County Conservation Employees Hit 40-Year Milestone

Two employees of the Woodbury County Conservation Department were recently recognized for 40 years of service. Resource Managers Mark Haindfield of Sloan and Bernard Ketelsen of Anthon both began their careers in Woodbury County in 1972. Their combined efforts and leadership, along with the collaboration of additional Conservation Department employees, have allowed the Woodbury County Park system to expand and thrive over the past four decades.

Mark Haindfield was hired June 15, 1972 to manage Snyder Bend Park and has spent his entire 40 year career as Resource Manager at that park. Snyder Bend Park was the first county park established by the Conservation Board in 1963. It now features a campground, family cabins and paved trails and serves more than 90,000 visitors annually. Haindfield also assists with management of Riverside Bluffs and Owego Wetland Complex.  In recent years, he has served as the department’s Geographic Information System specialist. Originally from Sloan, Haindfield attended Iowa State University and is a graduate of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.  He and his wife have three children and several grandchildren.

Bernard Ketelsen was hired July 15, 1972 as a full time assistant at Little Sioux Park, spent three years as Manager of Bigelow Park-Brown’s Lake from 1975 to 1978, and then returned to Little Sioux Park where he has served as Resource Manager.  At 609 acres, Little Sioux Park is the department’s largest developed park with 135 campsites, swimming beach, camping cabins and trails serving 300,000 visitors each year.  Other areas under Ketelsen’s management include Walling Access, Shagbark Hills, Curtin Timber and Midway Park. Ketelsen is a native of Anthon, served in the U. S. Marine Corps and is a graduate of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.  He and his wife have one child.

 Woodbury County Conservation Department manages 16 areas comprising more than 5,500 acres including developed parks, preserves, wetlands, public hunting areas, river accesses, historical sites and the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. Thirteen full-time staff members, three part-time staff and numerous seasonal staff work to ensure the Woodbury County parks and recreation areas are open for public enjoyment.

Resource Managers Bernard Ketelsen (left) and Mark Haindfield (right) are shown with Woodbury County Conservation Board President Greg Grupp (center).

Falconry Program

Few people have the opportunity to observe a falcon capture its prey. The opportunity to learn about the ancient art of falconry–or hunting by using a falcon to capture the prey–is coming soon to the Sioux City, Iowa area.

Kay Neumann, Master Falconer, will share the basic art and sport of falconry on Saturday, November 3 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.  We will begin with an introduction and presentation indoors and then drive to a wildlife area offsite to watch Kay with her live falcon in action. Participants wishing to view the falcon flying and hunting will need to have transportation to the field site and should dress in layers to be prepared for the weather.  To learn more about Kay Neumann and her work as a falconer, educator and raptor rehabilitator visit www.saoarraptors.org.  

A free-will donation will be accepted to assist with Neumann’s non-profit raptor rehabilitation program. The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is located at 4500 Sioux River Road (Hwy 12), Sioux City, Iowa. To pre-register or for more information contact the nature center at 712-258-0838 or tkruid@sioux-city.org.       

Falconer Kay Neumann presents a Peregrine Falcon to a crowd at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center in 2010.

Nature Calls Fundraiser Features more than 35 Brews to Sample

Exciting news!

Wanted to let you know that Larry Rubida of Glazer’s Distributors has secured the Pre-Prohibition Batch 19 for Nature Calls!

Very cool news, indeed!

As you might know, Batch 19 is a Coors product and has only been available in Colorado until just recently.

This will be its first showing in Siouxland!

And don’t forget the more than 35 other types of brews….and artwork….and auction items… c:

Also, for the first time in 9 years a Coors Rep will be present at the event as well as a Rep from Crispin Ciders.

So spread the word and have people get their tickets to Nature Calls.

Online tickets can be purchased at:
http://www.woodburyparks.com/naturecalls.html

Mastercard and VISA only

or call 712-258-0838

Nature Calls
Saturday, September 22
6 p.m.
Sioux City Convention Center

Thanks so much for your support. It means the world to us.

See you then!

Cheers!

It’s that time of year….FAIR Time!

If you get a chance to visit the Woodbury County Fair in Moville Aug. 1-5, stop in the Varied Industries Building to view the Woodbury County Conservation Board’s booth.

Not only is the building air-conditioned (a great reprieve from the heat), you can meet a fox snake, touch some animal furs and play some conservation trivia to win a prize.

The focus of the booth is to share more about the Woodbury County Parks and outdoor recreational offerings available to people in this region. Nature Center and Park staff are available to answer questions about local natural resources.

And if you like to camp, you can register to win one night’s free camping at any Woodbury County Conservation Board campground. 

Baby Box Turtle Hatches at Nature Center

It’s a boy! or a girl!

We’re not sure which yet but there is a new addition at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

On August 1 a baby Three-toed Box Turtle hatched from its egg that had been incubating since May 8. Clairabell the resident Three-toed Box Turtle laid three eggs in May and naturalist Theresa Kruid placed the eggs in a protected container with soil and loose moss and has monitored them in her windowsill since then.

