During its Jan. 20 meeting, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) approved rules including a limited river otter trapping season beginning this fall.

River otters, a native Indiana species, are one of several successful management projects of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Fish & Wildlife, along with the restoration of whitetail deer, wild turkeys, bald eagles and peregrine falcons. By the early 1900s, the loss of habitat and unregulated trapping led to a declining population of river otters, prompting the Department of Conservation, DNR’s predecessor, to ban the taking of river otters in 1921. It is believed the species was gone from the state by the 1940s.

The DNR began reintroducing otters to state waterways in 1995. Over a five-year period, 303 river otters were captured in Louisiana and released in northern and southern Indiana.

Their populations increased enough through natural reproduction that it allowed river otters to be removed from the state endangered species list in 2005.

Presently, river otters have expanded their range to include more than 80 percent of Indiana’s counties, and their numbers continue to increase.

The rules passed by the NRC followed DNR recommendations to allow river otter trapping in 66 counties located within the watersheds where river otters were released during the 1990s. Trappers will not be allowed to take river otters in 26 central Indiana counties where otters were not reintroduced and where they have not become established.

In addition to the county restrictions, a licensed trapper may take no more than two otters per season, with a statewide quota of 600 otters.

The trapping season will be Nov. 15-March 15, unless the statewide quota is reached sooner.

The proposed trapping season will not adversely affect the river otter population. Currently, regulated trapping is used to manage river otters in at least 33 states, many of which reintroduced river otter.

The conservative bag limit and statewide quota are designed to allow otters the opportunity to continue to expand their range and population densities in central Indiana.

The rules also allow for the sale of hides from legally taken river otters and squirrels.

The rules still need approval from the attorney general’s and governor’s offices before taking effect. Details will be included in the 2015-16 Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide available in August.

In other actions during the meeting, the NRC approved nature preserve status for two sites, bringing to 264 the number of state-designated sites protected by the Nature Preserves Act. The newest additions are Meyer Nature Preserve in Morgan County and Sally Reahard Woods in Harrison County.

The Meyer Nature Preserve is just over 68 acres in northeastern Morgan County, about five miles south of Mooresville. The forested site’s topography features steep slopes, ridges and valleys and is home to breeding populations of four species of special concern – hooded, worm-eating and cerulean warblers, and Eastern box turtle. Central Indiana Land Trust owns and manages the site.

Sally Reahard Woods is a 658-acre property adjacent to the Mosquito Creek Nature Preserve. It contains sandstone-capped hills, limestone bedrock cliffs along the west branch of Mosquito Creek and upland forests. Red-shouldered hawks, hooded warblers, and sharp-shinned hawks are species of special concern found at the site, along with a state-endangered insect, the Earwig Scorpionfly.

The NRC is an autonomous board addressing topics pertaining to the Indiana DNR. NRC members include the DNR director, heads of three other state agencies (Environmental Management, Tourism Development and Transportation), six citizens appointed by the governor on a bipartisan basis, the chair of the NRC’s advisory council and the president of the Indiana Academy of Science.

The Academy of Science president and the agency heads, other than the DNR director, may appoint proxies to serve the commission in their absences.

Indiana Dunes State Park

birding courses

Indiana Dunes State Park will offer two birding-related workshops in 2015. Each will introduce participants to the great birding available in the Indiana Dunes area and appeal to a wide range of skill and interest levels.

The first workshop, “Indiana Dunes Birding: Crash Course,” is a single-day introduction to birding, common species in the dunes, bird walks and bird banding. It will be offered Jan. 31 from 2-5 p.m. at the nature center. The workshop costs $10 for adults and $5 for youth under 18.

The second workshop is “Beginning Birding in the Dunes,” an eight-week course introducing participants to Indiana Dunes birding, birding sites, birds in the dunes and more. The workshop will meet each Thursday from March 12-April 30, from 6-8 p.m. at the nature center.

Optional field trips, bird walks and other outdoor activities will be offered during weekends, too. The workshop will be led by local birding experts Ken Brock and Michael Topp. The workshop costs $50 for adults and $25 for those under 18.

“The birding workshops are a great lead-up to the inaugural Indiana Dunes Birding Festival being held May 7-10 in the Indiana Dunes area,” said Brad Bumgardner, Indiana Dunes State Park interpretive naturalist.

All participants must register in advance. To register for the workshops, or for more information, call 219-926-1390. Indiana Dunes State Park is located at 1600 North 25 E., Chesterton, IN 46304.

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.