Rare creatures were spotted in two regions of Iowa in recent months. White-tailed squirrels have been seen near the Minnesota border in the town of Osage, and now in central Iowa in Des Moines. Vince Evilsizer, a biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says they’re not albino squirrels, as only the tail is white.  “If it was albino, it would likely be all white,” Evilsizer says. “Genetically, it’s probably a recessive trait just expressing a different color pattern. It’s pretty interesting and it must just be a recessive gene that’s showing up.”

Witnesses say the squirrels’ bodies are the typical brown while their bushy tails are pure, snowy white. “I am not sure what’s causing it to show up right now,” Evilsizer says. “I would guess it’s not weather but I’m not sure. I would guess something that emerged in maybe one or a few squirrels. It may stick around and become more prevalent or may kind of melt away again.” Evilsizer says he has never seen a white-tail squirrel, and anyone who does, should consider themselves lucky.

(Radio Iowa)

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is ready to move the Missouri River into what it’s calling “drought reserve mode” and it’ll mean much less water flowing downriver. Corps spokeswoman Monique Farmer says water levels will drop by the end of the month. Winter releases from Gavins Point Dam, near Yankton, South Dakota, will be dropped to minimum levels, averaging around 12-thousand cubic feet per second (CFS) starting on December 1st and running through the end of February. Current release levels from the dam have been running more than three times that level, at 38-thousand C-F-S.

Farmer says the Corps’ forecast for next spring has the reservoirs down drastically. They’re expecting to be about 8-million acre feet below the base of the annual flood control and multiple use zone, so the three major reservoirs in the system may be drawn down 8 to 12 feet lower than what would normally be seen at this time of year. It was just last summer that reservoirs and releases hit record high levels during the spring and summer flooding. Releases from Gavins Point hit just over 160-thousand C-F-S. Farmer says they will step down releases gradually to allow downstream water users to adjust.

They’ll cut the releases initially to around 18-thousand C-F-S and hold for a few days. That will give cities and individuals who have their water intakes in the river the chance to see how they may be impacted. After a few days, water levels will be cut further to the projected 12-thousand C-F-S, where it should remain until March. The plan is raising concerns. Leaders in the state of Missouri fear such a drop in water levels on the Missouri River will impact the Mississippi River so much, barge traffic may have to be halted.

(Radio Iowa)

Agribusiness agronomists and farmers who want information on new practices to improve soil and water quality have an opportunity in December to learn from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach specialists. Soil and water management workshops will be held Friday, Dec. 21st at St. Bernard Parish in Breda, Iowa. A second opportunity will be on Wednesday, Feb. 27th at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Prairie City, Iowa. Both programs runs from 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Topics covered will include the science assessment of the statewide nutrient reduction program; the new corn suitability rating (CSR2); and approaches to make cover crops work. Featured speakers include Matt Helmers, ISU agricultural engineer; Sarah Carlson, Practical Farmers of Iowa; and Lee Burras, ISU soil science professor.

Certified crop advisors can earn 2.5 soil and water credits. Advance registration for the course $35. Registration at the door is $45. Registration is limited to 30 participants. Register on-line at www.aep.iastate.edu/swm. To register by fax or mail contact your local ISU County Extension office for a brochure.

Info from the Atlantic Animal Shelter w/ Chris Parks and Andrea Farrier.

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w/ Dr. Keith Leonard

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Five Shelby County residents were elected to the County Extension Council following the Nov. 6th general election. They include: Travis Lane, of Shelby; Scott Burchett, of Harlan; Rowly Burton, of Irwin; Julie Klein, of Harlan; and Michele Monson, of Irwin. The new members will replace Lori Peters, from Portsmouth; Dwight Carroll, from Harlan; Sue Nymand, from Elk Horn; and Ron Rosmann, from Harlan.

Carryover council members whose terms expire at the end of 2014 are Laura Freund, Earling; Kay Goshorn, Harlan; Jo Kenkel, Defiance; and Jake Schechinger, Harlan. Council members elected in November will begin their terms in January and the council will meet in early January to elect officers.

The Extension Council is the county governing body for the Cooperative Extension System. Council members hire county staff, manage the county extension budget of approximately $240,000, and help determine programming, said Jo Kenkel, Shelby County extension council chairperson. The county extension office is located at 906 6^th St., Harlan.