchuck. They generally hibernate in winter and emerge late March or early April.

My daughter is trying to make career choices and she is very strong in science. After the maple syrup festival last Sunday she asks about the career path of a natualist and what a major in college would look like. Thank-you, Sheryl Ask

To be an interpretive naturalist you need a background in both science and communications. There are actually several college majors which can help you get a job as a naturalist. Most naturalists have degrees in Natural History Interpretation, Environmental Science, Wildlife Biology, or Ecology. Although some naturalists I know have come into the field with backgrounds in History, Archaeology, Geology or Education. You have to have a love of nature, write well, and be a good public speaker. Depending on what area of the country you're working in, you may find it beneficial to have experience in outdoor recreation, agriculture or construction skills.

Is there any state or county properties that do not allow hunting?

There are many state wildlife refuges that do not allow hunting. All of Iowa's state parks do not allow general hunting. A few specially regulated archery hunts for deer have been allowed in certain state parks to reduce the population in those areas. Of those parks managed by the Mahaska County Conservation Board you cannot hunt at White Oak Conservation Area, Eveland Access, Nicholson Park, Cedar Creek Access, Union Mills Access, Eddyville Dunes Sand Prairie, Peter's Wildlife Area, and Glendale Access. Maskunky Marsh is closed to hunting during duck season. All other MCCB parks allow public hunting.

how many counties does the River Mississippi travel through?

In Iowa the Mississippi River flows past ten counties.

how long is a deer pregnat before giving birth

A whitetail deer is pregnant for 6 1/2 to 7 months. In Iowa the rut (breeding season) begins in November and fawns are born in mid-May to early- June. Most does have twins after their first year, but some have triplets.

how many babies do the common snipe have

Four eggs is the normal number laid by the snipe. rarely five eggs are laid.

whats the latin word for bat

Bats are in the Order Chiropera. In this case the scientific name is actually derived from two Greek words meaning "winged hand". Our most common bat, the Little Brown Bat is in the Family Myotis which is Greek for "mouse ear".

How long is the trail at Quercus?

To make the complete loop it's roughly 6-tenths of a mile.

How much does a out of state small games licences cost?

A nonresident general hunting license costs $80.50 if you are over 18. That lets you hunt just about any game species except deer, turkey, furbearers, and waterfowl - you'd have to get extra permits for those.

I recently got a bat in my apartment and I do not like to kill them. Is it a good idea to throw a sheet over it and release it outside?

Yes, it's ok to release them outside. They'll eat mosquitos for you! An easier way to get them out is to just open the windows. Bats will usually follow the air currents out. If you have confused bats and have to resort to a sheet - wear heavy leather gloves! Bats have very sharp teeth and will bite if they feel threatened. Good luck!

Is it true the monarch butterfly takes three generations to migrate from Mexico to Canada and only one generation to return?

Yes, Unlike most other insects in temperate climates, Monarch butterflies cannot survive a long cold winter. Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains fly south to the forests high in the mountains of Mexico. When the late summer and early fall Monarchs emerge from their chrysalides, they are biologically and behaviorally different from those emerging in the summer. Individuals only make the round-trip once. It is their children's grandchildren that return south the following fall.

If a baby pig is a piglet, is a baby groundhog a Whistle Piglet?

The groundhog, Marmota monax, is also known as the woodchuck or the whistle pig. I've heard baby groundhogs called kits, cubs,and pups, so I suppose whistle-piglet is as good a name as any. This member of the squirrel family is found across Canada and in the northeastern and midwestern United States. The western United States is the home of its closest relatives, the yellow-bellied marmot and the hoary marmot. If you're wondering about the many names for this critter... The first part of the scientific name, Marmota, is the Latin word for marmot. It was derived through the corruption of two Latin words meaning "mouse of the mountain". The second part, monax, is an American Indian name for this rodent and means "the digger" Its common name, woodchuck, is an anglicized corruption of an Indian name for this species. The origin of its other common name, groundhog, is obvious from the animal's squat appearance, waddling gait and habit of living in the ground. Although the name whistle pig is not used commonly in the midwest, it refers to the alarm call of the groundhog, which is a loud, shrill whistle.

