“The Indians know how to fire the prairie with great skill and how to take advantage of a favorable wind. Despite the fact that all around the village the grass was burned, the cornfields nearby were unharmed.” - Paul Wilhelm, Travels in North America, 1822-1824. You may have seen the news ...

The other day, while driving Interstate 35, we noticed a coyote standing in the ditch waiting to cross the road. It looked South, then North, then South again. The road was busy with traffic, and I said, “Turn around, buddy!” I’d like to think I can talk to animals, because he did ...

None of us who are alive today will ever know, nor feel, what it must have been like to gaze across Iowa’s endless sea of prairie grasses in the early 1800’s. “There was only the enormous, empty prairie, with grasses blowing in waves of light and shadow across it, and the great blue sky ...

By EMILY HERRING ne of my favorite times of the year is when winter begins to fade and spring begins to shine. Last weekend was a beautiful preview of spring. Don’t get me wrong, I know it is just a preview, but it sure felt nice to feel the spring sunshine. These warm days and cool nights ...

The most difficult lesson which Iowans are learning is that fence-rows, grown up to prairie plants, shrubs, and some trees are beautiful rather than unsightly and that the protection thus afforded wildlife, especially song and game birds, is much worthwhile.” —J.M. Aikman and Ada Hayden, ...

This past week brought perfect ice-making weather. It may not have been everyone’s idea of a great time, but for ice fishing enthusiasts, it was the kind of weather we had been waiting for quite a while. While recent seasons have been tricky, hopefully this cold streak will have the ice ...