Spooky Season at Jefferson County Park
October is a month when people like to think about spooky stuff. We tell ghost stories or decorate our houses with bats and spiders. But did you know that these spooky things can be found in our parks as well? Let’s talk about some of the spooky themed nature that we can find.
Ghosts
Did you know that there are ghosts in Jefferson County Park? I’m not talking about ghosts of campers past, but ghost plants. Ghost Plant is an amazing flowering plant that blooms later in the growing season. It is all white, which is pretty unusual since plants typically generate food through production of sugars in chlorophyll (the microscopic part of the plant that makes them appear green). Ghost Plants, however, don’t even produce their own food. Instead, their roots tap into mycorrhizal fungi, who in turn are taking nutrients from the roots of trees. So, not only are these plants ghosts, but also sort of vampires.
Bats
Bats are always thought of as spooky creatures that carry diseases, but they actually provide a great service to us. While we’re all sleeping, bats fly around, eating insect pests. It is estimated that bats provide the equivalent of $1 billion in free pest control for farmers by eating crop-damaging insects. Now, if you do manage to be bitten by a bat, or if you find yourself in a room with them, it is recommended that you receive a check-up from medical professionals because they are the most common carrier of rabies in Iowa.
Spiders
Like bats, spiders provide a great service to us through pest control. They also get a bad rap for being scary. There are over 40 species of spiders found in Iowa, but only a few very rare species that are actually venomous. Spiders are also not out looking to bite people like some movies and TV shows would make you believe. They’re only interested in catching insects. If they do bite you it is usually because they feel threatened and are acting in self defense. I’m not saying that we should be walking the prairies and woodlands petting these eight-legged creatures, but appreciate them and their amazingly intricate webs from a safe distance (for both you and the spider).
Our programs this month are themed around some of these “spooky” creatures. Please check our events calendar for any upcoming events and make sure to get registered to learn more.
