Iowa Wildlife Federation

06/05/2026

See you tomorrow! 🎣

Stop by our table to pick up some fresh wildlife swag while supplies last….comment section 👇👀

06/03/2026

Thank you to Maura Curran at Iowa Public Radio for shedding light on the Certified Wildlife Habitat program!

There’s no better way to celebrate National Pollinator Month than to share that Iowa has surpassed 2,000 Certified Wildlife Habitats in more than 100 communities across the state!

When you apply to certify your outdoor space as a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation, a portion of your application fee comes back to your local affiliate, the Iowa Wildlife Federation. Those funds help support programs like School of the Wild, the Gray Fox Project and outreach efforts surrounding Iowa’s water quality.

Every habitat certified helps create a more wildlife-friendly Iowa while supporting conservation, education and advocacy efforts across the state.

Read the story below! 🐝
https://www.iowapublicradio.org/environment/2026-06-03/iowa-wildlife-program-yard-habitats?fbclid=IwY2xjawSOzPNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe2QHwKYOMJMT_0d7Asp1k08rebHjD4J3gNQ9xKi045cjA1ocet3EYsIkuJxM_aem_uCRAI2J29f3ExfIYhG11dw

The Iowa Wildlife Federation promotes the national program, which helps people certify their yards and other outdoor spaces as healthy habitats for local wildlife.

06/03/2026

Beavers!

06/02/2026

As a nonprofit organization, the Iowa Wildlife Federation relies on the support of individual donors, sponsors and grant partners to carry out its mission.

Every wildlife habitat certified, every student reached through School of the Wild and every conservation initiative we support is made possible by people who believe in our work.

Help keep this work moving forward by making a donation today.

➡️ https://iawildlife.org/donate/

06/01/2026

Will we see you Saturday for Carp FEST!?

Join fellow anglers this Saturday, June 6, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for Carp FEST at Gray’s Lake Park in Des Moines, a fun day outdoors celebrating fishing, wildlife and Iowa’s waters.

Hosted in partnership with Des Moines Parks and Recreation and the Des Moines Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, Carp FEST is a free, family-friendly event where participants can try their hand at carp fishing, learn new skills and enjoy time outside with fellow outdoor enthusiasts.

Whether you’re an experienced angler or brand new to fishing, we’d love to see you there! Be sure to stop by our table and pick up some new stickers celebrating Iowa's wildlife!

Learn more: https://www.dsm.city/Carp_FEST504.php

Check out these graphics designed by our new volunteer and Drake University student, Allison Hibbert. ✨

05/29/2026

Backyard orioles 🍊🧡🖤

The word "oriole" comes from the Latin term "aureolus" meaning "golden." ✨

Have you spotted an oriole in your garden yet this year? Many return this month, making their way back from their wintering grounds across parts of Mexico and the Caribbean. 🌴

📷: Lowell Washburn

05/27/2026

"Weighing less than half an ounce, the blackpoll migrates farther than any other warbler currently migrating through Iowa. Blackpolls spend the winter months in the lush, neotropical habitats of South America’s Amazon Basin. But come spring, the warbler heads for its ancestral nesting grounds in the boreal forests of northern Canada."

Read about spring songbird migration in the latest article of Washburn's Outdoor Journal at https://iawildlife.org/blog/spring-songbird-migration/

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.For Iowa Birders; It Is a Time Like No Other This year’s spring songbird migration has been one of the most spectacular in recent years.  Orioles, grosbeaks, tanagers, buntings, wood warblers, you name […]

05/26/2026

In 2010, 63% of Iowa voters approved the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund to protect clean water, healthy soil, wildlife habitat and outdoor spaces for future generations.

But more than a decade later, the fund still sits empty.

Now is the time to act. Grassroots meetings are being held across Iowa for supporters to learn more, get involved and help organize support for funding the Trust.

Check out the upcoming meetings below and RSVP to a location near you. Lunch or dinner will be provided.

We hope to see you there!

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the brave service members who gave their lives in service to our country.

As Iowans gather outdoors with family and friends today, we reflect with gratitude on the sacrifices that made these moments possible. 🇺🇸