Outdoor Indiana May/June 2024

BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER

DNR Director Dan Bortner

Something about a campfire brings people together.

Growing up, I remember huddling around the flames on crisp evenings. Around the warmth and dancing light, friends became family and lifelong bonds were forged.

Those are memories that stick with you—and we’re working to help folks build them with their family and friends at DNR properties across the state.

When you’re out exploring this summer, you’ll likely see the campfire symbol shown above. It’s called the Unity Blaze, and it means that everyone is invited and welcomed across Indiana’s great outdoors. No matter your background, we have a place for you.

Just like a campfire, Indiana’s state parks, reservoirs, forests, nature preserves, and fish & wildlife properties also bring folks together. That’s why DNR is training our team to help encourage more folks to get outside and enjoy the state’s outdoors with us.

You can do the same! If you have friends or family who have never gone hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, hunting, or participated in any other outdoor activities, invite them along on your next trip. You never know the impact your invitation and warm welcome can provide—just like the warmth of a campfire.

Follow along and learn more about the Unity Blaze at on.IN.gov/dnr-welcome. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, we’ve got the information to help you get out and enjoy the outdoors.

It’s time you discover these fascinating winged predators
By Scott Roberts, OI staff

An Eastern pondhawk pauses on a water lily leaf at Pokagon State Park. During the summer months the park is an excellent place to see dragonflies.

On a warm, early fall day last year at Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area in LaGrange County, Matt Weldon of Fort Wayne slowly moved into a better position for snapping a clear photo of a dragonfly that had just landed on a nearby shrub. He got to one knee and was about to raise his camera when the insect flew away.

“Turkey!” he shouted in polite disgust.

Weldon said it looked like a species he already had photos of, but he’s always looking for better shots and different angles.

Dragonflies have nearly 360-degree vision, so they often flee before anything, whether predator or photographer, gets too close. That’s part of the fun for Matt and his brother Mark, who have searched for these creatures for about 12 years.

Later that day, his luck improved. He found a black-tipped darner, a species of state special concern.

“Nothing beats the thrill of seeing a rare species perched right in your sight so you can get that perfect shot,” Weldon said.

A few days earlier, Loyce Fandrei of Highland, in Lake County, clad in a dragonfly hat, shirt, and necklace, binoculars in hand, was just happy to be out searching again at Cowles Bog in Indiana Dunes National Park. Knee troubles had sidelined her for much of the summer. She walked slowly and methodically through the vegetation hanging over the trail. She didn’t have much success, but she’s seen plenty of different dragonfly species in the county.

In her car, Fandrei keeps a copy of “Dragonflies of Indiana,” written by retired Franklin College professor James Curry. It’s dogeared and packed with sticky notes telling where she saw a species. The book is considered a must for Hoosier dragonfly enthusiasts. It has color photos of all 97 species that can be found in Indiana, and in what counties and times of year. Eleven species are listed for Lake County. Fandrei has found 36.

To read the rest of this article subscribe to Outdoor Indiana or pick up a copy at one of our state park inns. To subscribe, click here or call (317) 233-3046.

Relax in the tranquility of Tippecanoe River State Park
By Scott Roberts, OI staff

Morning haze rises above the Tippecanoe River as it flows beside the park near Winamac that bears its name. Seven miles of the river flow along the park’s eastern boundary. Photo by Brent Drinkut.

When Dan Plath paddles the Tippecanoe River, the president of the Northwest Indiana Paddlers Association looks forward to a stop at Tippecanoe River State Park.

The river flows 6.3 miles around the property’s edge and 182 miles in total from Crooked Lake in Noble County to the Wabash River near Battle Ground, northeast of Lafayette. The park provides a good stopping point due to its location and amenities. Plath especially enjoys the property’s River Tent Campground, which can be accessed right from the waterway.

“That paddle-up camping area is extraordinary,” Plath said. “It’s a rare feature in Indiana, and a nice one. I’ve used it a lot for myself and for Boy Scout trips, and it’s very convenient to get out of the river and back on. It’s got all we need.”

Plath will also occasionally enjoy a hike on one of the park’s trails or a climb up the park’s fire tower.

“All of our state parks are great, but I really do think that park is one of the best,” Plath said.

Tippecanoe River State Park also attracts a variety of wildlife species, thanks to a high quality wetland. In all, six species of amphibians, 25 species of mammals, 30 species of reptiles, and 100 species of birds can be found. The park is listed on the Indiana Birding Trail, and that guide mentions sightings of yellow warblers and common yellowthroats, along with typical wetland duck and geese species.

The property has provided a haven for wildlife and paddlers for more than 80 years since becoming a park. Its unique geology and topography make the activities mentioned possible and speak to why the area eventually became a park.

To read the rest of this article subscribe to Outdoor Indiana or pick up a copy at one of our state park inns. To subscribe, click here or call (317) 233-3046.