Got Nature? Blog

Posted on December 2nd, 2025 in Community Development, Land Use, Woodlands | No Comments »

Families planning the transfer of farms to the next generation of often look for guidance and resources. Purdue Extension’s Succession Planning Resource is designed to help Indiana farm families navigate this critical transition. The succession planning process includes considerations for financial well-being, farm management and risk assessment. It is crucially important for families to properly develop plans that address the transfer of ownership and management.

The Succession Planning Team offers:Succession Planning web page, Purdue Extension.

  • Regional Workshops with experts in law, finance, and farm management
  • Introductory Presentations to kickstart your planning process
  • Farm Family Visits for personalized guidance

Regional Workshops
The team coordinates winter workshops held regionally across Indiana (attendees may be charged a fee). These workshops cover various topic areas including:

  • Beginning succession planning steps
  • Financial skills
  • Communication strategies
  • Business structures
  • Risk management tools
  • Options for asset transfer to the next generation
  • Management transfer plans

Workshop presenters include experienced professionals (i.e., attorneys and accountants), Extension specialists and Extension Educators. Team members may also hold family meetings with the workshop attendees to help them move forward with the next steps of their succession plans. Fees charged for these workshops have been lowered due to grant funding provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center.

Explore the resource and start building a stronger foundation for your future: Succession Planning.

Resources:
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Wind Energy, Purdue Community Development
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Environmental Planning in Community Plans, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Program, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities, The Education Store
Conservation through Community Leadership, The Education Store
Conservation through Community Leadership, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Implementation Examples of Smart Growth Strategies in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Conservation Through Community Leadership, The Education Store
Community Planning Playlist, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
One Water Approach to Water Resources Management, The Education Store
Rainscaping Education Program, Purdue Extension
Rainscaping and Rain Gardens, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Indiana Creek Watershed Project – Keys to Success, Partnerships and People, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Subscribe – Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources Calendar, workshops and Conferences

Diana Evans, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources


Professional arborist working on tree

Professional arborists can best feed mature trees

Purdue University Landscape Report: Early fall is the time to begin preparing trees for the winter and get them off to a good start in the following spring. Preventative maintenance and some good cultural practices in autumn boost trees’ health and vigor during the winter and creates an encouraging growing environment in the spring. Here are 5 good tips for trees:

  1. Scout for pruning issues.
    It’s advantageous to schedule pruning tasks after leaves have fallen. It’s much easier to see the branch structure of trees and deciduous shrubs in order to perform good selective cuts. Look for those non-beneficial plant parts and remove them. These include any dead, broken and crossing branches which can be removed. Also, search out and remove those epicormics sprouts in the canopy and basal sprouts emerging from around the trunk and root collar.  Refer to this pruning publication for more information.

    fertilizer beng poured at base of tree

    Newly-established trees benefit from fertilizer

  2. Feeding for the future.
    Typically, tree roots have produce more root growth during the fall. Root systems are important as storage organs or banks to reserve energy for later. These stores of starch will become active energy on demand in the spring when shoot growth, leafing and flowering occur. Fertilization during this time will maintain soil nutrient levels and increase root production, promoting new growth in the spring. Newly, established trees and those younger trees are especially responsive to supplemental feeding. However, not all trees need or require fertilization. Refer to this publication on fertilization for more information.

    mulch at base of tree

    Mulch provides a blanket of protection

  3. Complete cultural practices.
    It’s always beneficial to the tree to replenish mulch to give root systems an extra layer of protection against temperature extremes. This helps maintain the moisture levels in the soil during those drier winter months as well. Maintaining 2-3 inches of composted mulch over the root zone of the tree and landscape provides great protection. Also, it may be a good time to consider providing protective wraps on thin-barked or newly planted trees, if needed. Also, now is a good time for inspecting those existing wraps to be sure they are effective and not too tight around the trunk or harboring hidden pest issues.

    man watering tree

    Good moisture levels going into the winter is critical for tree health

  4. Water needed, still.
    The dry, cool air and low precipitation that can sometimes occur during fall and early winter can take a toll on trees. Provide supplemental irrigation with deep watering to prevent root damage and a good spring start. It is advisable to water only when temperatures will be above 40Water around mid-day so there is time to soak in before the freezing night temperatures. Applying approximately 5 gallons water per inch of tree diameter will be adequate for times when there is little to no rainfall going into winter.
  5. Take inventory.
    This is a good time to assess your site for vacancies. Check your property for potential planting locations to install new trees next spring. Research during the winter allows plenty of time for good decision-making which includes proper species selection and suitable locations. Refer to the tree selection publication for more information.

