Spaulding Outdoors by Jack Spaulding

 

Spelunkers and cave enthusiasts will find Hoosier National Forest caves off-limits again for the coming year. Hoosier National Forest officials have decided to continue to keep them closed to recreational use.

Management first closed caves in 2011 in an effort to protect bats from white-nose syndrome (WNS). WNS has since been found in most caves in and around the Hoosier National Forest.

WNS is caused by a fungus (Psedogymnoascus destructans) and affects most bats, including Indiana bat, gray bat, little brown bat, northern long-eared bat and tri-colored bat. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, researchers understand more about the disease than ever before and continue to look into ways to control it.

Mike Chaveas, Forest supervisor, continued the closure to limit human access to the caves. Closing the caves will help slow potential spread of WNS.

“There are several ways the disease is spread,” said Chaveas. “We cannot control bat-to-bat transmission or the spread from already-infected environments to bats. By limiting access to the caves, however, we can try to slow the rate at which humans spread the disease to previously uninfected areas.”

Most caves in the Hoosier National Forest are thought to be infected with WNS; surveys show decreased numbers of hibernating bats for the last few years.

The cave closure prohibits the public from entering National Forest caves. Individuals found in the caves can receive a citation requiring a mandatory appearance in federal court. Scientists and researchers may acquire a permit to enter caves for study purposes. Permits mandate proper decontamination procedures before and after entry.

Gray and Indiana bats are currently listed as federally endangered species, and the northern long-eared bat is proposed for listing. A determination is to be released in April.

Richard Winstead, wildlife biologist for Hoosier National Forest, said, “We work closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service to improve and maintain habitat for species protected under the Endangered Species Act. We follow restrictions and guidance on vegetation removal, prescribed burning and other forest management activities.”

WNS has killed more than 5 million cave-hibernating bats across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and Canada and has been steadily progressing westward in its spread. Infected bats are easily recognized by a white substance around their noses, ears and heads. It is thought the fungal infection disrupts the bats’ hibernation, which causes them to use fat reserves more quickly.

Wing membranes are also impacted by the fungus. A bat’s wings help maintain water balance, temperature and blood circulation, so the combinations impact the bat’s systems and increase mortality.

Bats play a key role in the ecosystem. “Bats help with pollination and seed dispersal and are great at insect control. One bat can eat up to 6,000 insects in one night, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates pest-control services provided by bats to be around $3 billion annually. We need to do all we can to protect them,” said Winstead.

Late Canada goose season 

Indiana is once again offering a late season for Canada geese to target urban goose overpopulation. The season runs Feb. 1-15 in the following counties: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaPorte, LaGrange, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Steuben, Starke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells and Whitley.

•The bag limit is three Canada geese per day (possession limit 9)

•Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset

•Hunters must have an Indiana hunting license, Indiana waterfowl stamp, federal waterfowl stamp and a HIP number to participate

DNR receives grant to help recover from ash borer

Indiana communities in the Great Lakes watershed may apply to receive portions of $100,000 in federal grant money to use for tree-planting projects to improve water quality.

Planting trees will help mitigate the communities’ loss of trees affected by the emerald ash borer insect (EAB), according to Carrie Tauscher, director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Forestry’s Community and Urban Forestry program, which received and will distribute the grant.

The grant is part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a cooperative effort among federal, tribal, state and local partners aimed at improving water quality. The project is funded by the U.S. EPA and administered by the Forest Service. It supports local efforts to improve the collection, storage, infiltration and evaporation of rainfall and storm water.

Planting trees reduces flooding and storm water overflows that cause raw sewage to enter waterways. “Even in its first year after planting, a young 3-inch tree can intercept around 400 gallons of storm water,” Tauscher said. “Imagine planting 800 trees; that is 320,000 gallons of storm water intercepted by the trees.”

Tauscher hopes to begin accepting applications in late winter or spring.

The EAB grant was one of two GLRI grants awarded to the DNR. Another, announced two weeks ago, will provide $35,000 to replant trees in the Indiana Dunes State Park campground. Planting will likely take place in spring.

Individuals interested in receiving information on DNR urban forestry grants, including the GLRI funds, can subscribe to the grants information listserve. To subscribe, go to www. in.gov/dnr/forestry and click on the red envelope icon on the left side of the webpage. Entering your email will take you to a second webpage where you can subscribe for “Urban Forestry: Grants Information.”

2015 state parks schedule

When you start thinking about your new year’s recreation, make sure you plan for every month so you don’t miss out. Use the DNR’s special events calendar at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/3282.htm that shows what’s planned for 2015 at state parks and reservoirs throughout Indiana.

You’ll find everything from Christmas in July at Salamonie Lake to December’s 2015 Christmas Bird Count at Indiana Dunes State Park. For camping reservations as much as six months in advance, visit www.Camp.IN.Gov (available 24 hours) or call 866-6CAMPIN (622-6746) between noon-8 p.m.

For reservations at Indiana State Park Inns, visit www.IndianaInns.com or call 877-LODGES1 (563-4371).

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 email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.