Marion County Naturalist Marla Mertz notes that today is National Endangered Species Day. It is a good time to celebrate, learn about and take action to protect threatened and endangered species.

She added that monarch butterflies will be moving through Iowa and laying eggs. May is a great month to be out observing nature.

Ticks are very bad this year, there are a few tips to attempt from getting a tick. Wear a hat and wear long sleeves. Mertz tells KNIA/KRLS News, “Wear white if you can, it helps to see. Definitely tuck your pants into your socks or use double-sided tape around your ankles and bug spray helps.”

According to Mertz we don’t really have ticks that die in the winter.