Department of Natural Resources - News Releases

[DNR] “Talk” to geocaching expert on Facebook, June 19 (6/17/2013)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/17/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/17/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

Facebook followers of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources can “talk” online about geocaching with interpretive naturalist Brad Bumgardner on Wednesday, June 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. EST on the DNR Facebook wall.

Bumgardner will explain how to geocache and DNR policy for finding and placing caches on DNR properties. Participants are invited to join the conversation and ask questions.

Future topics, instructions on how to join a conversation on Facebook, and commenting guidelines are posted at dnr.IN.gov/7315.htm.

To join a chat, go to the DNR Facebook wall, facebook.com/INdnr, and click “like” (if you are not already a “friend”).

You may begin typing in questions during the time slot. The DNR experts will answer questions as time allows.

[DNR] Play honoring Lincoln’s Indiana years runs through June (6/17/2013)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/17/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/17/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

A musical play about President Lincoln’s Indiana boyhood offers a chance for the public to learn about the country’s 16th president and experience Lincoln State Park at the same time.

“A. Lincoln: A Pioneer Tale” runs Wednesday to Saturdays evenings at 7:30 p.m. CDT with a matinee on Wednesday, June 26, at 2 p.m. CDT, at Lincoln Amphitheatre in the park.

The outdoor drama tells President Lincoln’s Indiana boyhood stories on the grounds where he grew up nearly 200 years ago. It was in Indiana where Lincoln studied by candlelight, received his one year of formal education, took two flatboat trips to New Orleans, and suffered the deaths of both his beloved mother and sister.

The play was written and is directed by Ken Jones, the resident playwright for Northern Kentucky University. The two-act musical has an original score of 10 songs.

In addition to the play, visitors to Lincoln State Park can enjoy the many outdoor recreation opportunities the nearly 1,800-acre property offers, including more than 12 miles of hiking trails, a lake for boating, fishing and swimming, a nature center with exhibits and programs and camping. Guests can top off their trip with a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza inside the park, dedicated in 2009 as part of the commemoration Lincoln’s 200th birthday, and drive across the road to explore Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, operated by the National Park Service.

Overnight accommodations at Lincoln include campsites, cottages and cabins. Reservations can be made at Camp.IN.Gov or 1-866-6CAMPIN (1-866-622-6746).

For more information about tickets and Lincoln Amphitheatre’s 2013 season, visit LincolnAmphitheatre.org or call 1-800-264-4223.

Lincoln State Park is on State Road 162, Lincoln City, 47552.

[DNR] Summit Lake SP is Paddler’s Paradise, June 22 (6/17/2013)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/17/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/17/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

Summit Lake State Park will showcase what it has to offer canoeists and kayakers during Paddler’s Paradise on Saturday, June 22.

The event starts at 6:30 a.m. with different non-motorized boating activities taking place throughout the day, including a birding paddle, a plants-and-animals paddle and a sunset paddle.

Conservation Officer Matt Garringer will talk around the campfire that night about boating regulations and safety.

Kayak and rowboat rentals are available at the Summit Lake boat rental building for $5.35 per hour or $21.40 per day. Boaters who bring their own watercraft must have a life jacket on board and a DNR non-motorized boat permit to participate. Permits can be purchased at the park gate or office for $5.

Boaters participating in the sunset paddle need a light. Flashlights are acceptable.

The event is free after the standard park entrance fee of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle.

For more information, call naturalist Amber Parrish-Hook at (765) 766-5873.

Summit Lake State Park is at 5993 N. Messick Road, New Castle, 47362.

[DNR] DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Program seeks funding input (6/14/2013)

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/14/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/14/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

The Lake Michigan Coastal Program will hold a June 19 meeting to seek public input on funding priorities for the 2014 funding cycle of the Coastal Grants Program.

The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, 6100 Southport Road, Portage.

