In Iowa’s Changing Wildlife: Three Decades of Gain and Loss (University of Iowa Press), the authors survey 60 species of birds and mammals, providing brief histories of their existence in Iowa, a look at their population fluctuations over time and summaries of their current status, making this book a valuable resource for wildlife enthusiasts and lovers of Iowa’s natural world.
One success story is the recurrence of the bald eagle, whose existence was threatened by the use of DDT after World War II. Buildup of DDT in the birds’ food sources caused egg shell thinning which reduced their reproduction. By 1950, eagles in Iowa had been wiped out. But populations began to recover when DDT was banned. Thanks to substantial populations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the birds expanded their territory into Iowa, and by 2015 they had reestablished themselves in every Iowa county.
Wild turkeys have also rebounded thanks to a little help. By the late 1800s, they were scarce in Iowa. After a few unsuccessful attempts to reintroduce them, releases in southern Iowa in the mid- to late 1960s were successful. Birds from the newly established populations enabled releases in additional locations, thus establishing wild turkeys in all suitable habitats.
Populations of the red fox seem to remain stable despite some challenges they face. They are prey for coyotes; for several years they have suffered from mange, a skin disease caused by parasitic mites; and their preferred grassland and pasture habitats are disappearing. Some species manage to adapt to life near humans, and the red fox appears to be one — the authors cite reports of them living and raising young in urban areas.
It is possible that species with which we may be unfamiliar could quietly disappear from our midst without us realizing. Those who have never heard the cheerful two-note call of the bobwhite quail across a farm field won’t know what they were missing when it’s gone, as row crops continue to encroach on the grassy areas where these charming little birds nest.
This book — written by a pair of Iowa State University ecologists who also happen to be father and son — can bring us up to date on species for which we have a particular fondness, as well as those we haven’t encountered. We can also learn some natural history of our state and what needs to be done to preserve the wildlife around us.
The final chapters outline organizations dedicated to wildlife, future challenges and relevant legislation such as: 1) the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program (REAP) established in 1989 to be funded at $20 million per year and 2) the establishment in 2010 of the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund (with 63 percent of Iowans voting in favor) to be funded by a fraction of any sales tax increase. We are reminded that the former has been consistently underfunded and the latter has never been funded at all. These are two programs already in place that, with proper funding, could significantly support wildlife initiatives.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s June 2024 issue.
