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Managing Common and Cut Leaved Teasel

Posted on November 24th, 2025 in Forestry, Invasive Plant Species, Wildlife | No Comments »

Discover how to effectively manage the invasive common and cut-leaved teasel, which threatens open areas like prairies, savannas, sedge meadows, roadsides and conservation plantings. This publication provides essential information for exploring effective control options. Essential reading for conservationists and land managers interested in grassland ecosystems: Teasel Control (Common and Cut Leaved).

Check out the Managing Conservation Plantings Series which include details on how to control invasive species and other problematic plants in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantings and native warm-season grass and wildflower conservation plantings.

Publications in this series include:

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

Extension Team Wins Family Forests Comprehensive Education Award

Posted on November 21st, 2025 in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

The Purdue FNR extension team was named as a recipient of the Family Forests Comprehensive Education Program Award presented by the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA) and National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP).

The award, which is the nation’s top honor for forestry extension programming, recognizes superior performance across nine rigorous criteria, celebrating the standard of excellence for the profession. Drs. Zhao Ma and Mike Saunders received the award on the team’s behalf at the NAUFRP annual meeting at the 2025 Society of American Foresters (SAF) national convention in Hartford, Connecticut, in October.

The Family Forests Comprehensive Education Program Award criteria includes:

Faculty involved (including number and multi-disciplinary involvement)
Educational needs assessment (including involvement of clients)
Educational materials, events and other resources used
Applied research incorporated
Collaborations among disciplines, agencies and organizations
Results, impacts or outcomes
Evidence of program quality
Degree of innovation
Emulation of the program by others

NAUFRP extension chair Bill Hubbard, who oversaw the competition said “After a thorough review by our three judges and myself, the committee determined that both the University of Minnesota and Purdue University programs demonstrated such profound and differentiated excellence across the nine core criteria that it was decided to recognize them both.”

According to the NAUFRP announcement, “Purdue’s program was honored for its massive scale, its deep connection to a long-term research asset, and its commitment to building future workforce capacity.”

Program highlights include:

HEE Integration: The program directly integrates findings from the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)—a 100-year research study—into its curriculum, providing landowners with unbiased, real-time data on management issues like oak/hickory regeneration and wildlife response to timber harvest.
Economic & Ecological Scale: The program supports the multibillion-dollar hardwood industry by having an impact on over 57,000 acres and engaging a network of tens of thousands of landowners through its extensive publications.
Curricular Innovation: Purdue was recognized for its pioneering move to formally incorporate Extension training into its undergraduate and graduate curricula, ensuring the next generation of forestry professionals is equipped with crucial outreach skills.

The Purdue team includes five faculty and nine professional staff members. Over the past five years, the group boasts many standout accomplishments including:

Development of publications that have been downloaded more than 2.1 million times
Publication and dissemination of the Indiana Woodland Steward newsletter, which has reached more than 31,000 family forest owners, impacting more than 1.2 million acres
Creation of 215 training programs, which reached more than 50,000 landowners, impacting more than 57,000 acres of woodlands
Production of 249 videos, downloaded more than 750,000 times, and 38 podcast episodes, reaching more than 50,000 listeners in the United States alone. Videos can be accessed on the FNR Extension YouTube channel. The Habitat University podcast is available as part of the Natural Resources University network.
Awarded more than $4.4 million in extramural funding for faculty and staff
Formally incorporated undergraduate and graduate students in Extension at the programmatic level

In the nomination packet, team personnel stated “We aim to address family forest owner needs through collaboration with many stakeholders. Our family forest education serves family forest owners, professional advisors, an industry that receives most of their product base from family forests and the general public who influence policy decisions affecting family forest owners. Our program focuses on adoption or maintenance of stewardship practices (e.g., invasive plant control, timber harvesting), developing or improving forestland planning, and engaging peer and professional advice. In doing these, family forest owners can make informed decisions that meet their personal land management objectives while enhancing the resource for all residents.”

