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A "Day in the life" of a DNR... Name: Ron
"This is the best job in the world," said Ron Andrews, the DNR's research biologist. "No one should ever have as much fun at their job as I do." When Andrews started work 40 years ago, Canada geese and American kestrels were a rarity in Iowa. Trumpeter swans and river otters simply didn't exist. Andrews helped restore part of Iowa's wildlife legacy, placing nesting boxes for kestrels behind interstate signs and releasing the first seven Canada geese. Andrews also coordinated bringing the river otter and the trumpeter swan back to Iowa. Andrews has also successfully brought what he calls "the rabid consumers of resources - hunters and trappers" - together with the "rabid non-consumers - birdwatchers and preservationists." He preaches, "Do the right thing for habitat to do the right thing for wildlife." By making habitat the connecting link, he has helped both groups find common ground to aid wildlife restoration efforts. Finding common ground has been important, because most of Andrews's projects require people's help. From, " Fishing for Clean Waters," to " Trumpeting the Cause for Wetlands," to " They Otter be in Iowa," Andrews has led the campaigns to bring back osprey, swans and otters. Starting in 1995 with a goal of establishing 15 nesting pairs of trumpeter swans, Andrews' most recent campaign has had unprecedented success. People have been eager to help with the project. Andrews' wildest dream was to raise $25,000 in private donations to bring back the trumpeter. Early on, just one family donated $160,000. To date, cash and soft match donations have totaled more than $750,000. More than 50 partnerships have formed - partnering a pair of nesting swans with people who provide safe nesting grounds, electricity, food and fencing. Then the young swans are released to the wild. In less than 10 years, more than 25 breeding pairs of swans have returned to grace Iowa wetlands. With a wingspan of nearly eight feet, nothing is more impressive than seeing these elegant birds take flight over the marshes. Nothing pleases Andrews more than bringing diverse interests together for the benefit of wildlife. His success has brought him esteem from both sides. In fact, he was recently awarded the DNR Wildlife Employee of the Year, was inducted into the Iowa Trappers Hall of Fame and received national recognition from the Trumpeter Swan Society. Andrews could have retired four years ago, but has stayed on because he enjoys his job so much. He says, "… this is my hobby; my life."
An excited crowd turned out at Red Rock Reservoir to witness the reintroduction of 16 river otters to Iowa in 1985. |
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