From the Iowa DNR

It’s as predictable as May flowers. From border to border, the Wildlife Baby Season has arrived in Iowa. From now until at least mid-June, DNR field offices across the state will be inundated with hundreds of phone calls and scores of deliveries regarding “orphaned wildlife.”

Most calls begin with something like, “We were walking in the park when…,” or “I looked out my window and saw…” In nearly every instance, the scenario ends with something being rescued from its mother.

During a typical season, the species will range all the way from baby robins and squirrels to spindly-legged white-tailed fawns. At this time of the year, it is not at all uncommon for biologists to discover that complete litters of baby raccoons, foxes or even skunks have mysteriously appeared on their doorsteps.

Why this happens is no real mystery. From fuzzy yellow ducklings to tiny baby bunnies, nothing appears cuter and cuddlier than a wildlife baby. But, in reality, most of the wildlife reported to DNR field offices is not really orphaned at all. And while the people who attempt to “rescue” these babies have the best of intentions, they are in fact dooming the very creatures they intend to help.

The babies of most wildlife species leave their nests or dens well in advance of being able to care for themselves. Although broods or litters may become widely scattered during this fledgling period, they still remain under the direct care and feeding of their parents.

For many songbirds, the transition to independence comes quickly and may take as little as four or five days. For other species such as Canada geese, kestrels or great horned owls, the young and parents may stay in contact for weeks — even months.

At the beginning of the fledgling period, young birds appear clumsy, dull-witted and vulnerable. The reason for this is because they really are clumsy, dull-witted and vulnerable. But as the education process continues, the survivors smarten up fast, while slow learners quickly fade from the scene. Most birds have less than a 20% chance of surviving their first year. While this seems unfortunate or cruel, this is a normal occurrence in nature.  In the real out-of-doors, it’s just the way things are.

Most mammals employ a slightly different strategy when it comes to caring for their adolescents. Since most mammals are largely nocturnal, the mother usually finds a safe daytime hideout for her young while she sleeps or looks for food. Consequently, it is perfectly normal for the young to be alone or unattended during the daylight hours.

Nevertheless, whenever a newborn fawn or a nest full of baby cottontails or raccoons is discovered by a human, it quite often is assumed that the animals are orphaned. The youngster’s fate is usually sealed when it is promptly “rescued from the wild.”

Many wildlife babies die soon after capture from the stress of being handled, talked to and placed into the unfamiliar surroundings of a slick sided cardboard box. Should the animals have the misfortune of surviving this trauma, they often succumb more slowly to starvation from improper nourishment, pneumonia or other human-caused sicknesses.

Whether they are adults or young, all species of wildlife have highly specific needs for survival. “Rescuing a baby from its mother” not only shows bad judgment, it also is illegal.

Observing wildlife in its natural habitat is always a unique privilege. Taking a good photo or two provides an even more lasting memory. But once you’ve done that, let well enough alone. Leave wildlife babies where they belong — in the wild.

A list of wildlife rehabilitators is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Iowas-Wildlife.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

In conjunction with the regular meeting of the Guthrie County Hospital board of trustees on April 25, a public hearing was held regarding the hospital’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. No citizens in person or online spoke up with any concerns or questions, and no written comments had been received, so the hearing was promptly closed. The trustees voted to approve the budget as proposed.

The trustees heard an annual audit report from the accounting firm of Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn and Company (GBK). The audit noted comments and recommendations, including some lack of segregation of duties. The audit also noted some expenses that appeared appropriate but which may have been incorrectly reported.

Board chair Mike Underwood asked for clarification.

“Are you saying there would be the potential we would need to send funds back?” asked Underwood.

The auditor reassured the trustees that seems unlikely, for several reasons. The hospital will need to submit a corrective action plan to the state, to explain the situation, but no repayment is likely to be required.

The board went into closed session to discuss a matter for which a closed session is allowed.

The next regular meeting of the trustees will be May 23. The public is welcome. For information on how to participate in the meeting, visit www.guthriecountyhospital.org.

 

The nursing home is part of Care Initiatives, which is the largest nursing home company in Iowa

 

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times

Panora Specialty Care, located on the eastern edge of Panora at 805 E. Main St., is sometimes locally known as “the care facility” or “the nursing home,” but it’s much more than that. As one would expect in a small town, the staff members get to know their clients well. But as part of a much larger care provider organization, the local facility can offer much more than one might expect.

Administrator Jacquelyne Jasek explained the group of which Panora Specialty Care is a part of.

“We’re part of Care Initiatives, which is the largest nursing home company in Iowa. We have 43 facilities in the state, as well as several hospice locations,” Jasek said.

Jasek has worked within the Care Initiatives organization since 2014 and has been the administrator at Panora Specialty Care since December of 2023.

Services offered at Panora Specialty Care include 24-hour skilled nursing care, accelerated care plus therapy equipment, independent living, beauty shop/barber shop, Care Initiatives Hospice, discharge planning/home visits, individualized care plans, intravenous (IV) therapy, lymphedema and wound therapy, medication management, memory care units, occupational therapy, outpatient therapy, pain management, pastoral services, physical therapy, planned activities, rehab-to-home, respite care, select/choice menus, special dietary accommodations, speech therapy, tube feedings, and wound care management.

An addition to the building was made in 2000 to offer 11 assisted living units. However, the purpose of those units has changed.

“We recently switched the assisted living to independent living,” Jasek said. 

Kati Scheurmann, activities and social services director, has worked at the facility since 2016. She said, when she began leading activities for residents, she wanted to find out from them what they would prefer.

“I asked to get opinions from residents on what they enjoy, so it wasn’t just generic activities like bingo. We added karaoke, which has been a big hit. We do that usually once a week or every other week,” Scheurmann said. “We also do pet therapy. I bring in animals all the time for that, and as it gets nicer out, we can do more things outside.”

As activity director, Scheurmann aims to offer intergenerational opportunities for those living in the facility. She coordinates youth to visit, such as carolers during the holiday season and Cub Scouts or similar groups year-round. Scheurmann said she’s currently working on implementing an “adopted grandparents” program, in which residents will be paired up with youth to socialize while also teaching skills such as sewing.

A total of approximately 40 staff members work at Panora Specialty Care. Jasek and Scheurmann each praised the individuals who provide the various cares and services at the facility.

“We have a lot of longevity of staff. We have people who have been here 20, 30 years,” Scheurmann said. 

“I feel like we all work really well together,” Jasek said. “It’s a good family environment.”

Scheurmann added that, because of the many departments in the facility, staff members are available to assist in other areas, if or when needed. 

Another strength of the facility, as described by Jasek and Scheurmann, is the ability to tap into expertise and resources from elsewhere in the broader Care Initiatives organization. 

“Additional resources are always just a phone call away,” Jasek said.

Because of the wide variety of services provided, Panora Specialty Care has a blend of long-term and short-term residents/clients. Jasek said this creates an opportunity for clear feedback from those served by the facility.

“We have a lot of people that leave, and then they come back,” Jasek said. “So, that’s a rewarding thing for us, that they choose to come back to this facility.”