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Furbearers

Two beaversFurbearers are mammals that are traditionally hunted and trapped for their fur. Furbearers in Indiana include 14 species, 12 of which may legally be hunted and/or trapped.

Harvest is highly regulated and limited to furbearer populations able to sustain harvest. Because species abundance may vary from state to state, not all furbearers are trapped/hunted in all states. Learn more about regulated harvest of furbearers in Indiana.

Furbearers in Indiana

Current Furbearer Research

  • Gray Foxes
    Gray foxes are a valuable Indiana furbearer, but their range has changed in Indiana and other Midwest states. Why these changes have occurred is unknown.  Researchers with Wildlife Ecology Institute and Luther College are looking at habitat use, cause of death, disease, diet, and genetic structure of Indiana gray foxes. Completion is expected in January 2025. A second phase of the gray fox work looking deeper into gray fox health will begin that month.
  • Deer and Furbearer Economics

    The mission of the Division of Fish & Wildlife is to balance the benefits of fish, wildlife, and their habitats. To work toward that mission, an understanding of how people value different wildlife and how changes to management strategies might affect those values is needed. This project with Purdue University is looking at a myriad of topics, from wildlife feeding, regulated hunting and trapping, and wildlife viewing, to better understand what influences how someone values deer and furbearers in Indiana. Completion is expected in 2026.

  • Carnivore Ecosystem Services

    Carnivores like coyotes and bobcats can provide benefits, such as reducing mice and voles considered pest species or disease vectors.  But they can also cause issues for people by eating things they value, such as livestock or deer. This study in cooperation with Purdue University, Ohio University, and Columbia University is using previously collected scat from Indiana and comparable areas in Ohio to dig into diets using metagenomics of coyotes and bobcats. This information will then be used to understand the services and disservices carnivores like coyotes and bobcats provide to Indiana. Completion is expected in 2026.

  • Estimating Density Using Flights

    Research developed techniques to estimate deer density using flights of fixed-wing planes and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Researchers with Purdue University are working to refine those techniques and see if the same methods can be used to estimate the density of wild turkeys and coyotes. Completion is expected in 2028.

  • Multi-State Muskrat Health

    Multiple states have joined together with the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study to try to understand muskrat health on a large scale. Samples are being submitted from dozens of states, including Indiana, to look for contaminants, diseases, and parasites in muskrats. This will give us some baseline information on health to help consider future muskrat research needs. Completion is expected in 2026.

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