Roaming bear, birds, reserved hunts, fish habitat, and more

Wild Bulletin: The inside scoop on what's outside - July 2021

Help families fish at the State Fair Fishin’ Pond

You can help families register on site, help kids fish with cane poles, or tie fishing knots and untangle lines. The Fishin’ Pond will be open on the fair’s opening day (July 30), and Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. until the fair ends on Aug. 22.

Fishin' Pond volunteer assists young woman with a bluegill

Volunteer shifts last four hours, and volunteers receive free parking, a free ticket, and a free T-shirt. With four volunteer stations, there’s an opportunity for everyone! To sign up as a volunteer, please visit our website.

Find fish habitat in reservoirs near you

Anglers can find fish habitat structure locations, types of structures, photos, and more on DNR’s new interactive reservoir habitat map. Habitat structure, such as bundles of Christmas trees, rock piles, and wooden platforms, improves aquatic habitat for fish by creating areas for cover, nesting, and more. Structure can also attract bait fish and provide other feeding opportunities.

Individuals interested in improving fish habitat in their own private ponds or lakes can visit our website for more information.

Learn more about DNR’s Reservoir Habitat Enhancement Program.

Reserved hunt applications opened July 6

Applications for reserved dove, waterfowl, and deer hunts are being accepted and will close Aug. 9. Applications for reserved gamebird area hunts (not put/take pheasants) will open Aug. 16 and close Sept. 30. Individuals must apply online for these hunts. To apply, go to on.IN.gov/reservedhunt and click “Apply for a reserved hunt.” Only one application per hunt is allowed, and no changes can be made once an application is submitted. Applicants must possess a valid hunting license for the hunt for which they are applying. To find out more about reserved hunt applications that are open or opening soon, visit our website.

Visit us at the Indiana State Fair starting July 30

DNR staff are scheduled and ready to return to our building at the Indiana State Fairgrounds! We’re excited to see you this summer and have a variety of programming and activities planned for your enjoyment. Join us at the Fishin’ Pond opening day (July 30), Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4 - 7 p.m. Our staff will be available to answer any questions you have at the DNR information booth. You can also find staff presenting at the Pathway to Water Quality.

We know you’re excited to see Indiana’s fish. Because the fish cannot thrive in the DNR building and outdoor ponds for the entire length of the fair, they will be on display beginning Aug. 11. In their place you’ll find opportunities to learn about the White River and dove hunting!

Stay tuned for programming updates on our social media and DNR calendar.

Steelhead broodstock collection underway

Steelhead moving down the shoot

DNR hatchery staff have started collecting adult steelhead to supplement egg collection and rearing efforts scheduled for later this winter. This strain of steelhead, known as Skamania, begin their spawning migration during the summer months with peak movement in September. Adult fish, known as broodstock, are typically harvested through August at a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sea lamprey barrier on Trail Creek in Michigan City. The barrier contains a trap that allows DNR staff to capture adult fish. During active migration, harvested adults are transported to Bodine State Fish Hatchery in Mishawaka. There, the fish are placed into a set of two 50-foot raceways. Collection continues until the goal of 700 fish is met, of which 450 will be females and 250 will be males.

Eggs are collected from early January through mid-February. This is known as the spawning season, and it will end when 1.2 million eggs are fertilized. This is enough eggs to satisfy the needs of Indiana and out-of-state requests from Illinois and Wisconsin.

Indiana-reared Skamania will be stocked into the St. Joseph River, Trail Creek, and the East Branch Little Calumet River. Released fish will imprint on the water they were placed in before migrating downstream to Lake Michigan. These fish will roam Lake Michigan for two to three years before returning to the waters in which they were stocked. For some of those returning to Trail Creek, the cycle will repeat.

Look out for this aquatic hitchhiker: Starry stonewort

Boaters, kayakers, and other water-loving recreationists beware: starry stonewort is on the move. This invasive macro algae was first discovered in Indiana in Lake Wawassee in 2008, and has spread to more than 40 lakes across northern Indiana. Named after its star-shaped reproductive structure, or bulbil, starry stonewort can create dense mats along the bottom of lakes and rivers. It chokes out native plant species and reduces spawning areas for fish. The algae can spread through movement of bulbils or fragments, making it easy to accidentally transport when it catches onto boats and other watercraft. Learn more about Indiana’s aquatic invasive species online.

Count wild turkey hens and young this summer

Turkey hen with poults in tow

This time of year, wild turkey young (poults) are about the size of a softball. Have you seen any with a wild turkey hen? These observations help Indiana DNR biologists calculate the annual wild turkey Production Index (number of poults per adult hens). The Production Index helps estimate wild turkey populations in the state and provides guidance for future management.

DNR biologists can’t collect brood observations across the state alone. In order to reach the goal of 3,000 observations this year, we need your help. If you’re interested in sharing your turkey brood observations with DNR, visit the website and record observations any time until Aug. 31, 2021: https://bit.ly/2SVplQZ. Thanks to our new, easier reporting system, recording observations takes less than five minutes; no password required.

We greatly appreciate your help to document turkey broods around the state.

Common grackle photo courtesy of National Park Service.

DNR recommends removing bird feeders and baths statewide

After receiving reports of sick and dying birds in over 50 Indiana counties, DNR recommends Indiana residents pause feeding birds statewide out of an abundance of caution. This includes bird feeders (including hummingbird feeders), bird baths, and other sources that encourage the congregation of wild birds. Limiting crowding can help reduce the spread of disease and potentially prevent additional bird deaths. DNR also recommends cleaning feeders and bird baths with a 10% bleach solution and storing them until more information is available.

Residents who find birds with eye or head swelling, crusty discharge around the eyes, and/or neurological signs (e.g., tremors, stumbling, weakness, lethargy) are asked to submit the sighting to DNR’s sick or dead wildlife reporting system. Biologists are actively tracking reports and samples have been submitted to the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. No definitive cause of death has been identified at this time, but several causes have been ruled out. We are posting updates on our website and social media.

DNR is grateful for residents' help during this disease outbreak. Submitting reports, taking down feeders, and spreading the word about the outbreak have likely reduced the number of bird deaths. These reports have also given our biologists a much better understanding of this unknown illness's spread and the species affected.

Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Roaming black bear visits the Hoosier state

DNR biologists have confirmed sightings of a black bear in Vanderburgh, Pike, and Daviess counties, courtesy of photos taken by private landowners. The bear is Indiana’s fourth visiting bear and a sign of expanding populations in neighboring states. If you see a bear or signs of a bear, please report it. Our biologists use these reports to track bear movements and learn more about which of Indiana’s habitats appeal to bears.

Black bears are rarely aggressive toward people. Help protect both bears and people by reducing the potential for human-bear conflict. Find tips and safety guidelines on our website.

Sign up to save lives when you buy

Indiana DNR is partnering with Donate Life Indiana to end the wait for those awaiting a life-saving organ transplant. Indiana residents 18 years and older now have the option to register as an organ and tissue donor when they purchase a hunting, fishing, or trapping license online. Over 100,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant nationwide, including more than 1,000 Hoosiers. One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and heal as many as 75 people through tissue donation. At the conclusion of the online purchase, customers will be asked if they are signed up to be an organ donor. If the individual answers “no”, they will be presented an opportunity to sign up. Find more information about organ donation online.

NRC to meet in July

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 20, at Fort Harrison State Park, at the Garrison in Indianapolis.

Roaming bear, birds, reserved hunts, fish habitat, and more

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