During a field trip someAlcester-Hudson Preschoolers discovered the eggs in the turtle exhibit at the Nature Center.

It’s uncertain how old Clairabell is but the Nature Center estimates she is 65 years old. She has been at the Nature Center for 17 years and is used as an educational animal to teach about reptiles and their adaptations.

Three-toed Box Turtles are not native to Iowa, so cannot be released to the wild. The native Ornate Box Turtle is found in the region but is rare.

The likely “father” of the young turtle is Riley, a Three-toed Box Turtle that was acquired in early 2012 from KTIV weatherman Riley O’Connor.

For now, we’ll tend to the young, fragile turtle and hope that he will grow to be on display at the Nature Center.

A young box turtle emerges from its shell.

Fishing with Dad—a Father’s Day Ritual

Perhaps there are some, like me, who best remember their dad with a fishing pole in hand. It never seemed to matter if he was fishing for northern pike in the shallows of the Wapsipinicon River, bluegill in a small Iowa farm pond or muskies in a vast cold-water Canadian lake, I witnessed my dad’s happiness most while he was simply fishing.

As much as he tried to share his love of angling with me, it never really resonated with my interests. Being outdoors was certainly high on my list. But I’d rather explore the shoreline for snails or frogs or launch a canoe and explore. As a young teen those vacations to South Dakota, Minnesota or Canada seemed droll (fishing, again!), but in retrospect I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to visit some amazing places and find my own “path.”

Now with children of my own, I reflect on how magical those times spent with Dad truly were. When you take away the tangled fishing lines and the pesky mosquitos and the impatience of waiting to catch that evasive fish, it came down to just my dad and me spending time together. And now that it’s not possible I would love to fish with Dad one more time.

So here’s a chance for you to do just that. Take your Dad fishing this Father’s Day. You can join Conservation Naturalists at Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City at 2:00 p.m. on June 17. They will even line you up with some poles and bait, if you’d like. But don’t forget your fishing license if you are older than 15. If you can’t make it to Bacon Creek, go fishing somewhere else or go another day. Just get out and spend some time with Dad. Do it soon. Before it’s too late.

Natural Cleaning Solutions

 

Join us on Saturday, June 16 at 10:00 a.m. for Natural Cleaning Solutions at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. Amanda Husmann is

returning for a session on healthier and less expensive cleaning ideas. Solutions may include carpet fresheners,

kitchen & bath cleanser, and hand & laundry soaps. $5 per person for supplies. Call 712-258-0838 or email

tkruid@sioux-city.org to pre-register.

 

Come Hike the Bluffs

Join us for a hike at Riverside Bluffs Prairie Preserve on Saturday, June 16 at 10:00 a.m. Plant enthusiasts from the Woodbury County Conservation Foundation will lead the hike on this small preserve located atop the hill behind Sacred Heart Church and Kirk Hansen Park in Sioux City.

Flowers that likely will be in bloom are purple coneflower, skeleton plant, lead plant with several others near or past bloom. The terrain is steep so sturdy hiking shoes are advised.

Attendees can meet at the Kirk Hansen Park off of West 19th St. Take the entrance road past the ball fields to the right and top of the hill for the entrance to the prairie.

Woodbury County Conservation Foundation is a local non-profit agency whose mission is to promote the conservation and protection of Loess Hills prairie, forests and our local habitats. They also support Woodbury County Parks and the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

The hike is free and open to all ages. For more information contact Dawn at dsnyder@sioux-city.org or 712-258-0838.

Watch the Animals Eat their Lunch

http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/photos-lunchtime-for-the-animals/collection_86ecfa16-50b8-53a0-885e-ca65938230fe.html

Take a look at these great images caputured by Jim Lee, Sioux City Jounal photographer.

Mark your calendar for the next “Animal Lunchtime” at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center:

Thursday, July 12 at 4:30 p.m.

New Informational Kiosks featured at Area County Parks

Anglers, boaters, wildlife watchers and visitors may notice some new signage in two of our Woodbury County parks near Salix, Iowa. These informational kiosks at Snyder Bend Park and Brown’s Lake–Bigelow Park were designed with assistance from Fish Iowa! intern Molly Wilmes last year. They were funded by a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Urban Fishing Funds through the Iowa DNR’s Fish Iowa! program.

Unfortunately, due to last year’s flooding at Snyder Bend Park and high water at Brown’s Lake, the kiosks were not able to be installed until this spring.

The kiosks highlight the basic fish species found in Snyder Bend Lake and Brown’s Lake and include images of the fish for identification. There is general fishing information and a map of the park.

Anglers are required to follow all Iowa DNR fishing rules and regulations. For more information on fishing laws, length limit and care for the catch visit www.iowadnr.gov.

Informational kiosk at Snyder Bend Park near Salix, Iowa.