It’s said there are more hogs than people in Iowa but our state is also home to thousands of other creatures, some of which are endangered species. Stephanie Shepard, with the Iowa D.N.R.’s Wildlife Diversity Program, says the agency is launching a series of training workshops next week for volunteer wildlife monitors.

“We generally have three workshops that focus on our bird-related monitoring activities and then we have three workshops in April that focus on our frog and toad call survey,” Shepard says. “Those workshops are necessary for volunteers to attend.” She says the Wildlife Diversity Program covers a very broad spectrum of living things.

“We’re the program within the D.N.R. that’s in charge of everything you can’t hunt, fish or trap,” she says, “so, that covers over a thousand species statewide.” Shepard is one of only five permanent staffers for the program.

“We have our hands full, which is why volunteers are so important to help us have an idea of what’s going on with some of our more sensitive wildlife species,” she says. “They play a really important role in the conservation of those species, helping us keep track of them.”

Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring workshops are planned for March 3rd at the Fontana Nature Center in Hazleton, March 11 at Clarinda and on March 17 at the JFK Memorial Park Nature Center near Fort Dodge. The Frog and Toad Monitoring workshops will be held April 10 at the Pin Oak Lodge in Chariton, April12 at the Willow Creek Park Nature Center in Ocheyden and April 17 at the Hartman Nature Center in Cedar Falls.

Learn more at: “iowadnr.gov“.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City