Team members include:

Jarred Brooke – Extension wildlife specialist; Specializing in wildlife conservation, habitat management and deer impact
Diana Evans – Extension and web communications specialist; Specializing in website design and communications
Lenny Farlee – Extension forester; Specializing in forest regeneration, hardwood management and genetics
Dr. Rado Gazo – professor of wood processing and industrial engineering; Specializing in secondary wood products manufacturing processes
Dr. Eva Haviarova – professor of wood products; Specializing in strength design and product engineering of furniture and product sustainability
Liz Jackson – engagement specialist with the Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners, Walnut Council and Purdue Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center; Specializing in black walnut, oaks and landowner engagement
Dr. Doug Jacobs – Fred M. van Eck professor of forest biology; Specializing in forest ecology, silviculture, regeneration and restoration
Dr. Brian MacGowan – Extension wildlife specialist and extension coordinator; Specializing in wildlife habitat management, wildlife conservation and wildlife damage
Wendy Mayer – communications coordinator; Specializing in social media and communications
Jessica Outcalt – natural resources training specialist; Specializing in natural resources, conservation and professional development
Henry Quesada – professor, assistant director of Extension and ANR program leader; Specializing in wood products, hardwood lumber, biomaterials, hardwood markets and industry
Ron Rathfon – regional extension forester; Specializing in forest management, timber marketing, tree planting, oak regeneration and ecology and invasive vegetation management
Dr. Mike Saunders – professor of ecology and natural resources; Specializing in disturbance-based silviculture, growth and yield, modeling, disturbance ecology and management effects on wood quality.
Kat Shay – HEE forest project coordinator; Specializing in environmental science and restoration

From 2020 to 2024, the FNR Family Forest Education extension team conducted 788 programs, covering 1,005 sessions and including more than 50,000 individual contacts.

To view the original article along with other news and stories posted on the Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources website view: FNR Extension Team Receives Family Forests Comprehensive Education Award.

Resources:
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Wildlife Habitat Hint YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Woodland Management Moment YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Invasive Species YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner Course – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Indiana Woodland Steward Institute
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)
Hardwood Tree Improvement & Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
Help the Hellbender
The Nature of Teaching
Pond and Wildlife Management, website
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Subscribe Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Wendy Mayer, FNR Communications Coordinator
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Discover the Great Lakes, The 2025 Helm Magazine is Available

Posted on November 17th, 2025 in Aquaculture/Fish, Aquatic/Aquaculture Resources, Wildlife | No Comments »

The 2025 issue of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s magazine, The Helm, is now available. This annual publication is a collection of program research, outreach and education success stories, as well as ongoing activities to address coastal concerns. This issue covers this year’s Shipboard Science Immersion that took place on Lake Michigan, our long-standing team engaged in AIS prevention outreach, our new specialists diving into coastal resilience issues, and past and present program leadership.
Front page of The Helm magazine.
Highlights from the newsletter include:

Educators engage with Great Lakes scientists aboard the Lake Guardian
Teachers joined researchers on Lake Michigan aboard the R/V Lake Guardian, collecting samples, learning new field techniques, and bringing Great Lakes science back to their students.
Scientists and educators investigate Lake Michigan biological hotspots
Every year when a group of Great Lakes educators spend 6–7 days aboard the Lake Guardian as part of the Shipboard Science Immersion, they work side-by-side with scientists engaging in real monitoring work.
IISG looks back on 30 years of AIS outreach
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is in the midst of its 30th year of dedicated outreach to address the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Great Lakes waters.
Coastal communities face challenges in managing beach sand and structures
Beginning in 2025, IISD has not one, but two coastal resilience specialists who are providing support for communities along the southern Lake Michigan shore.
Shaping the Shoreline: Video Series
Explore how natural and engineered structures shape our Great Lakes coastlines.
Stuart Carlton is the new IISG director
Stuart Carlton, longtime Sea Grant communicator and leader, steps into the director role—continuing IISG’s mission of connecting research, education, and outreach.
Tomas Höök reflects on his Sea Grant legacy
After more than a decade as director, Tomas Höök looks back on milestones that shaped IISG’s growth and lasting partnerships.

To view the full newsletter visit: The Helm.

More Resources:
Prescription For Safety: How to Dispose of Unwanted Household Medicine, IISG Publications
A Guide to Marketing for Small-Scale Aquaculture Producers, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
A Guide to Small-Scale Fish Processing Using Local Kitchen Facilities, The Education Store
Marine Shrimp Biofloc Systems: Basic Management Practices, The Education Store
Sustainable Aquaculture: What does it mean to you?, The Education Store
The Benefits of Seafood Consumption The Education Store
Walleye Farmed Fish Fact Sheet: A Guide for Seafood Consumers, The Education Store
Fish Muscle Hydrolysate, The Education Store
Fish Cleaning with Purdue Extension County Extension Director, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Aquatics & Fisheries, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Eat Midwest Fish, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant online resource hub
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Climate Change and Sustainable Development, The Education Store
Climate Change: Are you preparing for it?, The Education Store

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)

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

Crownvetch, Sweetclover and Birdsfoot Trefoil Control

Posted on November 17th, 2025 in Forestry, Invasive Plant Species, Wildlife | No Comments »

Discover the impact of non-native legumes like crownvetch, sweetclover, and birdsfoot trefoil on grasslands and conservation plantings. This guide provides control options for these non-native legumes. Essential reading for conservationists and land managers interested in grassland ecosystems: Crownvetch, Sweetclover and Birdsfoot Trefoil Control.

