DES MOINES COUNTY CONSERVATION HONORS ITS VOLUNTEERS     

Although un-known to most, there are flying squirrels in Iowa. Most remain unseen to the human eye due to the fact that they are nocturnal, meaning they come out after the sun goes down. This discreet rodent is grayish in color, is approximately 10 inches long from head to tail, and weighs in at 2-4 ounces. Its night vision-enabled eyes are disproportionately large compared to its small body.

Flying squirrels do not actually fly, in-stead they glide. They are able to do this through a special adaptation consisting of a fold of skin, called a patagium, that extends from the wrists of the forearm to the ankles of the hind legs. When the legs extend, the fold of skin stretches and forms a wing-like surface that enables the squirrel to "fly" from tree to tree.

State Department of Natural Resource (DNR) officials have ordered the closure of State-owned caves which are used by bats for hibernation in order to help slow a disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). The syndrome is killing bats across the eastern half of the United States and now has been discovered as close as Missouri. Starr’s Cave is among the list of caves required to close until further notice. The DNR is also recommending that private cave owners close their caves if they are known to house hibernating bats.

State-owned caves have already been closed in Indiana and Illinois. White-nose bat disease was first found in the northeast U.S. in 2006 and has killed an estimated 1-million cave-hibernating bats since. It was confirmed in Missouri, near St. Louis, this past April.

Iowa is home to nine bat species and of those, only four roost in caves: big brown, little brown, long eared, and eastern pipistrelle, with big brown being the most common. Bats are a major predator of flying insects, a good portion of which are garden and agriculture pests. Plus, they eat mosquitoes. While bats will not control insects completely, they do help to keep the insect population in check.

The disease is transmitted bat to bat, but it is also likely transported to sites inadvertently by people carrying it in on their clothing or in the mud on their shoes. Not a lot is known about the disease or how exactly it is transported, but extra precautions are being taken to help slow the spread.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), researchers associate WNS as a newly identified fungus that thrives in the cold and humid conditions characteristic of the caves and mines used by bats. The fungus could be responsible for the bat deaths, or it could be secondary to the cause. WNS causes bats to lose their fat reserves, which they need to survive hibernation, long before the winter is over. They often leave their hibernacula during the winter and die.

Signs of the disease may include white fungus, especially on the bat’s nose, but also on the wings, ears or tail; bats flying outside during the day in temperatures at or be-low freezing; bats clustered near the entrance of a hibernacula; and dead or dying bats on the ground or on buildings, trees, or other structures. Please report suspected cases of WNS to Kevin Baskins of the Iowa DNR at (515) 281-8395.

Just as the tree should be vibrant and growing during June and July, insects and diseases will also abound. Insects that eat only parts of leaves may cause a tree to look unsightly, but tend to cause little damage to the tree as a whole. However, if all the leaves are badly eaten, if it happens in consecutive years, or if the stems are also damaged, consider looking into treatment.

Many diseases are spread by wind, wet weather, and insects. Since there isn’t much we can do about these things, refrain from cutting or trimming trees during the growing months to prevent unnecessary wounds. Whether an insect or disease, make sure you know what you’re treating before taking action. Many insecticides and fungicides are specific to certain pests, so consult a professional and don’t treat what you don’t know.

Weather, animal, and human damage from past years in addition to the current year, can effect what is happening with your tree at present. Often diseases and insects come in after the tree is already damaged or struggling. Consider any new construction or compaction around the tree and root zone as possible causes of new injury. Also, lawn mowers and weed eaters cause much damage every year, so consider a 2" deep and 2-3’ wide layer of mulch around yard trees for mower protection.

Floods, droughts, wind and ice...with our ever-changing weather and seasons, damage can happen easily to trees. Too much or too little rain is common cause for concern. Make sure your gutters or drains are not directed towards your trees in wet times. Water all around the root zone (drip line) during drought or long dry periods.

Make sure to choose trees suitable for Iowa’s climate, and also for your site’s specific sun and drain-age. Wind and ice damaged branches should be pruned soon after the event, with all other pruning held off until winter. With a little work, and prevention when possible, your trees can be healthier for you to enjoy for longer!

Jen lives in Burlington where she shares her home with husband Kurt, daughter Brittany, and a variety of pets. She loves spending time outdoors, running, reading, and laying by her pool. She has a strong interest in Native American history and is an artifact collector. Jen will graduate this December with degrees in both psychology and social services.

Hillary Dunnegan will be this summer’s volunteer Naturalist Intern at Starr’s Cave Nature Center. Her duties will be teaching summer camp, greeting visitors, and answering the public’s nature questions. Hillary lives in Mediapolis and was a 2008 graduate of Mediapolis High School. In the fall, she will complete her final semester of coursework towards a Biology degree at Iowa Wesleyan.

In her spare, Hillary and her dog Odie are fishing on the river or exploring trails at different parks. Recently she traveled to Honduras to work in a school and a clinic. Her post-college plans have been narrowed down to either a career in conservation, laboratory work, or continuing on with her education to become a science professor.