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Today, officers
with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) were called to dispatch a mountain
lion from a farm near Galva, in northeast Ida County.
The situation
arose after a neighboring livestock producer discovered a dead calf that showed
evidence consistent with an attack by a large cat late last week. Repeated calls
were placed to 911 Monday evening by a nearby landowner who discovered the cat.
DNR officers use
lethal action as the last resort option in these situations and every effort is
made to humanely remove the animal.
“White-tailed
deer and other wild animals, particularly the weak or injured, are often the
preferred prey. But in this situation, it appears this mountain lion has targeted
young livestock and livestock producers are well within their rights to protect
their livelihood,” said Bruce Trautman, deputy director with the Iowa DNR.
This is the first
confirmed female mountain lion in Iowa. There is no physical evidence that she has produced any young. The Iowa
DNR will collect teeth, tissue samples for genetic analysis and examine the
stomach contents of the 88 pound animal.
This is the fourth
mountain lion killed in Iowa and the most recent since 2013 when a four year
old male was shot in Sioux County. Since 1995, there have been 21 confirmed
mountain lions in Iowa.
Western South
Dakota and Nebraska have been the genetic source for the lions killed in Iowa.
Mountain lions
are not listed as a furbearer and have no protected status in Iowa.
Media Contact: Vince Evelsizer, Furbearer Biologist, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, 641-231-1522 or Mick Klemesrud, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, 515-725-8280.
Iowa fisheries management biologist Mark Flammang was
recognized as the Fisheries Biologist of the Year by the Midwest Association of
Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) at their annual meeting, June 26 in Ashland,
Nebraska.
MAFWA, an organization of 13 state and three
provincial Midwest fish and wildlife agencies, exists to share ideas and
information, pool resources, and initiate action to benefit the management and
conservation of fish and wildlife resources in the Midwest. This award is presented annually to a
fisheries biologist that demonstrates unparalleled initiative towards the
better understanding of fishes and their conservation.
Flammang, DNR fisheries management biologist for
the eight county district in south central Iowa, was recognized for initiating
new approaches to refine fish management techniques including how and when fish
surveys are conducted, fish marking techniques, documenting fish movement
behaviors and improving water quality through lake and watershed management.
“Mark has the skills and insight to conduct relevant
fish research investigations including better sampling techniques for measuring
channel catfish populations in Iowa lakes,” said Chris Larson, DNR fisheries
management supervisor.
Flammang evaluated the use of baited tandem
hoop-nets to standard gill net efforts to capture adult channel catfish. The
results showed that tandem baited hoop-nets were much better than gill nets at
capturing large numbers of channel catfish. This technique is now part of Iowa
Fish Management Section’s standard operating procedures, and is used by other
state agencies.
Flammang has taken an active role in improving
other fish sampling techniques such as comparing catch rates for large 3’x6’
versus small 2’x4’ fyke nets, evaluating un-baited hoop-nets for panfish
population assessments, and improvements to the fish management database.
Some of Flammang’s work has influenced the way
fish management is done in Iowa and throughout the Midwest. “Mark continues to
go above and beyond what is expected of him,” said Larson.
Rotenone is often used to control undesirable fish
species and improve water quality. Flammang led a recent study to evaluate the
effect of four different low concentrations of rotenone to remove gizzard shad while
minimizing the impact on important gamefish populations. Results of this work
provided a useful tool to help managers eliminate specific problem species like
gizzard shad with minimal impacts to important gamefish and lessening the need to
remove all fish.
Recent higher flows at Rathbun Reservoir, along
with declining walleye populations, motivated Flammang to study walleye escaping
through the gates at Rathbun Reservoir. Since 2009, Flammang has tagged and
monitored walleye at Rathbun Reservoir. His
work confirmed that many walleyes are leaving the reservoir. This prompted
further research, in collaboration with Iowa State University (ISU) and the US
Army Corps of Engineers, on potential methods to minimize the escape of walleyes.
Flammang and an ISU graduate student evaluated various fish barriers. Efforts
are underway to secure funding for an electric fish barrier to minimize fish escaping
from the reservoir.