The LMCP is an annual competitive grants program that awards funds to units of local government, regional and state agencies, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations. The program's funds may be spent on public access or habitat improvements, land acquisition, planning and coordination, education and outreach, and research projects. Projects must be located entirely within the Lake Michigan coastal area, which is the northern portions of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. Since 2001, the Coastal Grants Program has funded more than $11 million in projects.

The LMCP was created to coordinate efforts between local, state and federal governments, as well as local organizations, and to support projects that protect and restore natural, cultural and historical resources in Indiana's Lake Michigan Coastal area.

The LMCP is funded through the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coastal Resource Management.

For more information visit the program's website: dnr.IN.gov/lakemich.

[DNR] Indiana hunters to participate in national dove hunting survey (6/14/2013)

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/14/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/14/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

An upcoming survey will ask dove hunters in Indiana and across the U.S. to share their experiences and opinions about dove hunting.

Topics in the National Dove Hunter Survey will include time spent hunting, demographics, constraints to hunting, and thoughts about potential effects of lead from spent ammunition on mourning doves and other wildlife. The study is a cooperative effort by state fish and wildlife agencies, including the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, the National Flyway Council, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Mailing to a random sample of dove hunters will begin June 20. The survey will be completed by the end of 2013 and a final report will be delivered to involved agencies in March 2014.

“We really hope each dove hunter who receives a survey takes the time to complete and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided,” said Ken Richkus of the USFWS Population and Habitat Assessment Branch. “Their answers are very important, and we appreciate their efforts to tell us what they think.”

The National Dove Hunter Survey will give the USFWS a picture of mourning dove hunter thoughts and needs by state, region and nationwide, Richkus said.

Hoosier hunters harvest more doves than any other species in Indiana, typically around 200,000 annually. The birds are hunted in Indiana by more than 10,000 hunters.

“Dove hunting is enjoyed by many hunters here in Indiana, and I am glad they will have the opportunity to voice their opinions about this very important game bird,” said Budd Veverka, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife’s farmland game research biologist.

DNR Fish & Wildlife also works with the USFWS to conduct a statewide mourning dove calling survey each spring to determine population trends and a mourning dove banding program for a long-term harvest management strategy.

[DNR] Muskies reproducing in Ball Lake…maybe (6/14/2013)

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/14/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/14/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

A 12-inch muskie captured last month by DNR biologists in Steuben County marks the first indication of natural reproduction of the popular sport fish in any Indiana lake.

While electrofishing for largemouth bass, biologist Neil Ledet and his survey crew netted the one-year-old muskie in shallow water on the north side of Ball Lake, an 87-acre natural lake.

Ledet thinks the fish came from natural reproduction because the DNR quit stocking Ball Lake five years ago. From 1997 through 2008 the DNR released 6,700 muskie fingerlings in the lake.

Stockings were discontinued when a survey revealed few Ball Lake anglers fished for muskies and few were caught, despite the fact that adult muskies were present.

“Unlike some lakes where muskie fishing is popular, the muskie program at Ball Lake never caught on,” Ledet said. “We think muskies from the stockings are still present, but finding the young one was a surprise.”

Even so, Ledet doesn’t believe enough muskie reproduction will ever occur at Ball Lake to sustain the population. And finding one young muskie is no indication others are out there.

“We don’t expect reproduction will make a significant contribution to muskie populations at any Indiana lake,” he said. “Reproduction that may occur will always be low and inconsistent.”

Although lakes stocked by the DNR with muskies may contain habitat suitable for spawning, biologists suspect the egg fertilization rate is low, hatching success is limited, and small muskie fry are vulnerable to predator fish.

Odds are very few survive.

“Muskie fishing in Indiana, just like our walleye and inland trout programs, depend entirely on stocking,” Ledet said. “Without stocking, muskies would likely disappear from our lakes.”

[DNR] Awareness campaign targets dangers of boating under the influence (6/13/2013)

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/13/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/13/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

Indiana Conservation Officers will join a national campaign in late June aimed at creating heightened public awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Operation Dry Water (ODW) is scheduled for June 28-30, just before the Fourth of July.

