Report fish and wildlife violations to the Turn in Poachers (TIP) Program by calling 1-800-532-2020. Provide as much information as possible while remaining annonymous. A conservation officer will be dispatched to investigate.
Welcome to the Winnebago County Conservation Board, one of 99 county conservation boards in Iowa.
We are located in the rolling hills of north-central Iowa's prairie pothole region. Our
purpose is to provide outdoor recreational opportunities for
everyone and to protect and conserve our natural resources. Scroll
down for the latest news and browse through our web site often
to see what we have to offer!
Be sure to contact us if you have any comments or questions!
Mark your calendars now:
The new Winnebago River Trail will be dedicated
on Sunday, June 13th. Watch for more details later!
Also, feel free to contact us here at the WCCB with any questions you may have.
Want to know what to look for in the nighttime sky this year?
Download this handy calendar of events.
Thorpe Park's Swans Sighted!
Many
of you enjoying seeing our pair of trumpeter swans throughout the
summer at Thorpe Park. Although we've known for many years that they
winter at Beemer's Pond near Webster City, it's neat to actually see
them there! These photos are from Bill Schuerman of Cedar Falls
and he says that trumpeter swans are his favorite subjects to
photograph. Among the photos he took at Beemer's Pond last month were a
few that had "our" pair in them!
The green-colored bird standing along the edge of the water in the
photo above is F92, our female swan, while the red-colored bird in
front is H88, her mate. She was hatched out in 1996 in Wisconsin and
released by the DNR at Eagle Lake in Hancock County in May of 1997. She
nested in 2000 at Thorpe Park with her original mate (3F5), but he died
that winter. In 2002, though, she returned to Thorpe Park with a new
mate--H88!
H88 was hatched in 1999 at Clinton, IA, and was release by the DNR in
May of 2000 at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County.
The two birds have been together ever since 2002, returning to Thorpe
Park, and the adjoining Russ Wildlife Area, each spring, nesting and
raising cygents. Last summer, they raised 2 cygnets and it's possible
that a couple of the gray-colored birds in the photo are their two
cygnets from last year, since young birds often migrate with their
parents the first year.
Once the water freezes over in the fall, and the swans head south, we
rarely get a chance to see them again until spring. So, it's nice to
see them in the photos and know that they are doing well! Hopefully,
they will return here this spring to raise their young, as they have
done for the past 8 years. And, if they do, we will let you know!
Special thanks, again, to Bill Schuerman of Cedar Falls for providing us with these excellent photos!
Holland Youth Area Permits Available
for Spring Turkey Hunting
The
WCCB is accepting applications from youth who wish to hunt turkey this spring on the
Holland Prairie Conservation and Youth Hunting Area. The 225-acre
wildlife area is unique in that, to allow a good hunting experience for kids, hunting on the area is restricted to youth aged 15 and younger. A licensed adult must accompany the youth, but can also hunt alongside the young person.
The Holland Youth Area is located about 2 miles northeast of Leland. To
hunt this area, though, a free permit is required and no more than two
permits will be issued for the same time period. To receive a permit application, contact our office, or download one here.
Applications can also be picked up at the Winnebago County Courthouse.
The permit application also contains more information about the Holland
Youth Hunting Area, as does our "Areas" page.
Lease is Terminated on Hadacek Recreation Area
By mutual agreement, the
lease at the Hadacek Recreation Area north of Forest City has been
terminated. As a result, this area is no longer open to the public, and
has reverted back to the Hadacek family. Please take note of this when
planning future outdoor activities. Contact WCCB Director Robert Schwartz if you have any questions. Thank you!
20 Ways You Can Celebrate Earth Day All Year!
--Plant a tree, a shrub, or some flowers. --Feed a bird. --Pick up some litter. --Recycle something. --Reuse something that you would have thrown out. --Turn off a light or a TV that isn't being used. --Ride a bike or walk somewhere instead of taking a car. --Take a reusable shopping bag on your next shopping trip. --Replace an incandescent light bulb with a fluorescent one. --Next time you buy something, make sure it's made from recyclable products. --Give your old clothes and household items away instead of throwing them out. --Take a hike and think about how beautiful the Earth is. --If you go camping, take care of your campsite. --Don't buy over packaged products. --Hang your clothes outside to dry, instead of using a clothes dryer. --Compost. --Build a bird or bat house and put it up in a good location. --Create a brush pile for animals. --Make sure your car is tuned up and your tires properly inflated to save gas. --Only run full loads of clothes or dishes so that you don't waste water.
Welcome to the Winnebago County Conservation Board, 
The Lake Catherine Cabin at Thorpe Park is available for rental
throughout the winter. What better way is there to enjoy the beautiful
winter scenery 
youth aged 15 and younger. A licensed adult must accompany the youth, but can also hunt alongside the young person. 