Publications in this series include:

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

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Newsletter Shares New Resources

Posted on November 13th, 2025 in Aquaculture/Fish, Aquatic/Aquaculture Resources, Wildlife | No Comments »

Dive into the latest stories from the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) Newsletter which highlights research, outreach, and partnerships making a difference across the Great Lakes region. In this issue, explore how communities, scientists and educators are working together to protect water quality, strengthen coastal resilience, and inspire stewardship.

Highlights from the newsletter include:

IISG has a long history of supporting teachers through Great Lakes activities and resources
Read the blog from Stuart Carlton.
Freshwater jellyfish may increase in numbers as Illinois and Indiana waters continue to warm
A closer look at how climate trends are affecting unexpected species in our region’s freshwater systems.
New step-by-step guide and veterinary brochures expand UnwantedMeds.org resources
New tools help communities safely dispose of unwanted or expired medicine—from household to veterinary use—reducing pollution and protecting public health.
The Know Your H₂O Kit gets a real-world lab test by middle schoolers
Students dove into hands-on learning with IISG’s Know Your H₂O Kit, testing their local water and connecting science concepts to real environmental data.
Educators engage with Great Lakes scientists aboard the Lake Guardian
Teachers joined researchers on Lake Michigan aboard the R/V Lake Guardian, collecting samples, learning new field techniques, and bringing Great Lakes science back to their students.
IISG looks back on 30 years of AIS outreach
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is in the midst of its 30th year of dedicated outreach to address the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Great Lakes waters.
Coastal communities face challenges in managing beach sand and structures
Beginning in 2025, IISD has not one, but two coastal resilience specialists who are providing support for communities along the southern Lake Michigan shore.
The Helm
Our latest edition of The Helm brings together insights from field research, outreach efforts, and education across the Great Lakes region.
Shaping the Shoreline: Video Series
Explore how natural and engineered structures shape our Great Lakes coastlines.
Welcome Stuart Carlton, new IISG director
Stuart Carlton, longtime Sea Grant communicator and leader, steps into the director role—continuing IISG’s mission of connecting research, education, and outreach.
Tomas Höök reflects on a legacy of leadership, collaboration and impact at IISG
After more than a decade as director, Tomas Höök looks back on milestones that shaped IISG’s growth and lasting partnerships.

Subscribe to the IISG newsletter by sending your name and email to iisg@purdue.edu. To view the full newsletter visit: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) Quarterly Newsletter.

Natty Morrison, Communications Coordinator
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)

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

Deer Season Special – MyDNR

Posted on November 4th, 2025 in Disease, Wildlife | No Comments »

MyDNR, Indiana’s Outdoor Newsletter: There are many options for enjoying outdoor recreation across Indiana this fall, especially with deer hunting season upon us. Learn more about deer hunting, how to support healthy wildlife populations, important regulations and how your hunting can support Hoosiers in need. Pay special attention to deer regulation changes, season dates and the importance of purchasing your license.

Reduction Zone Season: Sept. 15, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026
Archery Season: Oct. 1, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026
Firearms Season: Nov. 15 – Nov. 30, 2025
Muzzleloader Season: Dec. 6- Dec. 21, 2025

Deer Hunting Regulation Changes
Indiana DNR has made big changes to Indiana’s deer hunting rules. These changes are in effect for the 2025-2026 hunting season. The changes were made, in part, to make Indiana’s hunting regulations easier to understand.

Rule changes include:

The statewide bag limit is now 6 antlerless deer and 1 antlered deer.
A newly created county antlerless bag limit replaces the season antlerless bag limits and county bonus antlerless quotas. Because of this change, the new multi-season antlerless license has replaced the bonus antlerless license.
Antlerless deer cannot be taken with a firearm during firearms season at Fish & Wildlife areas.
Only 1 antlered and 2 antlerless deer can be taken with the bundle license.
The use of crossbow equipment is now allowed using the archery license.
Portable tree stands and ground blinds can now be placed on DNR properties in Deer Reduction Zones between noon Sept. 1 and Feb. 8.
State law prohibits the use of drones (unmanned aerial aircraft) to search for, scout, locate or detect a wild animal during the hunting season and for 14 days prior to the hunting season for that animal.
Hunters can now use rifles with a centerfire cartridge that has a bullet diameter of .219 inches (5.56 mm) or larger on both public and private lands.

