The Marion County Conservation Department released their February Nature Notes on Friday.

According to Marion County Naturalist Marla Mertz, February’s full moon will occur on February 24th and is called the Snow Moon, as February is recognized as the month with the heaviest snowfall in the Northern Hemisphere. Other names used to refer to this particular full moon are the Wolf Moon, Hunger Moon, and Storm Moon.

With the days becoming longer, many of Iowa’s breeding birds have started their journey north to reach Iowa and beyond in March, April, and May. Canada geese, mallards, goldeneyes, and American white pelicans will still be active around open areas of water and below the Lake Red Rock dam. The coyote, red fox, gray fox, beaver, muskrat, and raccoon mating season begins in February, and the Virginia opossum may have their first litter later this month.