ODW (www.OperationDryWater.org) is a nationwide education and enforcement initiative developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Since ODW launched in 2009, the percentage of boating fatalities in the United States in which alcohol is listed as a contributing factor has decreased from 19 percent to 17 percent. Despite the decrease, boating while intoxicated (BWI) accounts for a disproportionate number of on-the-water deaths. In 2011, alcohol was a contributing factor in just 8 percent of boating accidents overall but figured in 17 percent of boating fatalities.

In Indiana, the blood-alcohol limit for boat operators is the same as for vehicle drivers – 0.08. However, studies show that boat operators become impaired by alcohol sooner than people on land because of the motion of the boat, the glare and heat of the sun, and dehydration from sweating.

Boat operators convicted of boating while intoxicated can lose their boat operating and vehicle driving privileges, and face jail time and fees.

According to Indiana Conservation Officers, the safest plan is to have a designated boat operator who is not drinking alcohol.

Citizens often report intoxicated boaters to authorities, which demonstrates an increased public awareness that law-abiding boaters are concerned about safety.

“Keeping our lakes, rivers and reservoirs safe takes an effort from all of us, and we appreciate the efforts of our safe boaters,” said Lt. Kenton Turner, boating law administrator for the DNR Division of Law Enforcement.

A video detailing a joint effort of Indiana Conservation Officers and Indiana State Police to address boating and driving while intoxicated can be found at Youtube.com/idnrvideos.

[DNR] Budget agency OKs funds to fix Turkey Run SP bridge (6/12/2013)

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/12/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/12/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

The State Budget Committee recently approved $217,800 to fix the storm-damaged suspension bridge at Turkey Run State Park.

The popular bridge has been closed since an April flood caused significant structural damage and made it unsafe for use by park visitors.

The bridge crosses Sugar Creek and connects the developed area of the park with the more remote northern section and its popular hiking trails through the sandstone canyons and forested area of Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve.

During the April flood, Sugar Creek rose to within a foot of the bridge, causing an uprooted tree to become lodged in the structure. The resulting damage will require replacing the stringer beams, suspension cable and hangar rods, and fixing damage to concrete support towers.

The 202-foot-long suspension bridge was built in 1918, two years after Turkey Run became a state park.

The DNR Division of Engineering is preparing design specifications for the repairs and will begin soliciting bids this month. Once construction begins, the repair work is expected to take about two months.

Until the bridge is reopened, visitors can access the north side of the park by following Trail 1 to the Narrows Covered Bridge.

All trails south of Sugar Creek remain open to public use, as are the campground, pool, nature center, picnic shelters, saddle barn and Turkey Run Inn.

[DNR] Raptor Center grand opening at Salamonie Lake, June 23 (6/11/2013)

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/11/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/11/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

The public is invited to the grand opening of Salamonie Lake’s Raptor Center, on Sunday, June 23, at Salamonie Interpretive Center.

The event is at 2 p.m. and offers a chance to see an American kestrel and screech owl in their new environment and to meet a new member of the raptor center. Representatives from the Friends of Upper Wabash Interpretive Services group and Upper Wabash Interpretive Services staff will be on hand to talk about the raptor center’s history, progress and future plans.

Light refreshments will be served.

The standard entrance fee of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle is in effect for those who do not have an annual entrance pass.

For more information, see dnr.IN.gov/uwis or Facebook.com/UpperWabash.

Salamonie Lake is at 9214 West-Lost Bridge West, Andrews, 46702.

[DNR] Spring Mill State Park will host Limestone Weekend, June 22-23 (6/11/2013)

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/11/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/11/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

Spring Mill State Park will celebrate the Hoosier tradition of stonework during Limestone Weekend, June 22-23.

Stone artist Matt Bruce will demonstrate stone cutting and carving techniques, show examples of stone tools and share his expertise in stone fabrication from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Traditional Arts Indiana will display a series of outdoor exhibit panels highlighting Indiana stonework traditions.

The nature center will offer a craft table throughout the day as well as hikes, movies and a scavenger hunt, all with a limestone theme.

