Got Nature? Blog

MyDNR, Indiana’s Outdoor Newsletter: Indiana DNR has confirmed the state’s first positive case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in LaGrange County. CWD is a fatal infectious disease, caused by a misfolded prion, that affects the nervous system in white-tailed deer. It can spread from deer-to-deer contact, bodily fluids, or through contaminated environments.

There have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hunters strongly consider having deer tested before eating the meat. The CDC also recommends not eating meat from an animal that tests positive for CWD.

CWD has been detected in 33 states including the four bordering Indiana (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Kentucky). Because CWD had been detected in Michigan near the Indiana border, a detection in LaGrange County was likely.

If you see any sick or dead wildlife, deer or otherwise, please report your observations on the DNR: Sick or Dead Wildlife Reporting page.

For more information visit DNR: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

To subscribe to the newsletter visit MyDNR Email Newsletter.

Resources:
Chronic Wasting Disease, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Hunting & Trapping, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Designing Hardwood Tree Plantings for Wildlife , The Education Store
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Trail Camera Tips and Tricks, Got Nature? Blog
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Ask the Expert: Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Birds and Salamander Research, Purdue Extension – FNR
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Deer Impact Toolbox, Got Nature? blog, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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Purdue Landscape Report: Hoosiers are in for a special treat this spring.  If you have lived in Indiana for more than a year, you have probably grown accustomed to the singing of cicadas in the later days of summer. However, in some years, cicadas will emerge in the spring. This occurred in 2021 when most of the state was inundated in periodical cicadas as Brood X emerged from their 17-year development. This year, two broods will emerge concurrently: Brood XIII and Brood XIX.  Brood XIII is a 17-year cicada, while Brood XIX is a 13-year cicada. The emergence of these two broods isn’t unusual, but this year is special because they will emerge at the same time. Their schedules haven’t aligned for over two hundred years!  The last time these two cicada songs were heard together, Thomas Jefferson was in the White House. While this may sound like Indiana is about to be covered in cicadas, there are a few facts that may change your expectations.

There are two types of cicadas in the Midwest: annual cicadas and periodical cicadas. Annual cicadas, as the name implies, are seen each year. They normally spend two to five years underground, but there are enough of them that we see them emerge each year. Annual cicadas emerge individually, not as a group, and we see them towards the end of the summer, thus their other common name, “dog day cicadas”. Periodical cicadas have a much different life cycle. They remain in the ground as nymphs for either thirteen or seventeen years, feeding on the roots of the trees they will eventually climb. Around April, the broods will emerge together using a combination of temperature and their own internal clock. Both types of cicadas feed on deciduous trees and tend to inhabit areas where eggs were laid during previous emergences, giving them a low likelihood of moving to new areas. Annual cicadas are green with black eyes, and periodical cicadas have dark-colored bodies with red eyes and orange legs, making it easy to differentiate them as we enter the early summer and both types are present.

The term “brood” cicada biology is referring to a group of cicadas that share the same developmental time and the same physical area.  A brood will often contain several different species, though they will all belong to the genus Magicicada. Cicadas in a brood do not need to be genetically related to each other. Some broods are very small and cover a small area, whereas others can cover a significant portion of the Midwest. For example, Brood XII, a brood of 17-year cicadas, last appeared in 2023 and has only been detected in Allen and Orange counties. On the other hand, Brood X, also known as the Great Eastern Brood, covers the entirety of Indiana and several other states. Brood XIII and Brood XIX both cover several states, but they will have very little overlap in Indiana.  Only eight western counties, between Posey and Jasper counties, will experience Brood XIX, and three northern counties (Lake, LaPorte, and Porter) will see Brood XIII. Nowhere in Indiana do the broods overlap. Essentially, while there will be a lot of cicadas emerging all at once, the lack of overlap will mean this emergence will be notable, but nothing compared to the Brood X emergence a few years ago.

To view this full article and other Purdue Landscape Report articles, please visit Purdue Landscape Report.

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
Periodical Cicadas, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology
17 Ways to Make the Most of the 17-year Cicada Emergence, Purdue College of Agriculture
Ask an Expert: Cicada Emergence Video, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension-FNR
Periodical Cicada in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Cicada Killers, The Education Store
Purdue Cicada Tracker, Purdue Extension-Master Gardener Program
Cicada, Youth and Entomology, Purdue Extension
Indiana Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Alicia Kelley, Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Coordinator
Purdue Extension – Entomology

Bob Bruner, Exotic Forest Pest Specialist
Purdue Extension – Entomology

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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 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: Deer Impact Toolbox provides guidance for Indiana forest landowners and managers.