There are many resources available to learn about proper tree care. If you are uncertain on how to maintain your trees or prefer professional services, it is important to reach out to an ISA Certified Arborist to help with the tree, within your landscape, especially the larger, mature trees. A Certified Arborist can proactively identify, analyze and evaluate your tree needs to maintain this important asset, your trees.

Resources:
Why do leaves change color and why do leaves fall off in autumn?, Got Nature? Blog
Why Leaves Change Color, The Education Store, Purdue Extension
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana
An Introduction to Trees of Indiana
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Why Leaves Change Color, USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area
It’s Fall, but why are the leaves still green? article and video, WLFI.com

Lindsey Purcell, Urban Forest Specialist
Forestry and Natural Resources


Posted on October 16th, 2024 in Community Development, Land Use | No Comments »

American Citizen Planner, Indiana Program, drafting tools and drawings.Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR) Newsletter: This fall marks the conclusion of the fourth consecutive year of the American Citizen Planner – Indiana program. Launched during the pandemic in 2020, the program has successfully been offered statewide twice a year and has trained more than 250 community leaders. Participants come from diverse backgrounds, such as elected officials, professional planners, members of plan commissions, boards of zoning appeals, surveyors, engineers, and engaged citizens interested in local planning issues.

Tailored for Indiana’s planning statutes by the Purdue Land Use Team, the program has evolved to include new modules on Environmental Planning and Community Engagement, Enhancing Equity in Planning, and features invited guest speakers, alongside 28 online content modules. The core curriculum covers a wide range of topics essential for planning including ethics, decision making, a wide range of comprehensive planning and zoning topics, and engaging the public in the planning process. Registration for the 16-week virtual program opens each February and July, with Purdue Extension educators meeting with participants online four times throughout the course to facilitate discussions and interactive scenarios.

Feedback from participants underscores the program’s positive impact on their communities. A recent long-term follow-up survey revealed that many have utilized their newfound knowledge to update codes and ordinances, incorporate natural resource planning, and about 75% indicated they would share insights with their peers. One participant noted, “As a member of the town council in a community of about 230, this course has greatly enhanced my understanding of the planning process in our county. I feel much better equipped to evaluate zoning requests and look forward to leveraging planning to further develop our community!” Those who complete all course requirements are eligible to take the comprehensive exam and earn a course certificate.

The American Citizen Planner – Indiana program is available in your community. Follow Extension’s social media for registration updates and reach out to your local ANR educator to request an in-person workshop.

Resources:
Implementation Examples of Smart Growth Strategies in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Conservation Through Community Leadership, The Education Store
Climate Change and Sustainable Development, The Education Store
Climate Change: Are you preparing for it?, The Education Store
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities, The Education Store
One Water Approach to Water Resources Management, The Education Store
Community Soundscape Planning Guide: Controlling Noise & Protecting Natural & Cultural Sonic Spaces, The Education Store
Agricultural Best Management Practices, The Education Store
Urban Best Management & Low Impact Development Practices, The Education Store
Rainscaping Education Program, Purdue Extension
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Community Planning Playlist, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Rainscaping and Rain Gardens, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Conservation through Community Leadership, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Program, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Indiana Creek Watershed Project – Keys to Success, Partnerships and People, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Dan Walker, Community Development regional Educator
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant/Purdue Extension

Kara Salazar, Assistant Program Leader for Community Development and Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant/Purdue Extension


Quality of life encompasses individuals’ overall well-being, goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. Various factors shape a person’s perception of quality of life, such as physical and mental health, economic stability, social connections, education, and the environment. Access to healthcare, education, employment opportunities, and recreational facilities significantly influences a person’s ability to meet their needs and achieve their goals (World Health Organization, 2012).

front page of the publication

Discover the power of quality of place and placemaking through this new publication by Kara Salazar, who is the Assistant Program Leader for Community Development for Purdue Extension along with being the Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist for Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Placemaking is the process of planning, designing, and managing public spaces to enhance quality of life and foster community.  Effective placemaking, whether through tactical interventions like pop-up parks or strategic projects that reshape entire neighborhoods, revitalizes communities. By involving residents in the process, we create vibrant spaces that reflect local culture and values. These efforts not only improve quality of life but also attract investment, support local businesses, and promote sustainability.