For more information, call (812) 849-3534, or email SpringMillStatePark@dnr.IN.gov.

Park admission is $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle. Annual Entrance Passes are also available.

Spring Mill State Park is at 3333 State Road 60 East, Mitchell, 47446.

[DNR] DNR tracking muskie guide business (6/10/2013)

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/10/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/10/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

As muskie fishing in Indiana has grown to national prominence, so too has the state’s muskie guide business.

Anglers now routinely hire licensed guides to fish for muskies, primarily at six natural lakes in the northeast corner of the state.

Muskies are large predatory fish that grow up to 4 feet long. Catching them usually requires experience and heavy-duty equipment.

According to DNR estimates, Hoosier anglers spend about $100,000 to $150,000 annually to hire muskie guides.

“That is big business when you consider a little more than a decade ago muskie guides in Indiana were unheard of,” said Jed Pearson, a DNR fisheries biologist in Columbia City. Pearson manages most of the muskie lakes in the state.

In addition to hiring guides, muskie anglers spend money on travel, food, lodging, and other indirect costs that also help boost the local economy.

But what began as exponential growth in Indiana’s muskie guiding business has leveled off and is now declining. Pearson said he is looking into possible causes.

“Because licensed guides are required by law to report their activity and catches monthly to us, we have a good set of data to track long-term changes in muskie fishing,” Pearson said.

From 2001 through 2008, the number of guided muskie trips per year increased from 60 to more than 500. Since 2008, the number has dropped each year and was down to 288 in 2012.

The largest drop occurred at Lake Webster, Indiana’s premier muskie fishery. Muskie anglers took 284 guided trips to Webster in 2008. That number fell to 81 in 2011 and 82 in 2012. Trip numbers also declined at Lake Tippecanoe and the Barbee lakes.

The number of muskie guides also peaked in 2008 at 16 and has since declined to eight. The largest drop occurred at Lake Webster.

Overall numbers of muskies caught by guided anglers fell from 357 in 2008 to 260 last year.

“We think the decline in the economy had a lot to do with the decline in muskie fishing, but other factors are probably at play as well,” Pearson said. “We need to look into them and reverse the trend.”

[DNR] Spring Mill SP will host Fiber Arts Weekend, June 15-16 (6/10/2013)

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/10/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/10/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

A special Fiber Arts Weekend at Spring Mill State Park, June 15-16, offers a chance for the public to learn about felting, weaving, bobbin lace, tatting, spinning, quilting and more.

The event is in the park’s Pioneer Village. Demonstrations and hands-on programs for adults and children will be offered throughout both days. Most programs are free.

In recognition of Father’s Day on June 16, both days will feature a program in which participants will make a “soap” stone for dad. There will be a supply fee of $1.25 for a small soap and $4 for a large soap.

For more information, call (812) 849-3534, or email SpringMillStatePark@dnr.IN.gov.

Park admission is $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle. Annual Entrance Passes are also available for purchase.

Spring Mill State Park is at 3333 State Road 60 East, Mitchell, 47446.

[DNR] Arts in the Park festival at McCormick’s Creek SP, June 15 (6/7/2013)

Fri, 7 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/7/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/7/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

The eighth annual Arts in the Park festival on Saturday, June 15, at McCormick’s Creek State Park, will celebrate art, music and nature.

An art fair will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature more than 25 local and regional artists and craftspeople with a variety of work for sale and display. Traditional Arts Indiana will present the Limestone Traditions exhibit. Quarry workers, carvers and toolmakers will show examples of their work and talk about stone production. Performances will include a stone carving demonstration and bluegrass music by musicians who work in the stone business.

Musical performances at the festival stage include the Fabulous Roosters at 11 a.m., Nate Johnson & the Keepers at 12:15 p.m., Backwoods Bluegrass Band at 1:30 p.m., the Hesitation Blues Band at 2:45 p.m., and Craig Brenner at 4 p.m. The Freddie Shaw Band will perform at 7 p.m. at the park amphitheater.

