Purdue University - Extension - Forestry and Natural Resources
Got Nature? Blog
Historically, forests dominated the land of Indiana, covering about 85% of Indiana prior to European contact and settlement. However, now less than 25% of our forested areas remain—and more than 85% of those areas are privately owned.
Urban woodlots are steadily in decline, both in number and size. The development of businesses and residential areas, highway construction and expansion and increases in cropland are all causes of destruction and reduction of these woodlots. When privately owned woodlots drop below 10 acres in size, they receive much less support and can’t qualify for the Classified Forest and Wildlands program through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, forcing their owners to manage them on their own.
Owners of woodlots of all sizes can help protect and improve them with good management and stewardship practices. Adding trees and other plant life, taking care of diseases and other pests and harvesting products when needed are all great steps towards urban woodlot preservation.
The benefits of urban woodlots don’t just help their owners but the entire community around them. Forested areas reduce the impact of rainfall on land, decreasing flooding, erosion and the removal of topsoil. The quality of water is improved as sediment and pollutants are filtered out. Soil is added as plants decay. Air is improved as plants soak in carbon dioxide and other unwanted chemicals. Trees provide shade and reduce wind speed, reducing the need for burning fuel. And of course, woodlots provide habitats that many animals depend on.
Urban woodlots really are crucial for our environment. As it decreases around us, it is important that we know what we can do to protect and improve what we have left. Owners of private urban woodlots must stay informed to keep their property not only beneficial to them economically, but beneficial to our society as a whole.
For more information, view the free publication download titled Indiana’s Urban Woodlots.
Resources
Indiana’s Urban Woodlots, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Urban Forestry – Got Nature?, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University
The Indiana Woodlot Owner Series, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Indiana Arborist Association (IAA)
Lindsey Purcell, Chapter Executive Director
Indiana Arborist Association
The focus of forest science is increasingly shifting to the management of forests as complex systems rather than as simple agricultural landscapes—with a much greater appreciation for the interactive ecosystem processes. In addition, now for many forest landowners, the ecological value of their land is at least as important as the economic return. It is, therefore, vital to understand how forest management affects not only timber production, but also the overall function of forested ecosystems.
This new publication, Breeding Birds and Forest Management: the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region, summarizes the effects of forest management on bird species in the Midwest based on data collected as part of the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE) in southern Indiana and other studies. We hope this summary provides a basis for understanding interactions between forest management and forest birds as well as guidelines for bird-friendly forest management in Indiana.
Resources
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Mussels are a critical part of the ecosystem and work hard to keep our rivers clean. The Tippecanoe River hosts over 45 species of mussels, including six endangered ones. Mussel populations are in decline after being harvested by the millions in the 19th and 20th centuries. In an effort to restore the mussel population and keep the Tippecanoe River clean for wildlife populations as well as recreational activity, Purdue Extension has launched a new website about mussels called Heart of the Tippy.
This site provides detailed information on mussels and what we can do to help them. For example, carrying your canoe instead of dragging it over rocky-bottomed shallow water can save mussels from being crushed. It also offers an area where visitors can take a pledge to improve the Tippecanoe’s water quality and protect its mussel habitat.
Take the pledge today and help to protect the mussels and keep the Tippecanoe clean!
Resources
Extension Website Presents Ways to Help Protect Indiana’s Endangered Mussels, Purdue Agriculture News
Tippecanoe River, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Article shared in NASF May 15, 2015, E-Newsletter
Lloyd Alter, Managing Editor
TreeHugger.com
As we continue to burn through our nonrenewable resources at an alarming rate, it is important that we never underestimate what we can do with our resources that can be replenished. One of these, wood, is an extremely valuable material but has been underutilized in construction for one big reason: fires. Every so often, a wood structure like the 188-unit apartment complex in Richmond, BC, burned down in 2010 goes up in a blaze and hinders the support of timber construction in a big way. While this is a valid concern, there are several things to consider before abandoning hope. Most of the big building fires covered by the news have been on uncompleted buildings still under construction. This means that fire suppression systems haven’t been installed yet, and oftentimes incomplete floors lacking fire-retardant drywall, or walls of any kind, give the fire huge ventilated areas to spread. This is hardly fair to mark these fires as a failure of wooden construction. In completed buildings, close to 80 percent of fires are contained to the rooms they are started in.