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

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Wild Bulletin, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife: Researchers at Purdue University are studying the willingness of hunters and nonhunters to help reduce the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer. CWD is a fatal neurological disease affecting deer and is caused by an infective protein (prion) that damages the animal’s nervous system. CWD is contagious to deer and can spread through deer-to-deer contact or through contaminated environments. To date, CWD has not been detected in Indiana. No cases of CWD have been recorded in humans.

Researchers at Purdue University are seeking volunteers to participate in this research study. Information collected may help inform Indiana DNR’s response to CWD. Participants will answer online survey questions and use a web app that shows how CWD may spread. The activity and survey questions take about 30 minutes to complete. The study is open to everyone 18 years or older. All that is required to participate is a computer or tablet. Follow this link to Purdue’s website to participate in the study.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease affecting white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. It is a member of a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases. For more information about this disease visit Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

For questions about this study, please email the research team at  cwdwebapp@purdue.edu and place in the subject line: “Web App Use and Intention to Reduce Chronic Wasting Disease Spread; Principal Investigator – Dr. Patrick Zollner; IRB Number – IRB-2023-1039″.

To get started, please visit the CWD Web App.

Subscribe to Wild Bulletin.

Resources:
Dr. Pat Zollner, Professor of Quantitative Ecology, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Designing Hardwood Tree Plantings for Wildlife , The Education Store
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Trail Camera Tips and Tricks, Got Nature? Blog
Hunting Guide for 2023-2024, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
Ask the Expert: Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Birds and Salamander Research, Purdue Extension – FNR
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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MyDNR, Indiana’s Outdoor Newsletter: As spring has sprung, so has new wildlife. It may be tempting to cuddle cute, young wildlife, but it’s important to always assess the situation from a safe distance.

Young wildlife’s best chance of survival is with their mother, and your support can often unintentionally harm wildlife if that support is not needed. If young wildlife have fallen out of a den or nest, you can return them to their home and then leave the area. It is common for a mother to leave her young for long periods of time to forage for her and her young, so don’t linger around wildlife or their homes too long. Doing this can dissuade a mother from returning or alert predators to the young.

If you’re uncertain whether wildlife need assistance, contact a wildlife rehabilitator before picking up wildlife. If wildlife truly need assistance, they must be turned over to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator within 24 hours. Find a list of permitted wildlife rehabilitators on our website.

To learn more, please visit DNR: Fish & Wildlife Resources.

To subscribe to the newsletter visit MyDNR Email Newsletter.

Resources:
Designing Hardwood Tree Plantings for Wildlife – The Education Store
ID That Tree – YouTube Playlist
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
Ask the Expert: Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Birds and Salamander Research, Purdue Extension – FNR
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
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
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

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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

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Wild Bulletin, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife: Did you know that wild game shot with lead ammunition can sometimes contain lead fragments all the way to the dinner table? Adopting different shot placement and butchering techniques can help alleviate the problem.

When shooting: Avoid shooting animals in heavily boned areas, such as the front shoulders, as this is more likely to cause bullet fragmentation. Instead, shoot animals in softer tissue, such as around the heart and lungs, to decrease fragmentation.

When butchering: Carefully observe the wound channel in the animal and generously trim away any meat that shows bullet trauma. This will help keep fragments out of your finished meat product. Properly dispose of your trimmed meat by sending it to the local landfill or burying it on private property.

Looking for another way for you and your family to avoid ingesting lead fragments? Talk to your local retailer about finding a nontoxic ammunition that’s right for you.

To learn more please visit DNR: Effects of lead on wildlife.

Subscribe to Wild Bulletin.

Resources:
Hunting Guide for 2023-2024, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
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
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
Help With Wild Turkey Populations, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Turkey Brood Reporting, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Wild Turkey, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Wild Turkey Hunting Biology and Management, Indian Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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Wild Bulletin, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife: In 2023, we saw wildlife wins for many rare and endangered species. We found a very young hellbender salamander in the Blue River and increased public awareness and interest in bat conservation. We discovered the banded pygmy sunfish at Twin Swamps Nature Preserve and doubled the number of active barn owl nests from five years ago.

These wildlife wins would not have been possible without those who support the Nongame Wildlife Fund. To all of you who help care for Indiana’s rare and endangered wildlife, thank you!

If you’d like to make a positive impact on Indiana’s wildlife, consider getting involved today. Subscribe to the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife Newsletter, IN Fish & Wildlife Instagram, and IN Fish & Wildlife Facebook to stay up to date with the IN DNR-Division of Fish & Wildlife’s latest wildlife wins. Make a volunteer profile and learn more about how to become a DNR volunteer, or make a donation to the Nongame Wildlife Fund. For every $50 given to the Nongame Wildlife Fund, an additional $43 is unlocked in federal funding, making every dollar you donate go even further for Indiana’s wildlife.

