Spaulding Outdoors by Jack Spaulding 

 

Every year, I have inquiries from conservation-minded individuals asking if there is somewhere they can go to volunteer to work with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The past administrations of long ago left few opportunities for the average person off the street to get involved. At best in years past, the DNR was looking for individuals enrolled in college to serve as summertime trainees or under-study assistants. But, times are a-changing.

Now, the Division of Fish & Wildlife is looking for volunteers.

It is a great way to meet people, expand your knowledge and skills and do something to help Indiana’s natural and cultural resources. A webpage has been developed for volunteers to register and find more information on volunteer opportunities.

The opportunities are wide and varied and definitely “hands-on.” Volunteer opportunities include:

•American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey: Listen for “peeting” woodcock along a designated road route (3.6 miles long) only once between April 10-May 5.

•Ring-necked Pheasant Crowing Count: Listen for crowing pheasants along a designated road route (20 miles long) twice between April 26-May 10.

•Bobwhite Whistle Count: Listen for calling male bobwhites along a designated road route (15 miles long) twice between June 7-28.

•Summer Bat Roost Monitoring: Count bats as they emerge from their roost at dusk on or near your property (summer 2015).

•Mourning Dove Banding: Leg band mourning doves at your home, place of employment or nearby airfield (summer 2015). Previous banding experience required.

•Adopt-A-Ramp Program: Public access sponsors may participate at one of two levels of maintenance – picking up trash, or picking up trash and mowing. Open to individuals, families and organizations from youth groups to outdoor clubs, Adopt-A-Ramp volunteers are asked to perform maintenance for one year.

In the volunteer program, individuals will find activities benefiting fish, wildlife and habitats. The DNR will make every effort to match a person’s skills and interests with their needs.

In addition to the projects listed, there are a variety of opportunities available, including projects on state wildlife areas, water access sites, citizen science projects, educational programs, hunter skills and events. The webpage for volunteers can be accessed at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/8301.htm

To volunteer, search for an event or project and register using the links provided on the website. If you are selected to assist with a project you will be contacted by the biologist leading the project.

The DNR online volunteer management system will keep in touch and track the number of hours volunteers provide to help wildlife.

Volunteer coordinator contact information: Annie Walker, Stewardship Program director, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, 317-234-8781 or awalker2@dnr.IN.gov

Programs on urban coyotes

For some, they are beautiful wild creatures; for others, coyotes are a pet-eating, livestock-killing nightmare. No longer the song-dog of just wide open spaces, coyotes are now brazen urban dwellers living in our backyards.

To address rising concerns, the DNR is putting together seminars where the public can learn about coyote biology and how to deal with coyotes in urban areas.

The seminars will be held in Lafayette and Fort Wayne this month and in Greenwood in April.

Sponsored by the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, the free programs are:

•Feb. 19 in Lafayette on the Ivy Tech campus, 1333 Ivy Hall, 3101 S. Creasy Lane, from 6-8 p.m.

•Feb. 25 in Fort Wayne at the Allen County Library, Downtown Branch, 900 Library Plaza from 6-8 p.m.

•April 2 in Greenwood at the Greenwood Library, 310 S. Meridian St. from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Individuals wishing to attend one of the seminars should register in advance at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/7548.htm or by calling 317-234-8440. Presenters will include the DNR furbearer biologist, district wildlife biologists, conservation officers and licensed nuisance animal control operators.

Coyotes are a native species now common in all Indiana counties, including urban and suburban areas. Presentations will cover ways to reduce conflicts with coyotes, questions regarding pet safety and current hunting/trapping regulations. Licensed nuisance animal control operators will explain how they can work with residents to respond to coyote conflicts.

Firewood permits at Mounds

Local residents are invited to help Mounds State Park cut up dead and dying ash trees dropped by staff in the campground and along roadsides.

Participants must first purchase a firewood permit, which will be available at the park office between 9 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays. The permit costs $5 and authorizes the removal of one pickup truck load of firewood.

Park employees are removing ash trees damaged or killed by emerald ash borer (EAB) along with a few trees of other species posing a threat to roads, buildings, power lines, campers, recreation buildings or other facilities. Days, hours and access to areas for cutting will be determined by staff based on progress in dropping trees and weather conditions.

Firewood buyers must comply with ash quarantine requirements. Under the current EAB quarantine, ash firewood movement is allowed from Madison County to all adjoining counties because all of the counties are EAB-infested.

Any wood of any species brought back to the park or used at any other state property must have the bark removed as required by DNR’s firewood rules, which can be found at www.firewood.dnr.IN.gov – the rules remain in place to guard against the spread of other damaging insects.

Permit purchasers are encouraged to use all the firewood they cut this winter. If any wood remains at the end of winter, the purchasers should cover it through spring and summer, when harmful EAB larvae may emerge from under the bark.

All funds received from the firewood permits will be designated for resource management efforts including the replacement of trees at Mounds State Park.

“We leave many downed trees to decay and build new soil, but we also need to keep our roadsides and recreation facilities clear and safe,” said Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship with DNR Division of State Parks. “Firewood permits help our limited staff manage that effort, and funds are generated for resource management and restoration in the park at the same time.”

Mounds State Park is located near Anderson.

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.