When rain falls here in Mahaska County, how long does it take before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico?

Well... Because of the Earth's hydrologic cycle all rainfall eventually makes it back to the sea. But, if the rain were to fall on land it could take hundreds or thousands of years to get there - moving as soil moisture then ground water, possibly ending up in a lake or in your drinking water, etc... But if we say that the rain drop were to fall in the Des Moines River (Mahaska County's largest river) it would have roughly 40 miles to travel in the Des Moines River and another 1,453 miles to travel once it reached the Mississippi River for a grand total of 1,493 river miles to get to the Gulf of Mexico. Of course the time it takes to reach the Gulf will vary by season - during spring floods the stream velocity in the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers can be as much as 13 feet per second (or 9 miles per hour). In a dry fall the river speed would be much less. But, if we were to consider today's rainfall (January 12,2005) and today's river velocity - which is 5.8 miles per hour, and assuming there were no interuptions along the way, then it would take a rain drop 10 days and 17 hours to travel from Mahaska County Iowa to the Gulf of Mexico.

We recently saw a junco at our bird feeder with white tail feathers. Do you suppose it was just a genetic abnormality?

The dark-eyed junco does have white outer tail feathers. If your bird was lacking the dark feathers in the center of the tail then it probably was just individual variation.

Are the reports of cougars/mountain lions living in Iowa true?

Yes and no... Yes there are a few cougars living in Iowa right now. They were NOT released by the DNR. Most of these free roaming cougars are pets - either escaped or intentionally set free by owners who were tired of caring for them. There are some wild cougars coming into Iowa from a natural population in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Of the three verified wild cougars found in Iowa (one hit by a car and two shot) all of them were young male cats. Young males of many species are the first to be pushed out when habitats become too crowded. These cats have followed the river corridors where there's plenty of food and cover and ended up in Iowa. It's highly possible that we may have killed the only 3 cats to make it this far. If you believe half of the sightings and mountain lion stories going around lately then you'd think Iowa had the highest cougar population on the continent. Mountain lion fever is running rampant through Iowa these days and everybody likes to tell a good story. There are a few cats out there, but dont' believe everything you hear.

I have heard stories about snipes, is there really a such thing?

Yes, there really are snipes and Iowa even has a hunting season for them. This year it runs from Sept 4 - Nov 28. The daily bag limit is 8 snipe. The common snipe (Gallinago gallinago),is a migratory shore bird, similar to the American Woodcock and the dowitcher. They have an explosive takeoff when flushed and rapid zigzag flight making them a challenging target for marshland hunters.

Is it possible for a population of six lined race runners to live outside the known area in Iowa?

Of course. Many unrecorded species exisit in suitable habitats across the state. For example the previously unknown ground pine (an endangered species of club moss) was just discovered a few months ago at the Russell Wildlife Area. The six-lined Racerunner lizards come from sandy prairie areas and open rocky bluff prairies similar to good milk snake, ringneck, racer, and rattlesnake habitat on the eastern side of the state. In western Iowa, they are found in the open, dry, rolling, loess hills. Here in south central Iowa we have a small isolated population that inhabits the Eddyville Sand Dunes complex in Wapello and Mahaska Counties as well as the sand prairies on the hills north of town that are being destroyed by quarrying operations. I have been hearing scattered reports of racerunners being found in Wayne county, but have not been down there yet to verify them.

What is the blooming season for Indian Paintbrush?

In Iowa, Indian Paintbrush blooms from May through June. Although I've seen at least one southern Iowa population blooming in late July... The Indian Paintbrush grows on dry sandy hillsides throughout North America. I've seen them still blooming in August in the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains and the Bitterroot Mountains. It's a semi-parisitic plant, meaning it takes nutrients from the roots of grasses growing around it. One glance at the brilliant flowers of this plant and it's easy to see why it's called paintbrush. The tops look like they've been dipped in bright red paint. Although red is the most common color, some of these flowers may be orange or even yellow. There are no paintbrushes growing in Mahaska County that I know of. But there are some populations growing on prairie remnants just to the south of us on farms and public parks in Appanoose and Wayne counties.