Winter Camouflage and Coloration in Iowa's Wildlife

For many Iowa animals, the stark landscape – bare trees and a bright white groundcover – makes them stand out more in the winter, which is good news for those who enjoy watching wildlife. But for a few Iowa critters, winter is a time for them to blend in with the scenery.

Jackrabbits
They may have “rabbit” in their name, but Iowa’s jackrabbits are actually hares, related more to the snowshoe hare than the cottontail rabbit. Come winter, jackrabbits shed their summer fur – brownish-gray speckled with brownish black and a white tail – to make way for their white winter coat. The only coloring left is black on the tips of the jackrabbit’s ears and a light gray tinge to the ears and back. The changing coat allows the jackrabbit to hide better in the conditions that different seasons bring.

What it can’t hide from, however, is habitat loss and wet weather during nesting seasons. Once widely found in grasslands in northwestern Iowa and once a common game species, their numbers have declined in recent years.

Snowy owls
The snowy owl is Iowa’s most common winter owl visitor, flying in from the tundra when they can’t find enough food. We only see snowy owls in Iowa when lemming populations – the snowy owl’s favorite dinner item – crash on the tundra. That sends the snowy owls south in search of food, like mice and other small mammals. So if you spot one, it’s a rare sight indeed. This year, the Iowa Ornithologists Union has reported a pair of snowy owls in the Lime Springs area.


Least weasels
The smallest weasel in Iowa and the smallest carnivore in the world, the least weasel also has two color phases. It loses its reddish-brown coloring on its back, sides, tail and top of its head to get ready for winter, when it may become all white. Spring and fall coloring are often a mix as the color transition takes place. It’s not likely you’ll see a least weasel, as they primarily hunt at night and below the snow, but you’ll occasionally find them caught above a hard-crusted snow. Least weasels are small guys, rarely growing longer than 10 inches long.

American goldfinch
Iowa’s state bird doesn’t lose all of its coloring in winter, but if you see one in winter, you’ll notice its hue is more muted than its usual bright yellow. Most birds sport vibrant colors in the spring to attract a mate during breeding season. They then molt their feathers to bring in a more drab coloration for the winter, as their normal bright coloration would make them more visible to predators.

Trumpeter swans
Trumpeters’ year-round white coloring does allow them to blend in with the snow – mostly. Their large black bills and black legs provide enough contrast against the white snow to allow you to spot them pretty easily.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Learn more about Iowa invasive species as we celebrate National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 22-28).

Iowa DNR Aquatic Invasive Plants fact sheets

Iowa DNR Aquatic Invasive Invertebrates fact sheets

Invasive Species Conservation Class Outline (9-12 Agriculature & Science classes)

Invasive Species in Iowa lesson plan (High School)

 

What are invasive species?
Invasive species are species of organism that are not native to an ecosystem and which cause harm. Invasive species generally grow and reproduce quickly, and spread aggressively with the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, and even human health.

How do they spread?
Invasive species are spread intentionally and unintentionally through human activity. Throughout history people have introduced foreign species to new environments for aesthetic and economic reasons. Species are also introduced inadvertently on ships, in wood products, through ornamental plants, pet trade, and other means of transportation.

Why are they bad?

Invasive species can cause harm various ways. They pose a threat to native animal species by outcompeting native species for resources, preying on native species, and carrying diseases that harm them. Invasive plant species displace native plant species. They can quickly take over an area causing clogged waterways, and improper growth and germination of native plants species. Many invasive plant species provide no food value to native animal species. All invasive species also threaten the delicate balance of entire ecosystems by disrupting the natural food web, decreasing biodiversity, and altering ecosystem conditions.

What can you do?

• Plant natives in your yard and remove any invasive.
• Learn to identify invasive species in your area.
• Report invasive plant and animal sightings to your local county extension office.
• If you are traveling to another country or region, check your baggage and vehicle for “hitchhikers”.
• When boating always clean your boat and check it for aquatic invasive species before putting it into another body of water.
• When camping do not bring your own firewood, instead buy locally grown firewood.

Ideas for invasive species class, family, or community projects

• Plant native grasses, flowers, and trees in your yard or schoolyard.
• Design and implement a local invasive species study.
• Raise awareness of invasive species. Put together an awareness poster or campaign and help spread the word.

 

 

 

Young Reporters for the Environment Competition

Students ages 13- 21 are invited to participate in the national Young Reporters for the Environment competition. They may enter as individuals or part of a class or group.

Participants investigate an environmental issue and report on it in writing, photography, or video. Entries must be relevant to participants’ local community, connect to a global perspective, include possible solutions, and be disseminated to an appropriate target audience.

Participants enter in one of three age categories: 13-15, 16-18, or 19-21. They may choose between three different media types:

Writing (article of up to 1000 words)
Photography (a single photo or photo essay of up to 12 photos)
Video (up to 3 minutes in length, in documentary or reporter/interview style)

Submissions are due to the U.S. national competition by Friday, March 13, 2015, 12 P.M. EST.

The national jury will select winners in each age bracket for each media type. Honors may be given for first, second, and third prize in each category. The jury has the option not to give an award if no submission is found to be deserving, and to give more than one award in the case of multiple exceptional entries.

First place winners in each category will continue to the international competition.

Complete submission requirements
Tips for choosing a topic to investigate


 

Next Generation Science Standards Public Forums

The Iowa Department of Education is hosting a series of public forums and a statewide survey  (open throught February 27) following a state panel’s recommendation to get public feedback on the Next Generation Science Standards. These are a set of learning expectations in science for students in kindergarten through high school, developed by 26 states, including Iowa. All states can consider adopting and adapting them to meet their needs.

Public feedback will be used to provide guidance to the Science Standards Review Team, which is expected to submit a final recommendation regarding science standards to the State Board of Education later this year.

The public forums are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, Feb. 24, Ottumwa
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Great Prairie Area Education Agency, Ottumwa Office – Auditorium
2814 North Court Street
Ottumwa, IA

Wednesday, Feb. 25, Dubuque
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Keystone Area Education Agency, Dubuque Office – Room 1 ABC
2310 Chaney Road
Dubuque, IA

Thursday, Feb. 26, Sioux City
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Northwest Area Education Agency, Administrative Office – Room A/Auditorium
1520 Morningside Ave.
Sioux City, IA

For more information, please visit the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
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Iowa High School Students Invited to Attend Iowa Youth Institute

The World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute invites students from every high school in Iowa to participate in its day-long program at Iowa State University on April 27. This unique experience aims to inspire the next generation of leaders and offers students an unparalleled opportunity to explore academic and career paths in fields related to STEM, food, agriculture and global development. To participate, students select a challenge facing a particular country, and write a three- to five-page paper explaining the issue and outlining potential solutions. At the event, they present their ideas in small groups with peers; participate in interactive activities in labs and classrooms on campus; interact with innovative professors and business leaders from across the state; and hear from high-level experts. All participants earn a $500 scholarship to Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The top students will also be selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute, a three-day event held each October during the Borlaug International Symposium, and will be eligible to apply for international internships. The Iowa Youth Institute currently has participation from half of the high schools in the state and aims to reach every school in Iowa. It is offered at no cost to teachers or students. More details, instructions, and testimonials from past participants are available at www.worldfoodprize.org/iowayouth. For more information, contact Jacob Hunter, Director of the Iowa Youth Institute, at jhunter@worldfoodprize.org or 515-245-3727.