Volunteers invited to
help rescue Iowa prairies

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Conservation is a hands-on job. With the Statewide Prairie Rescue, volunteers across the state can help restore and maintain important natural heritage areas.

Individuals, families and groups are invited to volunteer at Prairie Rescue events at 29 locations throughout Iowa. Most of the events are held on public land such as state parks, forests or wildlife preserves, although a few events are on private land. The annual Prairie Rescue is cosponsored by several private and public conservation organizations.

Statewide prairie rescues will be held at various times throughout April. Most of the events are on Saturday, April 26, although some are on April 12, 19 and 27 and May 3. For details about all 29 rescue events, visit the INHF web site or call 515-288-1846.

The goal of the prairie rescue events is to help citizens better understand Iowa's natural resources while taking action to protect them.

"Today's typical Iowan can't imagine the diverse and beautiful prairies that greeted Iowa's pioneers," said Mark Ackelson, president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. "The Prairie Rescue allows adults and kids to not only experience how past generations experienced Iowa, but also to help preserve that experience for future generations."

Prior to European settlement, prairies covered more than 80 percent of Iowa. Today 99.9 percent of the state's original prairies are gone. Once maintained naturally through frequent wild fires and large herbivores, today's prairies require human intervention to stay healthy.

"Public involvement is very important in helping protect Iowa's natural resources," said Mark Leoschke, botanist for the DNR Wildlife Bureau. "These public prairies belong to all of us."

At all of the sites throughout the state, volunteers will remove small trees and other woody species that threaten to take over and destroy the native prairies. Some sites will hold controlled burns. On-site experts will provide guidance at the events, and some experts may also provide prairie education.

Site hosts include county conservation boards, The Nature Conservancy, Loess Hills Preservations Society, Iowa Prairie Network, Willowbrook Elementary School, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa DNR and INHF.

Some sites are also hosting extra activities. At Mt. Talbot State Preserve near Sioux City, volunteers will search for Pasque flowers during breaks. Volunteers at Raymond Outcrop Prairie will conduct a controlled burn and then plant prairie seed in the ashes. The Willowbrook Elementary School Prairie is hosting an event as part of a living-learning classroom.

Volunteers should come prepared for light physical work and dress in comfortable clothes. If possible, they should bring work gloves and cutting tools like bow saws or loppers. Volunteers should also bring their own water and snacks because amenities will be limited. More specific volunteer information and directions are on the rescue website at www.inhf.org/prairierescue2003.htm.



For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.