To learn more please visit DNR: Nongame and Endangered Wildlife.

Subscribe to Wild Bulletin.

Resources:
Researchers Discover Young Hellbender in Blue River, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources News & Stories
Help the Hellbender, North America’s Giant Salamander, The Education Store
Help the Hellbender website
Help the Hellbender Facebook page
Barn Owl, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Bats in Indiana, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IN DNR)
Bat Houses, Bat Conservation International
Creating a Wildlife Habitat Management Plan for Landowners, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Ask an Expert: Turtles and Snakes, video
Ask an Expert: Managing Your Property for Fish and Wildlife, video
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, publication
Frost Seeding to Establish Wildlife Food Plots and Native Grass and Forb Plantings, video
Connecting Youth to Wildlife Webinar
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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Wild Bulletin, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife: Join the fun this fall and hunt one of Indiana’s gorgeous grassland birds. Quail hunting in Indiana starts on Nov. 10 and requires a Game Bird Habitat Stamp and a general hunting license. These species are present in grasslands across the state, such as Goose Pond FWA and Glendale FWA. There are no equipment restrictions for quail, but we recommend a 12- or 20-gauge shotgun with 6 to 9 shot. Remember to wear your hunter orange!

Some DNR properties may have additional regulations for quail hunting. Check with the property you’re planning to hunt for more details.

General Characteristics:
Northern bobwhites are a ground-dwelling species that only rely on flight on rare occasions. They rely on cryptic plumage color combinations and contrasts that provide excellent camouflage. They are minimally sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females have different physical characteristics. In the case of the Northern bobwhite, males have a white throat and chin, along with a white stripe above the eye extending to the back of the head. Those same areas on a female, are buffy brown in color. Underparts are tawny and white, blending with chestnut and gray. Each breast feather sports a black chevron. Upper parts of the shoulders, back, and rump, are a mixture of warm brown, cream, and shades of black. In Indiana, adult Northern bobwhites weigh an average of 180 grams (~6.5 ounces) and are about 10 inches long from bill tip to tail.

To identify and learn more about this species, please visit DNR: Fish and Wildlife: Northern Bobwhite.

Subscribe to Wild Bulletin.

Resources
Quail Habitat: Putting the Numbers in Perspective – The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Bobwhite Quail – Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Developing a Wildlife Habitat Management Plan – Purdue Extension
Breeding Birds and Forest Management: The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region – The Education Store
Small Woodlots: Important Rest Stops for Migratory Songbirds – The Education Store
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist
Ask An Expert, Purdue Extension – FNR Playlist

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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Seafood is more than just fish caught in the ocean. It includes a wide variety of product types, forms, flavors, and textures. One of the great things about using seafood is its versatility—it can be served as a main course or be used as an ingredient for appetizers, salads, and soups. Packed with important nutrients the human body needs to maintain good health, it is an excellent source of protein to include on your shopping list. Being informed about both the benefits and potential concerns with different types of seafood can help you decide which products to add to your cart or order at a restaurant.

This toolkit, designed specifically for nutrition and wellness professionals and educators, will provide you with information and resources to help you talk to your clients about the complex food category known as seafood. You will learn about the basics of seafood, nutrition benefits of including seafood as part of a healthy eating pattern, concerns about safety, tips for purchasing seafood, and ideas for cooking demonstrations. We’ve included simple and tasty recipes that you can use to introduce your clients to the many flavors of fish and shellfish, links to downloadable and printable handouts, and sample social media posts that you can use to inform and inspire.

This toolkit is geared toward extension staff who teach nutrition and wellness. It includes both printable and digital elements that can be shared with clients based on interest and need.

To receive the free download and recipe visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Seafood Basics: A Toolkit for Understanding Seafood, Nutrition, Safety and Preparation, and Sourcing.

Resources:
Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources– Subscribe to the Youtube channel
Freshwater Prawn Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, The Education Store
Ask An Expert: What is Aquaculture?, Purdue Extension FNR YouTube Channel
Largemouth Bass Market Trends, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Yellow Perch Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, The Education Store
Tilapia Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, The Education Store
Rainbow Trout Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, The Education Store
American Paddlefish, The Education Store
A Guide to Small-Scale Fish Processing Using Local Kitchen Facilities, The Education Store
Aquaculture Family Coloring Book Development, The Education Store
Channel Catfish, The Education Store
Eat Midwest Fish, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant online resource hub

Amy Shambach, Aquaculture Marketing Outreach Associate
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources/Illinois Indiana Sea Grant Program

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