Visitors also can help the Friends of McCormick’s Creek State Park group make a community art project by learning animal origami.

Carson’s BBQ, snacks and other refreshments will be for sale.

The program is presented by the Friends of McCormick’s Creek State Park group and made possible with support from the Indiana Arts Commission with Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington; the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County; the National Endowment for the Arts; Traditional Arts Indiana; Babb’s Grocery; Canyon Inn; and the McCormick’s Creek Stables.

Standard entrance fees of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle apply. For more information, call (812) 829-4344.

McCormick’s Creek State Park is on State Road 46, 14 miles northwest of Bloomington and 2 miles east of Spencer, Indiana. The park address is 250 McCormick’s Creek Park Road, Spencer, 47460.

[DNR] Annual cornhole tournament at Paynetown SRA, June 22 (6/6/2013)

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/6/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/6/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

Monroe Lake will host its annual cornhole tournament at Paynetown State Recreation Area on Saturday, June 22.

Paynetown SRA is at 4850 South State Road 446, Bloomington.

Teams must register at the field next to Deer Run Shelter between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. that day. The first round of competition begins at 11:30 a.m. Participation is free, and prizes will be awarded to the top teams.

Adult teams will compete in a double-elimination tournament. Both adult team members must be at least 16 years old. Registration is limited to 32 teams.

Children ages 15 and younger can compete in a separate, single-elimination tournament. Registration is limited to 12 youth teams.

The standard admission fee of $5 per in-state-vehicle or $7 per out-of-state vehicle applies. For more information, call (812) 837-9967 or email jvance@dnr.IN.gov.

Monroe Lake is at 4850 South State Road 446, Bloomington, 47401.

[DNR] Bison Bonanza Bash at Ouabache State Park, June 22 (6/6/2013)

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/6/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/6/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

A June 22 event at Ouabache State Park offers a chance for the public to celebrate bison and learn about the animal.

The Bison Bonanza Bash is sponsored by Upper Wabash Interpretive Services. The activity schedule is:

— 8 a.m. — 5K Bison Stampede and 1-mile Bison Bop Fun Run (Registration information is below).
— 10 a.m. — Bison versus Buffalo Hike; meet at the Bison Pen Shelter.
— 1 p.m. — “Buffalo chip” throwing at the fire tower.
— 1:30 p.m. — “Fight for Dominance,” a presentation about bison male dominance at the fire tower.
— 2 p.m. — A presentation about bison’s bodies and their lifestyle in the field by the fire tower.
— 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. — Meet Buddy Bison, the mascot of the National Park Trust.
— 6 p.m. — A 1-mile hike with lessons about the history of Ouabache State Park and why the park has a bison herd; meet at the Bison Pen Shelter.
— 7:30 p.m. — A campfire presentation on bison legends and lore at the fire tower.

The 5K and fun run is sponsored by the Friends of Ouabache State Park group. Registration runs from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. at the fire tower. Awards will be presented after the races.

The Bison Bop Fun Run costs $1 (T-shirt not included). Registration will be on race day. The 5K Stampede costs $10 for runners whose registration is received by June 15, and includes a T-shirt. Day-of-race registration for the 5KStampede is $15, with a T-shirt only if available.

Registration checks should be made to Wells County Foundation and mailed to Friends of Ouabache State Park, 4930 E. State Road 201, Bluffton, IN 46714. For more information on the race, call Myra Myrtle at (260) 273-1686 or Marcia Douglass at (260) 273-3647.

Camping reservations can be made at Camp.IN.gov or at (866) 622-6746.The standard entry fee of $5 per in-state vehicle or $7 per out–of-state vehicle is in effect for those who have not purchased an annual entrance pass.

For more information on other UWIS programs, see dnr.IN.gov/uwis or visit Facebook.com/UpperWabash, or call (260) 468-2127.

Ouabache State Park is at 4930 E. St. Rd. 201, Bluffton, 46714.

