The caves at Wyandotte Caves State Recreation Area (SRA) in Crawford County will re-open for fee-based, guided cave tours on May 27, the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The tours will be offered on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through Labor Day, September 4. 

Wyandotte Caves SRA is managed by nearby O’Bannon Woods State Park and is home to Little Wyandotte and Big Wyandotte caves. 

In 2009, state officials closed Wyandotte and all other caves, tunnels, sinkholes, and abandoned mines on DNR properties in an attempt to slow the westward movement of white nose syndrome (WNS), a disease which kills bats. 

The caves reopened in 2016 during Indiana State Parks’ Centennial Celebration with decontamination protocols in place for guests to reduce the possible movement of WNS to other caves. The caves were closed again in 2020 as part of DNR’s COVID-19 pandemic precautions. 

Big Wyandotte Cave will close to tours after Labor Day weekend because it is a significant overwintering refuge for Indiana bats. Little Wyandotte Cave will remain open in September and October for scheduled tours with school and other groups. 

“We are looking forward to introducing a new generation of visitors to this unique cave system and its features while remembering the significance of this site as a winter hibernating location for the federally endangered Indiana bat,” said Terry Coleman, director of Indiana State Parks. 

Spaulding’s All Purpose Dredge

Personally, I find most of the commercial dredges not only expensive, but overly spiced.  The strong overabundance of spice quickly overshadows the subtle flavors of what you’re cooking.

Years ago, I created my own dredge recipe which works great, not only a dry dredge, but also as a wet dredge.  For onion rings, mushrooms and shrimp, it makes a great beer batter when mixed to a runny pancake batter consistency with your favorite brew.  

The basic combination is 1 pound of enriched flour, 1 pound of enriched white corn meal, 1 pound of corn starch, 1/8 cup of onion powder and 1/8 cup of garlic powder.  Thoroughly blend the ingredients and store in Zip Lock freezer bags in the freezer.  It will keep for years.

When I whip up a batch, I make 15 pounds at a time.  I buy five pounds each of enriched flour, enriched white corn meal and corn starch.  Additionally, I buy a large container of onion powder and a large container of garlic powder.  Sounds like a lot, but as often as we use it, it goes quicker than you think.

Juvenile Injured In ORV Accident 

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an off-road vehicle (ORV) accident occurring in Wells County.  Shortly after 12:30 p.m. on April 23, officers were dispatched to the area of County Road 800 N and 600 W in rural Wells County for an ORV accident with injuries. 

Upon arrival, officers discovered a 13-year-old juvenile was operating a side-by-side ORV eastbound on C.R. 800 N while using a cellphone when she lost control of the ORV, causing it to roll multiple times and ejecting her. The juvenile was not wearing a helmet or other protective riding gear or using safety restraints.

The juvenile was transported by Wells County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne in serious condition.

Indiana Conservation Officers remind the public a cellphone should never be used while operating an ORV. Additionally, a valid driver’s license is required to operate an ORV on public roadways in counties where such use is permitted. ORV operators and passengers should always wear a helmet, protective riding gear, and use all ORV safety restraints. 

For information on ORV laws and safe operating procedures, please visit offroad-ed.com/in/handbook/ and on.IN.gov/offroading.

‘till next time,

Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication, or e-mail to jackspaulding@hughes.net.

Spaulding’s books, “The Best of Spaulding Outdoors,” and his latest, “The Coon Hunter And The Kid” are available from Amazon.com in paperback or as a Kindle download.