The Natural History of the Turtles of Iowa

“Using location records and field data from the past eighty years, VanDeWalle and Bernstein provide a comprehensive overview of the turtles of Iowa that is both accessible to the casual reptile enthusiast and useful to midwestern research herpetologists. The book is both engaging and revealing, lavishly illustrated, and provides a thorough understanding of Iowa’s turtles, including how to identify them, where they live, how they feed and reproduce, and, importantly, how the anthropogenic changes of the past century have negatively impacted them. This evidenced-based book is essential to all who study turtles in the Midwest and provides a current snapshot of what we know about each of the thirteen species that inhabit an area that is at the crossroads of several major biological and geological regions.”—Jeff Tamplin, University of Northern Iowa “This book represents the most comprehensive collection of information on Iowa’s turtles to date. The authors provide a thorough review of both past and current research, which helps provide the reader an accurate representation of the ecological role of turtles across the state’s aquatic environments. The content also helps to dispel misconceptions regarding perceived negative impacts of turtles on Iowa’s waterbodies; instead, highlighting their value within our aquatic communities. This book is a great read for the layperson with a keen interest in turtles, as well as a useful reference tool for natural resource researchers and managers alike. I commend the authors for a job well done in drafting an impactful book that will be a welcome addition to anyone’s personal library!”—Chad Dolan, Iowa Department of Natural Resources