Volunteer Spotlight

by Sarah Hart

Rose Danaher has been friends with Iowa Wildlife Center Executive Director Marlene Ehresman and her husband for several years, meeting through the Big Bluestem Audubon Chapter in 2004. Being one of the first to hear about the plans for IWC, Rose was immediately excited and began supporting the new organization through her gracious volunteer work.

Rose's interest in land stewardship and skill with a chain saw has greatly benefited WildWay, the land where IWC's wildlife hospital and education center will be built. She has helped lead Iowa State University class volunteer groups, worked alongside fellow team members from Conservation Corps Iowa and assisted IWC's land steward, Brad Meyer. Rose has also volunteered her time working in the IWC office sorting through slides. Most recently, Rose assisted us at our "In Our Hands" spring event where she helped sell Douglas Wood's books and CDs at the concert, then co-led hikes, explaining ecological principals of stewardship work and identifying plants and birds, on WildWay the next day.

Rose is a senior at Iowa State University and currently works with Story County Conservation in the Roadside Program doing prairie reconstruction and as the Watershed Coordinator for the Soil and Watershed Conservation District. Her interests are in Iowa's habitat restoration and prescribed fire.

We want to thank Rose Danaher for all her hard work and hope that she continues to stay a great friend and partner of the Iowa Wildlife Center.