[DNR] One-day shutdown of license sales planned for June 15 (6/6/2013)

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/6/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/6/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

The computer system that the state uses to sell Indiana hunting and fishing licenses will shut down from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, for maintenance.

People will be unable to buy hunting or fishing licenses on this day. The shutdown affects all forms of license sales, including authorized license retailers and online purchasing through the DNR website.

Anyone in need of a license for that day is encouraged to buy one in advance.

Before the shutdown, licenses will be available for purchase online at IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov, or in person at the DNR Customer Service Center or one of the many authorized license retailers throughout the state.

The DNR Customer Service Center is at 402 W. Washington St., Room W160 Indianapolis. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The service center’s phone number is (317) 232-4200.

Locations of authorized license retailers by county are also available at IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov.

[DNR] Youth “cross shoot” at Mississinewa Lake, June 22 (6/6/2013)

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/6/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/6/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

A free youth target-shooting event called a cross shoot will be held June 22 at Miami State Recreation Area on Mississinewa Lake.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be behind the campground on Frances Slocum Trail Road.

A cross shoot is a competition in which the winner is chosen according to which target has a shot closest to its center cross-mark. The cross shoot involves a variety of firearms.

Participants must be 18 or younger. They are not required to have shooting experience. A firearms safety session will be held for all participants before they can handle firearms. Safety glasses and hearing protection will be provided.

Advance registration is not required.

Camping reservations can be made at Camp.IN.gov or (866) 622-6746.

The standard entry fee of $5 per in-state vehicle or $7 per out-of-state vehicle is in effect for those who have not purchased an annual entrance pass.

For more information on other UWIS programs, see dnr.IN.gov/uwis or visit Facebook.com/UpperWabash, or call (260) 468-2127.

Mississinewa Lake is at 4673 S. 625E. Peru, 46970.

[DNR] Patoka Lake dam and tower tour, June 30 (6/5/2013)

Wed, 5 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/5/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/5/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

A public tour of the Patoka Lake dam and dam tower, June 30, will offer a behind-the-scenes look at reservoir management and flood control.

The tour, hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Patoka Lake Visitors Center, starts at 10 a.m. EDT. Visitors should meet at 9:30 a.m. at the visitors center to car caravan to the dam, or join the tour at the dam off State Road 545.

Guides will take visitors inside the dam tower and explain the operations and history of the dam and Patoka Lake.

Entrance to the Newton Stewart State Recreation Area, where the visitor center is, costs $5 per-in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle. Newton-Stewart SRA is north of Wickliffe, off S.R. 164.

[DNR] Wild animals: If you care, leave it there (6/5/2013)

Wed, 5 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/5/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/5/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

People who encounter young wildlife such as a fawn or rabbit should leave the animal alone and avoid attempting to “rescue” it, according to the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife.

April to July is the peak season for people to see baby animals in Indiana.

Often animals leave their young during the day to look for food or to deter predators. People often mistake the animal as abandoned when, in fact, it is being properly cared for by its mother.

Even if you think the animal is injured, you still should leave it be. It’s best to let nature take its course. If you feel compelled to intervene, you should call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. It’s illegal to keep a wild animal without the proper permits and training. Most people are not trained in animal nutrition, nor do most people know how to raise a wild animal without it developing a dependence on humans.

A list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators and their phone numbers is at dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/5492.htm.

White-tailed deer have babies through mid-June. If you find a fawn, give the animal distance and do not disturb it. The mother will not return if you are present, which may delay nursing for a hungry fawn.

Remember, if you care, leave it there. In almost all cases that is the best thing for the animal. Wild animals are not pets. These animals may carry diseases and are not suited for captivity.

[DNR] DNR partners with Ball State to study fawns (6/3/2013)

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/3/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/3/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife biologists are partnering with Ball State University biologists to determine how white-tailed deer fawns move in urban areas compared to rural areas.

The study kicked off this spring with more than 30 fawns being collared with lightweight radio transmitters to track their movement. The collars are not easily seen and will not make it easier for predators to spot the deer in the wild.

