Comments sought on gypsy moth treatment plans for Delaware and Scott counties

Eradication of two gypsy moth infestations, one in Delaware County and one in Scott County, has been proposed by the DNR, Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology, in cooperation with the USDA, APHIS (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service).

As part of the projects, Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice documents are available for review and comment at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/entomolo/gypsymoth/ea2008.htm

The public can provide written comments on these documents and mail to Division Director, Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 402 West Washington Street, Room W-290, Indianapolis, IN. 46204-2739.  Written comments can also be sent via e-mail to: ARust@dnr.IN.gov.  Voice comments may be submitted by calling 1-866-NO EXOTIC (866) 663-9684.

Comments must be received by Friday, April 4, 2008 at 4 p.m. (EST)

 

Record reports of a viral disease affecting white-tailed deer seemed to have minimal impact on the 2007 hunting seasons in Indiana, as hunters harvested 124,427 deer.
"The big thing for me was that number," said Chad Stewart, deer research biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. "We were guessing the harvest was going to be down a lot more than it was this year."

Stewart provides details of the '07 season in an annual report that includes a county-by-county breakdown of the deer harvest. To obtain a complete copy of the report, go to dnr.IN.gov/press/2007_Deer_Season_Report.pdf

A widespread outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), a viral disease transmitted by biting flies, had Stewart anticipating a significant drop from the 125,381 deer harvested in '06. Instead, hunters recorded the third-best season on record and were within 1,100 of the all-time mark of 125,526, set in 2005.

"That's not to say (EHD) didn't affect harvests in some parts of the state," Stewart said. "The southwestern part of the state had a noticeable drop in harvest level, but that seems to have been made up elsewhere in the state."

That "elsewhere" was primarily in the central and west-central areas of Indiana, especially in a handful of counties that experienced EHD in 2006.
"Where EHD affected counties like Clay, Fountain, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan and Vermillion in 2006, (numbers) all bounced back in a big way in 2007," Stewart said. "In most cases, antlered harvests were back up to 2005 levels."

Stewart said that's potentially good news for such counties as Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Knox, Martin, Pike, Spencer and Crawford, where harvest levels dropped at least 20 percent from '06. He said deer that survive EHD exhibit an immune response that can be passed on to their young, providing protection if the disease occurs the next year.

Other highlights of the '07 season included the success hunters had in harvesting female deer in the latter part of the firearms season and the muzzleloader season, which Stewart said plays an important role in controlling deer populations.

"Antlerless deer are shot at a 2-to-1 margin over the last nine days of the firearms season, and 80 percent of the harvest during the muzzleloader season is antlerless, with the majority of those being does," Stewart said. "Without those efforts, the deer herds in some areas could rise dramatically."

Steuben was the top county for the third straight year with hunters harvesting 3,754 deer. Switzerland County was second at 3,259, followed by Kosciusko (3,003), Franklin (2,950), and Marshall (2,854).

 

At a recent annual division meeting of the DNR's Division of State Parks and Reservoirs, Terri Warne of Nineveh was presented with the division's Volunteer of the Year award.  Terri received the recognition at the annual banquet held Wednesday evening, March 5,2008 at the Abe Martin Lodge.  Terri was recognized for her work at Brown County State Park for her 2007 volunteer efforts for nature center interpretive programming and for her enthusiastic work with the park's friends group.  She was also cited for her work as a bat rescue specialist, an effort begun first from fear, then curiosity and interest to now her own bat rehabilitation business at batworldsouthindy@msn.com.

Terri's help with year long park programming culminates each fall with her direction of the Friends of Brown County State Park's Haunted Trail.  She helps organize and direct a Halloween night event with a trick or treat trail for youngsters followed by a scary trail at dark.  "Terri gets all Friends, volunteers and park staff involved in this annual event.  Many campers and local residents turn out in large numbers to see the Friends Trail decorated with a ghostly theme.  It's really a great time for all", says the park's Property Manager, Doug Baird.

 

Children all over the state can learn about Indiana's aquatic resources using fishing as a tool in the DNR's Go FishIN program, but to make that program effective, educators first need to be trained.

Recognizing the importance of aquatic resources education, the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, in conjunction with the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Program, developed Go FishIN, to provide fishing information to Hoosiers.

Workshops to "train the trainers" for that purpose are offered throughout the state starting April 12, at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

The workshops help educators promote respect of the environment to Indiana's youth. By teaching the participants about fish and fishing, workshop leaders help young people discover the unique aquatic ecosystems in Indiana.

Once trained, the workshop participants become "crew captains" and are then eligible to use all of DNR's Go FishIN curriculum, fishing resources and equipment.

If you are an educator (e.g., school teacher or scout leader) please visit the Natural Resources Education Center Web site for information: dnr.IN.gov/nrec.
A schedule follows:

April 12	Special combined Project WET & Go FishIN  Fort Harrison State Park, Indianapolis  8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
April 15 & 16	Basic Crew Captain Workshop  Anderson University, Anderson  4:30 - 7:30 p.m. each day
May 19	Basic Crew Captain Workshop  Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Ripley County  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
June  3	Basic Crew Captain  Workshop  Ft. Harrison State Park, Indianapolis  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
June 6	Basic Crew Captain Workshop  Fox Island County Park, Allen County  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
July 10	Basic Crew Captain Workshop  Gene Stratton Porter State Historic Site, Rome City  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
September 12	Go Underground with Go FishIn & Project WET  Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
September 24	Basic Crew Captain Workshop  Mt. Vernon Conservation Club, Mt. Vernon  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
September 30	Special Home School Crew Captain Workshop  Tippecanoe Battlefield, Battleground  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

 

Are your kids ready for some "wild" fun? Children ages 7 to 11 are invited to come to Salamonie Reservoir for a fun and exciting week, March 31 through April 4. Each day provides a variety of activity sessions during the 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. camp.

Join us for week of experiencing nature and exploring the elements. We focus each day on a theme. Join us as we explore the soil, water, sun and air around us. The week includes crafts, games, hikes, nature studies, movies and snacks.

Advance registration is required and space is limited. The week's activities are guided by Upper Wabash Interpretive Staff. Children need to bring a sack lunch with drink each day. Extra shoes, hats, and gloves are required.

The camp requires a $40/week participation fee for each child. The property gate is not charging admission at this time. Parents will be asked to fill out health/participation forms before their child enjoys activities on the first day. Call the Upper Wabash Interpretive Services at 260/468-2127 to register your child for the spring break day camp. Visit our web site at www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis for more information about available programs.
 
The Upper Wabash Interpretive Services is headquartered in the Salamonie Interpretive Center 3691 S New Holland Road, Andrews, IN 46702. The Spring Break Day Camp will be held at this location.