For questions about equipment, regulations or changes in them, or which license you need, contact the Deer Information Line at INDeerInfo@dnr.IN.gov or 812-334-3795.

View a webinar recording explaining deer regulation changes.

Hunting Safety Tips and Reminders
Indiana DNR reminds you to stay safe this deer season. Hunting injuries most commonly involve elevated platforms and tree stands, so stay safe by following the guidelines below.

Tree stand safety before the hunt:

Read, understand, and follow the tree stand manufacturer’s instructions.
Check tree stands and equipment for wear, fatigue, rust, and cracks or loose nuts/bolts, paying particularly close attention to parts made of material other than metal.
Practice at ground level with a responsible adult. If you need to sight in your equipment, find a shooting range near you.
Learn how to properly wear your full-body safety harness.
Make a hunt plan and share it with someone before your hunt.
Wear your full-body safety harness.
Use a tree stand safety rope.
Make certain to attach your harness to the tree or tree stand safety rope before leaving the ground and check that it remains attached to the tree or tree stand safety rope until you return to the ground.
Maintain three points of contact during ascent and descent.
Wear boots with nonslip soles.
Use a haul line to raise and lower firearms, bows, and other hunting gear.
Make sure firearms are unloaded, action is open, and safety is on before attaching them to the haul line.

General reminders:

Hunter Orange – know when to wear it and how much is needed on a ground blind
- Hunter orange is required for all deer hunters during youth, firearms, and muzzleloader season. Hunter orange must be worn at all times during the hunt, including walking to and from the hunting location. Regardless of hunting equipment being used (archery, crossbow or firearm), if it is firearms season, you are required to wear hunter orange.
- A ground blind must have at least 144 square inches of hunter orange material that is visible from any direction during any season in which a hunter is already required to wear hunter orange.
Firearm Safety – Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot, and be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Print and complete a Landowner Permission Form if hunting on private land that isn’t your own.
Remember to complete and attach a deer transportation tag immediately upon taking a deer. The tag should be attached to the deer during transportation and any time the deer is unattended.

Always bring emergency equipment with you on your hunt, such as a cellphone, flashlight, small first aid kit and extra water.

Read more about the guidelines and property rules here: Fish & Wildlife Properties.

Deer Reduction Zones
For information or any questions, view: Deer Reduction Zones.

Deer Disease Updates
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal disease impacting white-tailed deer, has been detected in wild deer in two areas of Indiana: LaGrange County and Posey County. These detections resulted in a CWD Positive Area including LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, and DeKalb counties and a one-year CWD Enhanced Surveillance Zone including Posey, Vanderburgh, and Gibson counties.

DNR offers free, statewide CWD testing for hunters by either taking your deer to one of DNR’s drop-off coolers at select Fish & Wildlife areas (FWAs), state parks, state fish hatcheries (SFHs) or through advertised private businesses such as taxidermists. These options are available during all seasons. Find out more about how to get your deer tested here: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

Resources:
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 2, Hanging & Skinning, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 3, Deboning, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 4, Cutting, Grinding & Packaging, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, Purdue Extension
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, Purdue Extension
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Managing Deer Damage to Young Trees, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Integrated Deer Management Project, Purdue FNR
New Deer Impact Toolbox, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)

Division of Fish and Wildlife, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

ID That Tree: Blackberry

Posted on November 3rd, 2025 in Forestry, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

Welcome to ID That Tree! In this episode, Purdue Extension Forester Lenny Farlee introduces us to a familiar and useful native shrub, the Blackberry. Commonly found along woodland edges, open fields and roadsides across Indiana, this hardy plant is easy to spot in summer thanks to its features. Learn how to identify Blackberry by its stems, leaves and growth pattern. Whether you’re a forager, landowner, or someone who simply enjoys exploring nature, this video offers a quick and engaging look at how to recognize Blackberry and appreciate its role in Indiana’s natural landscapes.

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
ID That Tree – Video Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Habitat University, Episode 12 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
District Forester, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 10+ acres
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

IFWOA Newsletter Packed With Information: How Fire and Wildlife Shape Forests, New Resources and Seedling Purchases

Posted on November 1st, 2025 in Forestry, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation and sustainable management of forests in Indiana. The Fall Leaves & Limbs Newsletter is now available online and is open to all who would like to view the articles and resources.