The project will last two years and the data collected will be used to help with statewide management of white-tailed deer. The data will also provide insight into the differences in the lives of urban and rural fawns.

As deer populations increase in urban areas such as Bloomington, more deer and human conflicts arise, including deer-vehicle accidents and deer eating landscaping and gardens. This study will research the types of urban locations deer frequent or may even prefer. Researchers are also collecting deer hair and saliva to determine stress levels of the fawns in both areas.

More fawns are needed for this research in rural Monroe County or western Brown County. If you live in these areas and see a fawn, contact the Ball State University research team at (812) 822-3308 or deerstudy@bsu.edu.

The project will continue next spring, with additional fawns being tracked.

[DNR] George Rogers Clark Days at Falls of the Ohio SP, June 22-23 (6/3/2013)

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/3/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/3/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

Falls of the Ohio State Park will celebrate the life and times of George Rogers Clark on June 22 and 23.

George Rogers Clark Days will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the George Rogers Clark Home Site, 1102 W. Harrison Avenue, Clarksville.

Wes and Donna Griffin will perform period music on the hammered dulcimer on June 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. Re-enactors portraying members of the Clark Family and 18th- and 19th-century militiamen, surveyors and frontiersmen will appear throughout the event. The event also will include atlatl throwing (American Indian spear throwing), vendors with period crafts, speakers, musicians, children’s activities and more.

Special tours of the Clark and McGee cabins and gardens will be given. The McGee cabin was the home of Ben and Venus McGee who were Clark’s indentured servants. The cabin represents one of the first freed-slave communities in the Northwest Territory, Guinea Bottoms, which was established around 1812.

The Clark Home Site is part of the Falls of the Ohio State Park.

For more information and to make a group reservation, call (812) 280-9970.

Falls of the Ohio State Park is at 201 W. Riverside Dr. Clarksville, 47129.

[DNR] Give dad Outdoor Indiana for Father’s Day (6/3/2013)

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/3/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/3/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

Forget socks, ties and after shave.

Make dad’s Father’s Day by giving him a subscription to the state’s premier nature and outdoor recreation publication, Outdoor Indiana magazine.

Outdoor Indiana publishes six times a year in 48 pages of vibrant color and includes articles on parks, lakes, wildlife, forests, trails, hunting, fishing, and more. A one-year subscription is $12.

Learn more at OutdoorIndiana.org. Subscribe at the bottom of that website or by calling (317) 233-3046.

[DNR] Star show at Indiana Dunes State Park, June 15 (6/3/2013)

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	6/3/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/3/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

An astronomy event at Indiana Dunes State Park, June 15, offers the public the chance to gaze into deep space and learn about constellations.

The Singing Sands Star Show runs from 8:30 to 11 p.m. CDT at the park’s beach pavilion. Star gazing will begin around 9:30 p.m. With only a partially lit moon, the night should offer good viewing of the sky over Lake Michigan. Calumet Astronomical Society members will share their telescopes with the public.

The event will kick off with stories on American Indian sky lore. Constellation talks will highlight the star formations visible over the dunes this time of year.

In case of inclement weather, an alternate space talk will be offered in the nature center at 8:30 p.m.

All activities are free after the standard entrance fee of $5 per in-state vehicle and $10 per out-of-state vehicle.

The event is sponsored by the Calumet Astronomical Society and the Friends of Indiana Dunes group. For more information, call (219) 926-1390.

Indiana Dunes State Park is at 1600 North 25 E. Chesterton, 46304.

[DNR] Nature Trust announces addition to Shades State Park (6/3/2013)

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Start Date:	6/3/2013	All Day
End Date:	6/3/2013

The Department of Natural Resources has completed the purchase of an addition to Shades State Park in Montgomery County with funding assistance from the Bicentennial Nature Trust (BNT).

The 359-acre tract features mature second-growth hardwood forest and warm-season grass plantings. The upper portions of two entrenched ravines on the property drain through the park into Sugar Creek.

