DNR seeks public comments on comprehensive wildlife plan

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is ready to take public comments on a comprehensive wildlife plan that’s been almost two years in the making. Wildlife Diversity coordinator Doug Harr says over 100 people have worked on the plan.He says they’re hoping to lay out the status of Iowa’s wildlife for as many species as possible. He says,”If it walks, crawls swims or flies in Iowa, I think most of those things are in the plan.” Harr says this is the first time such a report has tried to document every species in the state. And he says it seeks to set a plan for the future. He says it analyzes some of the stresses with the animals and their habitats, which ones are declining and why. He says it also outlines some broad strategies and goals that they hope to accomplish over the next 25 years to pursue good conservation of the wildlife resources. Harr says they’re now asking the public to comment on the plan. He says it’s entirely possible that they may’ve overlooked something and they hope that people will review it and bring up anything that’s been missed. The plan is required of the state to get federal money for its wildlife plans. Harr says they’ll soon have a copy of the plan no their website or you can call 515-432-2823 to request a C-D or paper copy of the plan.