Flammang has been active with numerous lake
restoration projects within his district. Recent lake restoration projects
completed at Hawthorn Lake, Lake Miami and Red Haw Lake have improved water
quality and fishing at these popular lakes. Flammang is currently involved in
three additional lake restoration efforts at Lakes Keomah and Lacey-Keosauqua,
and Rathbun Reservoir, along with other smaller man-made lakes around his
district.
Media Contact:
Chris Larson, Small and Large Impoundment
Fisheries Supervisor, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 712-250-0001.
Van
Buren County historian Ralph Arnold is the person responsible for naming Lake
Sugema and in a twist of mystery he refused to say what the name meant. Only
upon his death in 2002 did a letter show up at the local newspaper, the Van
Buren County Register, ending the mystery – according to Arnold, Sugema is a
Native American word for Mosquito.
Lake
Mosquito.
It
makes for a snazzy bumper sticker.
What
began as a project to prevent soil loss, provide a recreation lake and possible
water supply for the town of Keosauqua, has become a popular wildlife area with
more than 3,900 acres of timber, lake and grasslands that is home to the
endangered slender glass lizard and Henslow’s sparrow, and hundreds of plant
species.
The
area is part of the Lake Sugema-Lacey-Keosauqua Bird Conservation Area (BCA) that
includes Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, county conservation managed land and
private land that has become a destination for bird watchers from across the
country.
It
is also near the Shimek Forest BCA, increasing Van Buren County’s stature in
the birding community.
“I had a cerulean warbler land in front of me
at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, pick something up off the ground, and fly away,”
said Jeff Glaw, wildlife biologist for the Lake Sugema area since 1999.
Glaw
has been part of a team working to get Lake Sugema – Lacey Keosauqua BCA listed
as a globally important bird conservation area.
“It’s
the only time I’ve seen a cerulean warbler, but it was pretty neat,” he said. Cerulean
warblers require large forests for nesting habitat and is considered a species
of greatest conservation need.
Forest
habitat is just one part of various landscapes at Lake Sugema, each requiring
different management plans to achieve different outcomes.
For
example, Henslow’s sparrows prefer older grassy areas. “Quail need the opposite,”
Glaw said. “They prefer disturbed soil, bare ground and shrubby cover.”
Sugema
is home to a booming quail population and it doesn’t take long before the
distinctive ‘bobWHITE’ whistle hits the ear.
Pheasant
are sharing the quail habitat and a population resurgence of sorts following a
string of mild winters and average springs.
A
few days ago, Glaw was driving on scenic and winding Iowa Hwy. 16 north of
Douds when he saw a hen pheasant step out of the ditch, followed by a line of
day old chicks. A truck coming from the opposite direction also stopped and the
two drivers watched as the busy mother paraded her 19 chicks to the other side
of the road. The stragglers at the end of the line drew a honk from the other
driver to move it along as he was ready to be on his way.
“I
can’t believe I didn’t take a picture of that,” Glaw said. “It was really neat
to see.”
Pheasants
aren’t the only species benefiting from the long term focus on developing quail
habitat.
Rabbits
prefer those areas, as well.
Glaw
said rabbit hunters from Kentucky, North Carolina and other states from the
south take multiple trips each fall to hunt Iowa cottontails at Lake
Sugema. “We have a lot of rabbits here,”
he said.
But
probably the biggest draw is for trophy white tailed deer.
“The
Lake Sugema area is really underutilized since the last outbreak of EHD (Epizootic
hemorrhagic disease) in 2013,” Glaw said. “Bowhunters can go out on this area
and not see anyone else.”
But
not likely for much longer.
Lake Sugema
Wildlife Area Supports Van Buren County
Property Tax Payments at Lake Sugema Wildlife Area
2017 $9,292
2016 $8,820
2015 $9,342
2014 $7,726
2013 $8,146
2012 $8,852
2011 $7,624
2010 $7,572
2009 $7,410
2008 $6,112
2007 $6,358
2006 $6,760
2005 $6,732
2004 $7,782
2003 $7,572
2002 $7,382
2001 $6,222
Media Contact: Jeff Glaw,
Wildlife Management Biologist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 319-293-7185.
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