Furthermore, fire damage isn’t limited to wooden buildings. Structures made of concrete, steel or other construction materials can still weaken and collapse under the heat of a fire. In fact, heavy timber resists fire very well, burning slowly and creating a layer of char that helps to preserve the structural integrity of the inside wood.A recent advancement in timber technology to note is Cross-Laminate Timber, or CLT. CLT is made from stacks of industrially dried and fully glue-coated lumber. It is exceptionally strong, multi-purpose and lightweight. Construction using CLT is quick because it is easy to prefabricate and transport. Like heavy timber, CLT produces a layer of char when burned, and when used in construction, engineers factor in this layer and use enough wood to allow charring to form while still maintaining enough internal wood to be structurally sound. Also cosmetically, CLT looks pleasing and can be left exposed, reducing building cost. CLT has been considered the future of wood-based construction and for good reason.
So with some of the negative stigma of wooden construction debunked and the values of timber buildings explained, this leaves the biggest value of it all to think about: renewability. Timber is the only 100% renewable material for building construction. One billion cubic meters of logs are produced each year in North America and Europe alone, creating 200 million cubic meters of engineered timber and done in a careful way so that forests maintain their size. This is enough material to build 150,000 offices a year. Timber also locks up carbon that was absorbed by the tree during its growth, reducing pollution. As we look to the future, we should look to the trees. It’s time for timber construction.
Resources
NASF May 15, 2015 E-Newsletter, National Association of State Foresters
Making the Case for Wood Construction, Treehugger
Timber Offices: The Time Has Come, ARUP
The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center (search “timber”)
What is Cross Laminated Timber? American Wood Council
2014 Indiana Forest Products Price Report and Trend Analysis, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
National Association of State Foresters
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR) recently received an inquiry asking what to do with an abandoned animal. The INDNR web resource titled Orphaned and Injured Animals has steps to follow as you decide if the animal is truly abandoned.
Got Nature? Orphaned Animals author Brian MacGowan, extension wildlife specialist, Purdue University, says, “In most cases, the young animal is simply ‘spreading its wings’ and exploring or mom simply left it to get something to eat. Fawn deer are programmed to hide and remain motionless while mom is away. The fact is wildlife rarely abandons their young. They may leave briefly only to return.
Remember that you should never handle wild animals unless absolutely necessary. Any animal can bite you, and many harbor diseases and pests that can be transmitted to people.
In Indiana, wildlife rehabilitators have necessary state and federal permits to house and care for sick or injured wild animals. If you think you have found a sick or injured animal, you can find a list of licensed Wild Animal Rehabilitators in your area on the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife’s website.”
Resources
Mammals of Indiana, J.O. Whitker and R.E. Mumford
Common Indiana Mammals, R.N. Chapman and R.N. Williams, publication number FNR-413-W
Indiana DNR Orphaned and Injured Animals
The Education Store (search keywords to find the resources you need)
As we turn back time and take a look at the first eight years of this 100 year project, we can then help the existence and growth of Indiana trees and wildlife in the future. This new publication, The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment: Indiana Forestry and Wildlife, shares imperative information to aid in the growth of tree species that are producing no seedlings.
Many of Indiana’s forests, especially in the southern part of the state, have been dominated by oak and hickory trees for thousands of years. In recent decades, forest researchers and managers in the east-central United States have recognized that these tree species are not replacing themselves with new seedlings. Recognizing this issue, many stakeholders concerned with the status of Indiana’s forests convened in the late 1990s to determine the best approach to understanding this transition and to develop strategies for maintaining our oak-hickory ecosystems. As a result of the meetings of this working group, the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE) was initiated in 2006. The HEE is intended to last for 100 years because many of the changes that occur in these forests happen over decades. In fact, many of the strongest effects of the transition from oak and hickory forests may not even be observable until we near the end of the project. This is an analysis of the first eight years of the project.
Resources
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR) has just released a new and updated application for iPhone and Android users. A successor to the previous app released in March 2011, this iteration introduces new features and DNR Director Cameron Clark calls it a “portable field guide.” The free app contains helpful information about any DNR-related properties such as forests, wildlife areas and state parks and serves as a helpful companion while planning outdoor activities. To download this app, visit iTunes for iPhone users or Google Play Store for Android users.
Resources
Indiana DNR Smartphone Apps, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
DNR Releases New, Improved Mobile Apps, WANE15
Publications and Maps, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
After being sighted in Indiana for the first time in 144 years on June 12 around South Bend, a second sighting of the bear has occurred in the Michigan City area, and this time, the bear has done a little bit of damage foraging for food. The bear had knocked over multiple bee hives and tore into some food at a local farm. It also bent poles holding up bird boxes, likely eating the baby birds inside.
The Department of Natural Resources is hoping the bear will return to upper Michigan on its own where the black bear population reaches around 15,000. However, they are continuing to monitor its movement and are prepared to trap it if needed.