To receive the free download, visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Quality of Place and Community Development.

Resources:
Implementation Examples of Smart Growth Strategies in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Program Video, Purdue Extension
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities, The Education Store – Purdue Extension’s resource center
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Curriculum, The Education Store
Sustainable Communities Extension Program Website, Purdue Extension
Conservation Through Community Leadership, The Education Store
One Water Approach to Water Resources Management, The Education Store
Rainscaping Education Program, Purdue Extension
Indiana Creek Watershed Project – Keys to Success, Partnerships and People, Video, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Kara Salazar, Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

 


Posted on April 28th, 2024 in Forestry, Land Use, Plants, Publication, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

Deer are an important part of Indiana woodlands and represent a true conservation success story. Many Hoosiers spent time in the woods pursuing deer during hunting season or marveling at them during walks in their woodlands. But as recently as the 1930s deer were absent fromintroduction to deer pub cover Indiana woodlands. Restocking efforts led by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources helped reestablish deer populations across the state. However, deer populations have rebounded beyond what the land can support in many areas, leading to issues like crop damage, deer-vehicle collisions, and damage to woodlands.

Deer overabundance can pose a threat to the future health of many Indiana woodlands. Deer are considered a “keystone” species, which means their feeding habits (browsing) can shape our woodlands’ look and their plant and wildlife communities. This publication will outline some of the impacts deer can have on Indiana woodlands and what signs and symptoms to look for in your woods.

Learn more about the amount of impact in this new publication:
Low Impact: When deer have little impact on your woodlands, you often see a high diversity of plants. An abundance of preferred species like trillium (picture) can also be a sign of low deer impact.deer impact graphic

Moderate Impact: When sprouts of preferred species are “hedged” or kept short by deer browse and browse on less preferred species is noticeable, then deer impact may be moderate.

High Impact: If invasive species like Japanese stiltgrass and garlic mustard are common in your woodland, it may be a sign that deer are overbrowsing native plants.

High Impact: If invasive species like Japanese stiltgrass and garlic mustard are common in your woodland, it may be a sign that deer are overbrowsing native plants.

Very High Impact: Browse lines indicate a severe deer problem and appear when deer browse all plants within their reach (<6 feet).

You can read this full publication for free at Introduction to White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands.

View the Deer Impact Toolbox for more resources and videos.

Resources:
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Introduction to White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands
Understanding White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Monitoring White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Managing White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources


Posted on April 28th, 2024 in Forestry, Land Use, Plants, Publication, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

Deer are an essential part of our ecosystems, but the phenomenon of too many deer should be of concern to forest landowners and the public in general. Deer are a “keystone” species, meaning their browsing can impact forest and wildlife communities. It is clear that when deer becomeunderstanding deer pub cover overabundant, their impact on the environment can be problematic. But by understanding the impacts deer have on our woodlands, their food preferences, and how to assess and evaluate impacts in your woodlands, we can begin to address the problems caused by overabundant deer.

Learn more about the research and how it can help you and your land:

  • Carrying Capacity
  • Too Many Deer or Not Enough Food: Managing the Foodscape
  • Monitoring Deer and Forest Vegetation
  • Food Preferences
  • Deer Impact Assessment

    deer graph

    Too many deer or not enough food: managing the foodscape

  • More Resources

To receive the free download and recipe visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Understanding White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands.

View the Deer Impact Toolbox for more resources and videos.

Resources:
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Introduction to White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands
Understanding White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Monitoring White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Managing White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources


Posted on April 28th, 2024 in Forestry, Land Use, Plants, Publication, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

Wherever deer exist, they will be impacting the ecosystem through browsing. But at what level is that impact considered harmful? Many ecologists consider deer impact harmful when deer begin to reduce plant diversity in a woodland through browsing. knowing the exact number ofmonitoring deer pub cover deer on a property is difficult to measure and unnecessary. There are relatively easy ways to estimate the number of deer on a property or track trends in population sizes over time. This publication is written to help woodland owners better understand how to monitor deer and their impact.

Monitoring deer impact is done by surveying what deer eat in a forest and how intensively they browse those species. Deer are browsers rather than grazers (like bison and cattle), preferring to eat forbs (broadleaf herbaceous plants), vines, shrubs, and trees rather than grasses. Deer also select specific parts of the plants (e.g., leaves, twigs, and young tender growth).

