Dubuque County Conservation

06/11/2026

This is Dubuque County Conservation's view today.

Just a short time ago, many of us were wondering if we were headed into a drought. Fast forward to this week, and Catfish Creek at Swiss Valley Park is running high and muddy, forcing the creek crossing to close. Meanwhile, strong storms have left trees down and hanging along sections of the Heritage Trail and every other park.

If you didn't get enough storm cleanup in your own yard, we could use a few more helping hands tomorrow morning! Join us at Fillmore Fairways at 8:00 a.m. as we work to clear debris and help get our parks and trails back in shape.

Send us a message if you'd like to lend a hand. We'd love the help!

06/10/2026

Volunteers Needed Tomorrow Morning!

Today's storms left their mark on several Dubuque County parks, and we could use a few extra hands to help with cleanup efforts.

📅 Tomorrow
🕢 7:30 AM
📍 Fillmore Fairways County Park
📍 Mud Lake County Park

We'll be:
+Moving branches and storm debris
+Picking up sticks and downed limbs
+ Repairing erosion around camping pads
+ Helping get these parks ready for visitors

Whether you can stay for an hour or the entire morning, your help will be so appreciated. No special skills are required just a willingness to lend a hand and help care for your county parks.

Please wear sturdy shoes, work clothes, and bring gloves if you have them. If you're able to help, send us a message so we can be in touch if we need to move the volunteer event due to another forecasted storm.

Thank you for helping keep Dubuque County parks safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone!

06/10/2026

Sponsor a Snake Board!
Meet one of the species we hope to find during this year's snake surveys a young Black Ratsnake! Black ratsnakes are among Iowa's largest snakes. They're harmless to people and are excellent at controlling rodent populations. Young black ratsnakes have a bold blotched pattern that fades as they age, eventually becoming nearly all black as adults.

To help us learn more about Dubuque County's snake populations, we're looking for community members to donate "snake boards" for an upcoming survey.

Here's how it works:
+Donate a board
+ We'll assign it a number
+ We'll let you know what species we find under YOUR board throughout the survey season!

Think of it as sponsoring a piece of wildlife research.
We're looking for:
+Boards between 2' x 2' and 4' x 4'
+Untreated wood
+ Free of nails, staples, and paint

Please do NOT donate:
+OSB
+MDF
+ Painted or treated lumber

Snake boards create shelter that attracts a variety of species, helping us better understand where snakes live and how they're using the landscape. Our goal is to place 10 or more boards this season, and donations can be dropped off anytime between now and August. Who knows? Your board might become home to a Black Ratsnake, Brownsnake, Garter Snake, Red-bellied Snake, or another secretive reptile hiding in Dubuque County.

Interested in donating a board? Send us a message or contact the Dubuque County Conservation office for details.

06/02/2026

Park Spotlight: Finley’s Landing Park

Looking for a place to camp, paddle, swim, and explore along the Mississippi River? Finley’s Landing Park is one of Dubuque County’s premier riverfront destinations, offering recreation opportunities for every outdoor enthusiast.

This park features:
+Mississippi River boating access
+A sandy beach
+Scenic campsites
+Wildlife viewing/ hunting opportunities
+Creekside/ forested hiking trails
+Picnic and day-use areas

Whether you’re launching a boat, spending a weekend camping, cooling off at the beach, or watching wildlife along the river, this park offers a little bit of everything.

📍 24799 Finleys Landing Rd, Sherrill, IA

Stay tuned — we’ll be highlighting more Dubuque County parks soon!

GetOutside

06/02/2026

Black bear sightings have become a staple of springtime in the Dubuque area in recent years.

05/28/2026

How dedicated of a birder are you?
The Northeast Iowa Flyway Competition is ON, and there’s still time to join! Whether you’re a hardcore birder or just someone who says “oh look, a bird” this is your moment.

Team up or go solo, and see how many birds you can log before May flies away. Bragging rights are absolutely on the line.

Check out our CivicRec events page for all the details.

https://secure.rec1.com/IA/dubuque-county-ia/catalog

05/27/2026

This little fawn’s story had a happy ending. After a concerned homeowner noticed a baby deer trapped in a storm drain, a Dubuque County Park Ranger responded and helped return this youngster back where it belongs in the wild.

But this rescue also gives us a chance to share one of the most important messages of baby wildlife season:
++Most baby animals do NOT need to be rescued.++
++Young wildlife are often left alone during the day on purpose.++

White-tailed deer moms commonly leave fawns hidden in grass, gardens, woodlines, and quiet spaces while they go feed. They return often at dawn and dusk to nurse and care for their young while avoiding drawing predator attention. A quiet, still, seemingly “alone” baby animal is usually exactly where it should be.

This case was different because the fawn was trapped and could not escape on its own. Before picking up or moving a baby animal, take a moment to observe from a distance and ask:
+ Is it injured?
+Is it trapped?
+Is it in immediate danger?

If not, the kindest thing we can often do is give wildlife space. Nature’s plan is usually working even when it looks different than we expect. Thanks to the observant resident who called and helped us give this little one a second chance.

05/27/2026