Partners in the purchase include Indiana Heritage Trust and The Nature Conservancy.

“Each year thousands of Hoosier families experience the unique ravines, natural springs, and dark forests at Shades State Park,” DNR director Cameron Clark said. “With help from the BNT, we’re excited to permanently protect an important addition to this treasure for future generations to use and enjoy.

Mary McConnell, state director for TNC, said: “We are proud to be a partner in this project. Over 50 years ago, The Conservancy completed our very first land acquisition project at Pine Hills, a visually stunning and biologically rich unit of Shades State Park.”

McConnell also credited Rockies Express Pipeline for financial assistance.

Shades is a 3,400-acre property best known for numerous deep and rugged ravines along the south bank of Sugar Creek. It was established in 1947 as the 15^th park in the state system.

The BNT is a project of the Bicentennial Commission, co-chaired by former Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton. The statewide program is aimed at expanding trails, conservation areas and recreation sites to help celebrate Indiana’s 200 years of statehood in 2016. The state park system was created during Indiana’s centennial celebration in 1916, and BNT projects will provide a similar legacy for generations of Hoosiers.

“This addition to Shades State Park underlines the 2016 Bicentennial Commission’s commitment to nature conservation in Indiana,” said Skillman and Hamilton. “We look forward to hearing and celebrating many more success stories for the Bicentennial Nature Trust in the months and years to come.”

An initial $20 million in state funding was identified for BNT projects, and the Lilly Endowment donated another $10 million. Money from the fund is matched no less than $1:1 with the local community or group sponsor. To date, the Bicentennial Commission has approved 35 projects.

The BNT is seeking additional private donations of land and money as well as input from communities on viable projects. Applications for the Nature Trust can be found at IN.gov/naturetrust.

For more information on the Bicentennial Commission, visit IN.gov/indiana2016.

[DNR] Nature Trust announces completion of LaPorte County project (5/31/2013 - 6/1/2013)

Fri, 31 May 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	5/31/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	6/1/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

The LaPorte County Parks Foundation has completed the purchase of a 15-acre addition to Luhr County Park with funding assistance from the Bicentennial Nature Trust (BNT). The Unity Foundation of LaPorte County contributed additional funding to help make the purchase.

The new property features oak- and hickory-forested wetlands and an area targeted for prairie restoration. The LaPorte County Parks Department will own and manage the property, while the DNR holds a conservation easement ensuring public access and permanent protection.

“The Bicentennial Nature Trust helped us leverage private dollars to make this addition become a reality,” said Timothy Morgan, superintendent of LaPorte County Parks. “Without the BNT, this acquisition would not have been possible.”

The BNT is a project of the Bicentennial Commission, co-chaired by former Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton. The statewide program is aimed at expanding trails, conservation areas and recreation sites to help celebrate Indiana’s 200 years of statehood in 2016. The state park system was created during Indiana’s centennial celebration in 1916, and BNT projects will provide a similar legacy for generations of Hoosiers.

An initial $20 million in state funding was identified for BNT projects, and the Lilly Endowment donated another $10 million to the effort. Money from the fund is matched no less than $1:1 with the local community or group sponsor. To date, the Bicentennial Commission has approved 35 projects, including three in LaPorte County.

“We applaud the LaPorte County Parks Foundation for its effort to further the 2016 Bicentennial Commission’s commitment to nature conservation in Indiana,” said Skillman and Hamilton. “We look forward to hearing and celebrating many more success stories for the Bicentennial Nature Trust in the months and years to come.”

LaPorte County Parks preserve and manage natural, cultural, and recreational resources within a seven-park system totaling more than 600 acres. Located on 89 acres just south of LaPorte, Luhr Park features upland forest, wetland, prairie, paved trails and a stocked pond. For more information, visit laportecountyparks.org/luhr.html.

The BNT is seeking additional private donations of land and money as well as input from communities on viable projects. Applications for the Nature Trust can be found at IN.gov/naturetrust.

For more information on the Bicentennial Commission, visit IN.gov/indiana2016.