Fall 2025 Leaves & Limbs Newsletter includes:

- Restoring Future Forests: How Fire, Deer and Canopy Gaps Shape Forests and Regeneration Potential
- A Message from the IFWOA President, Lee Huss
- Upcoming forestry events
- Indiana 2025 Woodland Owner Conference (October 31-November 1 at Turkey Run): Agenda, field tours, overview, hotel and registration information
- Indiana Landowners to be Recognized for Their Stewardship
- District Nominees Share Their Passion
- Time to Order Tree Seedlings form Indiana DNR Vallonia Nursery
- Welcome New Executive Directory – Phil Woolery!
- New Resources from Purdue Extesion
- Program Overview: The Sourthern Indiana Sentinel Landscape (SISL) Regional Conservation Partnership Program
- What Can You Tell Me About the Dunstan Chestnut?
- Elm Zigzag Sawfly: New Pest to Elm
- Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds Program
- Forestry Economic Contributions in Indiana and the U.S.
- What’s in a Name?, by Allen Pursell, Same Shine Foundation, Inc.
- Research on Indiana’s Paoli Experimental Forest
- Seven U.S. Animal Species That are Invasive in Other Countries
- And More!

More About IFWOA
IFWOA hosts the Indiana Woodland Owner Conference which include field programs and indoor sessions on wildlife and habitat, forest management and other topics for landowners. The 2026 conference is November 6-7 and is open to anyone. Over 200 landowners attend for discussions and networking.

IFWOA advocates for scientific best practices for woodland management to achieve objectives like clean water, wildlife habitat, soil protection, native species diversity, timber production, recreation, carbon sequestration and many others.

This Indiana association has members in every county of Indiana both woodland owners and non-owners, city and rural dwellers, family farmers, wildlife conservationists, agriculture and forestry professionals, tree farmers, loggers, scientists, educators — anyone who cares about the health of Indiana forests and woodlands, and wants to assure those lands receive the care and support they need.

Membership in IFWOA provides a valuable network linkage to information and resources at the leading edge of science, industry and politics impacting Indiana woodlands. If you would like to learn more about membership view Join Today, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA).

Resources:
Subscribe: Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) YouTube Channel
“Magnificent Trees of Indiana” webinar with author Carroll Ritter, IFWOA YouTube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Planting Hardwood Seedlings – The Education Store
Ordering Seedlings from the State Forest Nursery System, Got Nature? – Purdue Extension-FNR
Importance of Hardwood Tree Planting – The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
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
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Forest Birds , Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Ask the Expert: Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Birds and Salamander Research, Purdue Extension – FNR
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Phil Woolery, Forestry and Natural Resources
Walnut Council, IFWOA & HTIRC Engagement Specialist

Unexpected Plants and Animals of Indiana: Nine-Banded Armadillo

Posted on October 27th, 2025 in Got Nature for Kids, Wildlife | No Comments »

Purdue College of Agriculture News: An armored mammal, once limited to the swamps and forests of the Deep South, is now burrowing its way through the backyards and woodlands of Indiana. The nine-banded armadillo—a 10 to 15 pound mammal often associated with Texas or Louisiana—has become an increasingly common sight in the Hoosier state.

Brian MacGowan, Purdue Extension wildlife specialist and coordinator in Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, explains that while this isn’t a brand-new arrival, the armadillo population and range have grown steadily and moved north in recent years.

“The nine-banded armadillo was first discovered living in Indiana around 2003,” MacGowan said. “Since then, they have been found throughout most of the state, even into the far northeast corner of Steuben County.”

MacGowan explains that armadillos are known to establish themselves in woodland areas in search of their food source. “Their diet is generally ground insects,” he said. “If an animal wants to find loads of insects, they will find an abundance in decaying wood.”

Another distinct characteristic of the nine-banded armadillo is their burrowing tactics.

“In some studies, these armadillos have been known to use multiple burrows, sometimes over 30 in a single year,” MacGowan said. “If they run into trouble, their first response is often to jump up and run into their burrow as fast as they can.”

As a nocturnal animal with many burrows to call home, their chances of being seen by humans are diminished. However, occasionally homeowners and farmers will find signs of armadillos on their property, such as where they dig up insects and grubs or burrow under a deck.

