AMES, Iowa – Wildlife is everywhere in Iowa. As farmers and landowners across the state encounter this wildlife, questions of how to manage and care for animals bubble to the surface.
The wildlife program with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has created a new application to help Iowans find local contacts to help provide answers. The online application consolidates contact information for natural resource professionals in all corners of the state.
“This application tries to capture the contact information for professionals across the state that work on wildlife issues and wildlife conservation,” said Adam Janke, assistant professor and extension wildlife specialist with Iowa State University. “Any Iowan with questions about wildlife or needing help attracting or removing them will find the application useful,” he said.
The website has four categories for users to access the right professionals in their area on a county-by-county basis.
- General Regional Wildlife Information: This category indexes professionals who are knowledgeable about local wildlife populations and their habitats, which may be useful for general questions or for finding local professionals to help with outreach or media inquiries.
- Wildlife Conflict Resolution: This category indexes public and private sector professionals skilled in resolving issues with problem wildlife in and around homes, farms and municipalities.
- Wildlife Habitat Programs and Consultation: This category allows landowners to find public sector and nonprofit organization natural resource management professionals who can help create wildlife habitat and provide access to state and federal cost-share support for wildlife habitat projects.
- Wildlife Rehabilitation: This category indexes contact information for licensed wildlife rehabilitators who are available to help rehabilitate sick or injured animals, or to care for animals captured inside during winter that wouldn’t survive outdoors, like bats.
“Many of these contacts can be found on other websites, but this new application provides a comprehensive county-by-county resource for one-stop shopping for professional help to assist Iowans find relevant and timely information,” Janke said.
