Conservation Connection
Autumn’s Spooky Species: How to Appreciate Misunderstood Wildlife this Season
The crisp October air brings the excitement of changing leaves and a changing season. While making yards and gardens cozy for wildlife over winter is a common discussion this time of year, we are focusing on what kinds of important wildlife you may start seeing this month! With Halloween around the corner, now is the perfect time to better understand some of the spooky (or maybe not-so-spooky-after-all) animals that you may see in autumn!
PRI Iowa Water Quality Specialist Awarded as a New Voice in Water Quality
The Conservation Learning Group, a think tank based at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has announced the 2022 winners of its New Voices in Water Quality Awards. Prairie Rivers of Iowa Water Quality Specialist Dan Haug is one of 15 Iowans being awarded. Haug was recognized for his excellence in youth and/or community water education.
A Mother’s Love: The Race to Provide
A speck of sunlight warmed the face of a mother, causing her to wake and stand up. She took a few steps toward the sunlight, letting it warm her cold legs in her tunnel. Looking back at the wall of her nursery, she new she had limited time to finish her work.
Six Tips to Enjoy Iowa Lakes
A day at the lake can improve your attitude, but we’ll need a shift in attitudes to clean up Iowa lakes.
Peeling the Onion
Okay, so we’ve measured a water quality trend. How can sort out what’s changed because of weather and what’s changed because of people?
Container Gardening for Pollinators
Those of us who rent, have small yards, or can’t commit as much time to gardening are normally left out of the conversation – until now! Apartment dwellers and busy homeowners alike have the ability to provide important resources to pollinators through container gardening!
Prairie Rivers of Iowa Participating in Iowa Gives Green – A Day of Giving
Too often in Iowa, we’ve put productivity ahead of beauty. We’ve put efficiency ahead of diversity. On August 3 nearly 30 environmental organizations across the state, including the Ames-based not-for-profit Prairie Rivers of Iowa and the Iowa Environmental Council will participate in Iowa Gives Green, a day of giving that shows Iowans’ commitment to our environmental promise.
The Incredible Diversity of Iowa Moths and Butterflies
Iowa is home to about 110 butterfly species, and over 2,000 moth species! Butterflies and moths are related: both are in the insect order Lepidoptera, which roughly translates to “scaled wing”. Most of us think of moths as the ugly stepsisters of butterflies, but this is not true! In fact, I would call moths the sleeping beauties of our natural world (they are beauties that are often active while we sleep). Don’t continue to sleep on the incredible beauty of Iowa moths, and get to know our butterflies better!
The Best Nitrogen Analogy Ever
All the learning of a college lecture on the nitrogen cycle, with ten times the fun!