Blog

Have you ever seen Iowa’s biggest native mammal, the bison? They can be hard to find even though they’re so big. If you visit one of Iowa’s bison herds this year, play this “I Spy” game with your friends and family to spot some of the ways bison keep prairies healthy. If you’re playing along at home, don’t worry! You can still spot parts of Iowa’s native prairies and imagine how a bison would help a prairie grow in your yard.

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation welcomes Ryan Van Kooten as Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, Van Kooten manages INHF’s finances, providing financial statements, analysis and planning to advance the INHF mission and provide transparency to donors.

The 2026 Iowa Legislature adjourned on May 3 and throughout the session, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation worked to advocate for the land, water, and wildlife. Together, we forged connections with lawmakers, partners, and new voices to understand the ways that our natural resources impact our lives and communities.

Despite first appearances, prairies aren’t just made of grass. There’s much more out there on the wide-open plains. Broadly, prairie vegetation falls into four categories: grasses, sedges, rushes, and forbs. So, how do you tell what’s what?

Learn about lichens - fungi that "farm" photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria. 

Last Friday, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation awarded Richard “Dick” Ramsay the Brush of Excellence for his lifetime achievements in conservation and contributions to conserving Iowa's land and water.

An Iowan sets out to visit every county park in the state

New Klingman Etringer WMA in Clayton County creates more public access and honors family legacy

Learn how a gap in a protected river corridor was filled — despite a gap in funding. 

Here’s a look back at just a few of the protection projects INHF supporters made possible, how the health of those lands and waters have improved since protection, and a snapshot of the species who have benefited from your generosity.

Spring in Iowa is alive with colors! Birds migrate back and flowers begin to bloom. There’s even fish, bugs, butterflies and colorful tree blooms to find. You have a whole rainbow of colors to explore in Iowa. When you’re walking through your neighborhood, out at the playground or visiting your county and state parks, you can look out for some of these rainbow birds and flowers.

Story and photos with a spotlight on land donor Judith Bechtum