Volume 2, Issue 5
Text Box: Ornate Box Turtle—Terrapene ornata Ornate Box Turtle skin is black to olive in color, and the shell is marked with yellow lines on a black or brown background. These turtles are very unique; unlike most turtles, they will avoid wet areas such as streams and marshes. Ornate Box Turtles are typically found in sandy, open areas, and prefer prairie. The turtles can burrow underground to escape heat. Ornate Box Turtles are active in Iowa from April to October, when they can be found foraging for food. These turtles feed on insects and earthworms, greens, berries, and carrion. Due to habitat loss, these turtles are listed as a “threatened” species in Iowa. Prairie restoration projects can help to create habitat for these fascinating reptiles. Text Box: Pasqueflower—Anemone patens The delicate buds of this early bloomer can be seen in native prairie remnants right around Easter time. That Easter timing is alluded to in the name; “Pasque,” which is actually a French word meaning Easter. This small perennial herb has a bell- shaped, lavender flower that blooms for 2 weeks in early spring. It is a small plant, only growing between 2 and 18 inches tall. Leaves are palm- shaped and covered in silky hairs, which aid in insulation. Pasqueflower has been useful throughout history in treating eye diseases, such as cataracts, as well as nosebleeds and rheumatism. Text Box: (Continued from page 1) woody vegetation (such as: dogwood, sumac and eastern red cedar, honey locust, etc.) through tree removal and/or prescribed burns. Tree Shearing

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Text Box: Feature Animal and Plant Text Box: Loess Hills Stewardship Initiative continued... Photo of Lespedeza capitataTerrapene_ornata, Ornate Box Turtle

 

Several other partnering organizations will provide matching grant funds and technical assistance, including the Loess Hills Alliance, Golden Hills Resource Conservation & Development, The Nature Conservancy, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Division of Soil Conservation, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Pottawattamie and Plymouth County Conservation Boards, the Soil & Water Conservation Districts of the seven Loess Hills counties and Agren, Inc.

 

Contact the Mills County Soil & Water Conservation District office at 712-624-8606 extension 3 for additional program information or to complete an application.