Iowa's Changing Wildlife by James J Dinsmore, Stephen J Dinsmore

Iowa's Changing Wildlife (Bur Oak Book)

by James J Dinsmore and Stephen J Dinsmore

Much has changed with Iowa’s wildlife in the years 1990 to 2020. Some species such as Canada goose, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer that once were rare in Iowa are now common, and others like sandhill crane, river otter, and trumpeter swan are becoming increasingly abundant. Iowa’s Changing Wildlife provides an up-to-date, scientifically based summary of changes in the distribution, status, conservation needs, and future prospects of about sixty species of Iowa’s birds and mammals whose populations have increased or decreased in the past three decades. Readers will learn more about familiar species, become acquainted with the status of less familiar species, and find out how many of the species around them have fared during this era of transformation.

Reviewed by annieb123 on

5 of 5 stars

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Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Iowa's Changing Wildlife is a layman accessible well written monograph on the changing conservation status of wildlife in Iowa written and annotated by Professor Emeritus James & Dr. Stephen Dinsmore. Released 5th Dec 2023 by the University of Iowa Press, it's 266 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The authors track the population changes in 60 specific animal populations in Iowa in the last 3 decades (1990-2020). Their methodology includes survey data, personal observation, data from government agencies, and other authors. The species covered include many birds, mammals (including bears, cats, ruminants like bison, and bats), furbearers, and more. Invertebrates are outside the scope of the book.

Interestingly (and usefully), the authors do provide some insights into the legislation and conservation work in the area during the stated time period. Although it's mostly an academically rigorous and well annotated text, the language is perfectly layman accessible, and interested non-scientists will have no problems understanding the material. 

There are no photographs included, barring the covers, but the interior chapter headings are enhanced by small pointillist b&w sketches. 

Five stars. Well written and interesting, if admittedly quite niche. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

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Reading updates

  • 18 January, 2024: Started reading
  • 18 January, 2024: Finished reading
  • 18 January, 2024: Reviewed