Iowa was officially admitted as the 29th state of the United States on Dec. 28, 1846, but people have inhabited its lands for thousands of years. Paleo-Indians, early ancestors of Native Americans who first entered the continent of North America on massive land bridges some 17,000 years ago, are thought to have first lived in the area that would become Iowa around 12,000 B.C. (14,000 years ago).
French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette became the first Europeans to visit the area in 1673, and it would take roughly 150 years before they started permanently settling there. A big chunk of modern-day Iowa, which is named after the Ioway Tribe of the Native American Siouan people, was acquired by the U.S. from France through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
In the years following, Iowa became one of the biggest agricultural producers in the country. Despite its smaller size, the Hawkeye State remains one of the top states in farm-based production.
Home to more than 3.2 million residents, the Midwestern state, sandwiched between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, has some of the best farmland in the entire world — especially for growing corn.
Yet, Iowa’s supreme soil and perfect farming climate haven’t prevented some of its native plant and animal species from the threat of extinction (or extirpation). The number of prairies partially responsible for the state’s top-quality soil has decreased by more than 99%, its original forest size is less than half of what it once was, and only 5% of its prairie pothole wetlands remain.
It’s probably impossible to restore these depleted ecosystems to their historic levels. However, it is definitely possible to still protect and preserve the animals that have ended up on Iowa’s Endangered and Threatened Species List.
Iowa’s state legislation first established protective laws for its species in 1975, tasking its administration and enforcement to the Natural Resource Commission and the director of the Department of Natural Resources. The current list of endangered animals comprises four mammals, seven birds, eight fish, eight reptiles, two amphibians, two butterflies, seven land snails, and nine freshwater mussels.
Covering all 47 species would be a bit much – but keep reading to learn about three animals on the list: the crawfish frog, common barn owl, and great plains skink.
Crawfish Frog
Photo Courtesy Peter Paplanus
Why is the crawfish frog (Lithobates areolatus or Rana areolata) endangered? There are-o-lata reasons, but the most impactful has been habitat loss caused by the drainage of their breeding ponds. The frogs get their name because they tend to live in the burrows of crayfish for most of their lives. If not residing in those, the short-bodied, large-headed frogs can inhabit mammal burrows (petition to rename them burrow frogs?) and roadside holes.
Ranging from 2.25 to 4.5 inches long, these nocturnal frogs burrow during the day and hunt insects and crustaceans at night.
When they were more populous in the 1940s, the amphibians could be found throughout the southeastern counties of Iowa, including Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Van Buren, and Wayne.
Sightings of the species are extremely rare these days, and many scientists believe they may be extinct within the state. However, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has several projects and plans to restore threatened habitats, which, over time, could slowly restore their populations.
For example, the Iowa Wildlife Action Plan (IWAP) is a 25-year-long project first created in 2006 to conserve wildlife in the state and is still going on to this day. A number of other, more general state-based wildlife conservation projects are also underway.
Common Barn Owl
Photo Courtesy Joshua J. Cotten
The common barn owl (Tyto alba) isn’t as common as its name suggests. The North American bird of prey was added to Iowa’s endangered species list in 1977. They are found in every continent except Antarctica, which might be where the name comes from, but spotting one in Iowa is an exceptionally rare event. The pale-faced, skinny owls are more likely (though still not likely) to be found in the southern parts of Iowa.
The owls prefer well-protected nesting locations like church steeples, abandoned buildings, tree cavities, and, yes, barns. Interestingly enough, barn owls don’t hoot like most of their counterparts. Instead, they either screech or hiss to communicate.
Like most owls, they hunt at night, preferring total darkness to maximize the effectiveness of their asymmetrical ear openings, which allow them to precisely target their quarries. These quarries, typically different types of rodents, have seen their populations decline from urbanization and development, leading to a decline in barn owls statewide.
Habitat loss has also played a major role in the reduction of the owl species in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has noted that 40 acres of prairies or grasslands would support enough small mammals to feed an entire family of barn owls. The department’s Conservation Reserve Program allows land to be idled — turned into a suitable conservation habitat for the species — by anyone willing.
Great Plains Skink
Photo Courtesy Gary M. Stolz
The Great Plains skink (Eumeces obsoletus) isn’t obsolete yet, but the threat of extinction is nothing new for the species. Agriculture, invasive species, harvesting, and pet trading currently threaten 20% of the entire world’s skinks, of which there are 1,714, according to the Wildlife Society.
Skinks are a rather unique animal species. Their short limbs and long, slender bodies can sometimes resemble snakes, but they are, in fact, lizards. The reptiles can range in color, but the younger ones tend to have bright blue tails that slowly change colors as they age.
Adult Great Plains skinks can reach up to 13 inches long and prefer to live in prairie grassland habitats, which are common in the Midwestern and Southern states.
The animals hunt insects, snails, other lizards, and spiders for food, and they’re also known to be aggressive when threatened. Although these reptiles were once popular throughout the state, the species is now relegated to Iowa’s Southwestern corner, with only a few sightings of the lizards in the past few years.
The Department of Natural Resources has offered a few ways to protect the Great Plains skinks from extirpation. The majority focus on habitat preservation and restoration, including avoiding prescribed burns and mowing during active skink periods, removing invasive plant and animal species, and preventing grassland overgrazing.
Iowa once boasted an abundance of Great Plains skinks, common barn owls, crawfish frogs, and countless other species now threatened by extinction. The good news is that there’s still time to turn things around, and a growing number of organizations and volunteers are looking to do just that.
