(Steve Lekwa is the director of Story County Conservation.)

     Only a few woodland spring flowers are left to bloom. Hit the trails soon to see columbine, Virginia waterleaf, jack-in-the-pulpit, and a few more. Woodland trees will be in full leaf very soon, and that pretty much ends the woodland wild flower season.

      The end of spring woodland flower season means that the prairie flower season is just beginning. A few very early prairie blooms have already opened to the sunshine, but most of the more than 100 species that flower on our native prairie remnants wait for summer weather. The Central Iowa Prairie Network begins its monthly series of prairie walks on May 25 at 7 p.m. at Doolittle Prairie south of Story City. Much of that prairie was burned this spring, and while that should enhance mid to late summer blooming, it might reduce some of the early flowering.

      There are some precautions that outdoor enthusiasts should consider to avoid the less appealing aspects of Iowa outdoor recreation. Ticks are in season, and Story County is home to at least two species. The common wood tick can be found in almost any unmowed or bushy area where they wait with legs outstretched hoping to hook a ride on any passing warm blooded creature. The smaller and darker black legged ticks (also known as deer ticks) are also present in at least some areas, and are a greater concern since they are known to carry Lyme disease. Wood ticks have white markings on their backs while black legged ticks have only dark markings.

    Once ticks "catch a ride" they crawl upward until they find a feeding site. On people that's usually near a restriction in clothing like a belt or often in the edge of a hair line. They don't begin to feed right away even after they attach, giving people a chance to find them and remove them before they have a chance to transfer disease organisms. Proper removal of ticks involves grasping them as near the head as possible and slowly, but steadily pulling them straight out. Do not try to "antagonize them out" by covering them with Vaseline or rubbing alcohol. Don't try to touch them with a hot burned out match. These techniques are more likely to cause the tick to expel fluids into the bite and could actually increase the chance of infection.

   Prevention is better than a cure when it comes to ticks and mosquitoes. Wear long pants and long sleeves to reduce skin exposure. Light colors help you see ticks better. Tuck pants into sock tops to prevent ticks from getting to the skin in the first place. Use a repellant containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Products containing permethrin can be applied only to clothing, and actually kill ticks that come in contact.

      Wood tick activity declines later in summer, but black legged ticks remain active well into the fall. Mosquitoes need standing water, and small pools are more problematic than wetland ponds or lakes that also harbor populations of predators that feed on mosquito larvae. Gutters that don't drain properly and even a forgotten can or bucket in the back yard are very attractive breeding sites. Mosquito activity peaks around sunset, but ticks wait for rides pretty much around the clock. Using precautionary measures and checking yourself well after being out in the thickets should help you enjoy Iowa's outdoor pleasures with a minimum of problems.