Reacting in disbelief to the blatant act of a poacher, Indiana’s “Turn In a Poacher or Polluter” program (TIP) added $2,500 to the reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who shot and killed a whooping crane in Vermillion County.

The TIP donation to the reward in the whooping crane investigation helped boost the total to $7,500. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and Defenders of Wildlife, a national nonprofit organization, also donated $2,500 each.

“The Indiana TIP program hopes the increased reward amount will encourage some good citizen to come forward with information that will lead to the arrest of the person who did this,” said Phil Seng, a member of the TIP Citizen’s Advisory Board.

“People who break hunting and fishing laws are not hunters or anglers. They are thieves who steal from all of us.”

Wildlife law enforcement agents with the FWS and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are continuing the investigation of the shooting of an endangered whooping crane near the town of Cayuga in central Vermillion County.

“To kill and abandon one of 500 remaining members of species shows a lack of reverence for life and an absence of simple common sense,” said John Christian, FWS assistant regional director for Migratory Birds. “It is inconceivable that someone would have such little regard for conservation.”

The TIP program is a joint effort between the DNR, sportsmen and sportswomen of Indiana and concerned citizens. Through the program, any citizen can anonymously report violations of fishing, hunting and environmental laws, and can be eligible for cash rewards. All of the money contributed to rewards comes from private donations.

Wildlife law enforcement agents with the Indiana DNR and FWS are investigating the shooting of the crane, which happened sometime between Nov. 28, when the crane was observed by an International Crane Foundation staff member, and Dec. 1, when an ICF volunteer found the carcass along Vermillion County Road W 310 North, just west of CR N 225 West.

The crane was identified by a leg band, and determined to be the seven-year-old mother of “Wild-1,” the only whooping crane chick successfully hatched and migrated from captivity. The crane and its mate were among 19 whooping cranes migrating from their summer grounds in Wisconsin to their wintering grounds in Florida.
Whooping cranes are protected by the Endangered Species Act, the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Indiana state laws. There are approximately 500 whooping cranes left in the world.

Anyone with information should call the DNR’s 24-hour hotline at 800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367) or the FWS at 317-346-7016. Callers remain anonymous.

Turkey Run & Raccoon Lake eagle watch

Observing bald eagles is considered by many to be one of Indiana’s most treasured wildlife viewing experiences. In support of a special wildlife encounter, Turkey Run State Park and Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area are co-hosting “Eagles in Flight,” on Feb. 5-7.

The weekend-long event is designed to introduce attendees to eagles in the area and teach them about eagle life.

Bus tours will stop at a large eagle roost and several active eagle nests. Programs include wild bird banding demonstrations and information on Indiana birding hotspots. The guest of honor will be a rehabilitated bald eagle, along with several live owls and hawks.
A registration fee of $20 per adult and $15 per child (ages 4-12) includes all bus tours and programs. For more information about the weekend, call 765-597-2654 or 765-344-1412, or download a brochure online at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2420.htm
For room reservations at Turkey Run Inn, call 877-LODGES1 (563-4371) or reserve rooms online at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/inns/turkeyrun and use group code 0205EW. A park entrance fee of $5 per vehicle for Indiana residents and $7 for non-residents will apply.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.