While startling, it is important to note that black bears aren’t as dangerous as most people think. They are usually scared of humans, but it is a wise idea to move bird feeders, grills and trash cans out of your yard. If you encounter a bear, the DNR recommends standing your ground and making a lot of noise while slowly backing away. Do not turn and run. Black bears are also considered an exotic animal in Indiana, and shooting or killing one is a serious offense that can result in large fines or jail time.
Please report bear sightings to dfwinput@dnr.IN.gov or call 812-334-1137.
Resources
Black Bear, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Black Bear Confirmed in Indiana For First Time in 144 Years, FOX59
A new educational exhibit aimed for kindergartners to fifth graders called “A Salamander Tale” is ready to be shipped around the country and spread amphibian awareness. This interactive attraction is roughly 300 square feet and helps educate visitors at all ages about hellbenders, other salamanders and amphibians in general. Built into the exhibit is a video game called “Hellbender Havoc,” which provides a fun and unique way to learn about hellbenders. “Hellbender Havoc” is also playable online using Chrome or Firefox browsers.
Rental fees do apply for reserving the exhibit. Indiana state and extension professionals, also including Purdue staff, can rent the exhibit for free after paying for shipping. For more information, please check out the Salamander Tale web page, or feel free to take a look at other current exhibits on the Purdue Traveling Exhibits page. Check out Herbie the Hellbender today and inspire the Herpetologists of tomorrow!
Resources
Purdue Traveling Exhibits, Purdue Agriculture
Help the Hellbender, Purdue Extension
Salamanders of Indiana Book, The Education Store
This is the time of year that many homeowners start their annual battle with nuisance wildlife. While trapping animals is not always required or desirable, it may be necessary in some cases to alleviate damage. Homeowners will typically use a box-style or cage “live” trap. Before you take action, there are a few key points you should first consider.
What permits, if any, are required?
Some animals require a permit prior to trapping. Raccoons, skunks, opossums, groundhogs, gray squirrels and fox squirrels are examples of mammals that do not require a permit in Indiana. Resident landowners or tenants can legally capture these species if the animal is causing damage to the property. However, you no longer have to report capture of wildlife to a conservation officer within 72 hours. Perhaps to the surprise of probably most people, rabbits do require a Nuisance Animal Control Permit prior to trapping. The Indiana DNR has a list of permitting requirements.
What do you do with wildlife you catch?
You have two choices of what to do with wildlife you capture: let it go or euthanize it (put to death humanely by injection). In either case, you may not possess an animal for more than 24 hours. If you relocate an animal, you must have permission of the landowner or property manager (even for public lands) AND you may only release that animal within the county of capture.
A common question I receive is, “What should I do?” There is no answer for which is best because circumstances differ. Most people probably prefer to let them go somewhere else because they find euthanizing animals unacceptable. They also may think that letting them go allows them to live out their lives, but this may not be the case. There has been some research on what happens to translocated raccoons and tree squirrels. In both cases, the animals don’t stay where they were let go. In the case of squirrels, a high number died within 88 days of release. Raccoons removed from structures tended to relocate in another structure.
Other things to consider
- Despite being cute and furry, wild animals are exactly that – wild animals. You should always use caution when handling traps that contain wildlife. Wear thick leather gloves and avoid sticking fingers inside the trap.
- If you transport an animal to be released (assuming you have gotten permission), do not place the trap inside your vehicle. Use a pickup truck to avoid contaminating your vehicle with animal waste and to minimize the spread of disease. Wildlife carry many pathogens and diseases that are transmittable to people.
- Animals can roll traps or pull in vegetation from the immediate vicinity. Be careful where you place the trap. Staking box traps is also a good idea.
- Be sure the trap is stable or “bedded” when you set it. Remove rocks and debris from under the trap. You may have to “work” the trap into the ground. Just be sure that debris doesn’t get caught under the treadle. If it does, the trap may not fire.
- You may want to cover your trap by wrapping it with cardboard and wire.
- Check your traps frequently. Indiana has a 24-hour trap check law. It is often a good idea to check them more frequently – perhaps 2 to 3 times a day. This is especially true if you are trapping during extremely hot or cold weather.
- Wildlife species have different times of activity, so you can be selective what time of day you trap. For example, tree squirrels and groundhogs are not active at night. Closing traps at night can avoid non-targets but would also require opening the trap at sunrise.
If you are interested in hiring a state licensed animal control professional, you can visit the Indiana DNR Nuisance Wildlife page and click on the link to “Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators.”
Additional Resources
Preventing Wildlife Damage – Do You Need a Permit?
Indiana Wildlife Conflicts Information
Indiana DNR Nuisance Wildlife
Brian MacGowan, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University
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