While armadillos are not known to be dangerous, there is a risk of humans or animals stepping into their open burrows. MacGowan compares this concern with the challenge farmers face with groundhogs and ground squirrels.

Rather than navigating by sight or sound, the nine-banded armadillos rely on smell, which could lead them to roadways while searching for food, MacGowan explains.

“The nine-banded armadillos also cannot curl up in a ball and protect their soft underbelly like other armadillo species can, so they’re vulnerable to predation by coyotes and other predators, said MacGowan.

Armadillo sightings are also influenced by the temperatures and moisture in an area. “If there’s a drought, it can kill off a lot of armadillos because the ground gets so hard and a lot of the insects and things they eat move below ground,” MacGowan said.

Typically, when it is cold out, the nine-banded armadillo adjusts its behavior to be more active during the day, partly because that helps them warm up. Also, some of the things they eat are more likely to be active when it’s warmer. MacGowan encourages people who encounter these animals to let them be.

“Armadillos are susceptible to a variety of diseases just like any wild animal,” he said. “You might have heard talk that armadillos can carry leprosy. That is generally an endemic issue for those animals specifically found in some regions in the south. While leprosy is quite deadly to armadillos, there is absolutely no evidence of transmission to people. However, they are wild animals, and the DNR will always caution people to keep their distance from any wild animal.”

The next time you spot this rare visitor in your backyard or scurrying across a Hoosier road, remember that you are witnessing history in motion. Reporting unusual animal sightings, like the nine-banded armadillo, not only helps the DNR track these shifts, but also deepens our understanding of a continually evolving ecosystem. After all, you never know what remarkable creature might be unexpectedly making its home in Indiana.

You can help the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife by submitting reports of certain mammals of interest. These mammals can potentially be seen from the comfort of your home, on your way to work, or while out biking, hiking, or camping. Reports can be made to the DNR here.

To view this article along with other news and stories posted on the Purdue College of Agriculture website view: Unexpected Plants and Animals of Indiana: The nine-banded armadillo.

Resources:
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Wildlife Habitat Hint, Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Playlist
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Playlist
Woodland Management Moment, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Playlist
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Invasive Plant Species Identification, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Invasive plants: impact on environment and people, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Woodland Invaders, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Preventing Wildlife Damage – Do You Need a Permit? – The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Selecting a Nuisance Wildlife Control Professional, The Education Store
How to Construct a Scent Station, The Education Store
Question: How do I properly relocate raccoons from my attic?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension FNR
Nuisance Wildlife – Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Subscribe to our FNR Extension YouTube Channel with over 250 videos which include: aquatic, forestry, urban forestry, wildlife, community planning videos and much more.

Ericka Bethel, Digital Content Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Dr. Brian MacGowan, Extension Wildlife Specialist
Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University

Avian Flu in Birds, IN-PREPared

Posted on October 21st, 2025 in Disease, Wildlife | No Comments »

IN-PREPared: The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in northeast Indiana. As millions of wild birds traverse the state during peak migration, the risk of additional outbreaks remains high. To support awareness and preparedness, Indiana PREPared offers a comprehensive resource library with science-based information on avian influenza, biosecurity practices, and public health guidance.

What is HPAI?
Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is a contagious viral disease of domestic and wild birds. It’s a major threat to the poultry industry, animal health, trade, and the economy worldwide.

Caused by influenza type A viruses, the disease varies in severity depending on the strain and species affected. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains are deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of days. Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) strains typically cause few or no signs of illness. They occur naturally in wild birds around the world. However, some LPAI strains can become highly pathogenic in poultry. (USDA-APHIS)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.

To learn more, visit the webpage: Avian Influenza.

More Resources:
Avian Flu (Bird Flu), IN DNR, Fish and Wildlife
Question: Is there any risk of becoming infected with avian influenza virus by feeding backyard birds?, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Virtual Tour Brings Forest Management for Birds to Life, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Got Nature? Blog
Breeding Bird Atlas, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
IN DNR Shares How to Keep Your Backyard Birds Healthy, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Breeding Birds and Forest Management: the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Forest Birds, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Managing Woodlands for Birds Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
The Birders’ Dozen, Profile: Baltimore Oriole, Indiana Woodland Steward
Birds and Residential Window Strikes: Tips for Prevention, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
No Room at the Inn: Suburban Backyards and Migratory Birds, Education Store
The National Audubon Society
Subscribe, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel

Ed Sheldon, Farm/Veteran Job Coach and Engagement Coordinator
Department of Agriculture & Biological Engineering, Purdue University

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