Monitoring Deer Impact Methods:deer browse

  • Browse Surveys
  • Indicator Plants
  • Assessing Vegetation Impacts from Deer
  • Ten-Tallest Method
  • Twig-Aging
  • Oak Sentinel
  • Stump Sprouts

To receive the free download visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Monitoring White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands.

Resources:
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Introduction to White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands
Understanding White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Monitoring White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Managing White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources


Posted on April 28th, 2024 in Forestry, Land Use, Plants, Publication, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

White-tailed deer are an integral piece of Indiana’s forest ecosystems. When in balance with the ecosystem, deer can enhance the health of the forest. This publication highlights the various tools available to woodland owners for mitigating the impacts of deer on their regenerating treesmanaging deer pub cover and is based on a compilation of research on the relative effectiveness of various deer browse control methods.

What control methods are available to help with forest regeneration? You will find the answer to this question and more, along with what deer population control means for forest landowners in this publication.

Check out the publications for the “Browse Control Methods for Forest Regeneration and Their Effectiveness” table which includes these control methods: Fencing; Population Control; Tree Shelters; Cages; Companion Plants; Repellents; Timber Harvests; Slash; and Fertilizer.

deer a

deer b

To receive the free download and recipe visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Managing White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands.

Resources:
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Introduction to White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands
Understanding White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Monitoring White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Managing White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources


White-tailed deer are an important part of our Hoosier natural areas and a true conservation success story. Once extirpated from Indiana, deer now thrive in all 92 counties.deer impact front page

Deer can significantly impact the make-up of plants in our natural areas through the plants they eat (referred to as browsing). When the number of deer on the landscape is in balance with the available habitat and deer browsing is at a low intensity, deer can positively impact our forests’ plant diversity. When deer are overabundant, their browsing can impact forests in a variety of negative ways.

5 Steps to address deer impacts to Indiana Woodlands:
Understanding
Understand how deer impact Indiana’s forest ecosystems.

Identify
Identify signs and symptoms of deer impact in your woodland.

Monitor
Monitor how deer are impacting your woodland over time.

Manage
Decide how to manage deer and their impact on your woodland.

Evaluate
Evaluate if the management actions you took reduced deer impact on your woodland.

Check out the new Deer Impact Toolbox website for publications and more details to discover the steps landowners and land managers can take to understand, monitoring, and manage deer impacts to Indiana’s forests.

Don’t miss the videos: Monitoring Deer Impacts on Indiana Forests: Ten-Tallest Method and Monitoring Deer Impacts on Indiana Forests: Accessing Vegetation Impacts for Deer (AVID) Plots.

Check out the College of Agriculture news article to learn more:

Resources:
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Understanding White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Monitoring White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Managing White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources


Posted on March 4th, 2024 in Forestry, Land Use, Safety, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »
barn owls

A capture from the Goose Pond webcam of barn owls in a nest box.

MyDNR, Indiana’s Outdoor Newsletter: A pair of barn owls have made a home in the property’s nest box, and you can watch this couple via a live webcam by going to the Goose Pond FWA camera page.

Barn owls are an endangered species in Indiana due to grassland habitat loss. Fewer than 50 nests are found annually in Indiana. To provide barn owls with secure nesting sites that are protected from predators, the DNR has built more than 400 nest boxes and erected them in barns and other structures with suitable habitat during the last 30 years.

The barn owl nest box at Goose Pond FWA was completed in March 2022 and is located next to its Visitors Center. This is the first nesting pair that has decided to call it home. The Friends of Goose Pond group helped provide funding for the camera and box, which has marine-grade plywood to keep the residents dry. It was painted the same color as the Visitors Center and looks like a house.

To learn more please visit the DNR Calendar.

Sign up to receive the MyDNR Newsletter by email: MyDNR Email Newsletter

Resources:
Barn Owl, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Barn Owl Nest Webcam, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Creating a Wildlife Habitat Management Plan for Landowners, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Birds and Residential Window Strikes: Tips for Prevention, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Breeding Birds and Forest Management: the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region, The Education Store
Managing Woodlands for Birds Video, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Developing a Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching, YouTube channel
Nature of Teaching: Common Mammals of Indiana, The Education Store
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Indiana Department of Natural Resources


Got Nature?

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