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The Indiana DNR has confirmed cases of tularemia in wild rabbits in Tippecanoe County. Since April, more than 20 rabbits have been found dead in this area.
Tularemia is a disease that can affect wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. This disease is typically transmitted through tick or deerfly bites, direct contact with infected animals, or by exposure to contaminated water and air. Rabbits and rodents are most affected by this disease.
Signs of tularemia in rabbits can include lethargy, incoordination, staggering gaits, or spasms. Wildlife displaying signs of tularemia will usually die within two to 10 days. To help monitor this outbreak, DNR asks the public to report any rabbits found dead or displaying signs of tularemia at on.IN.gov/sickwildlife.
“Tularemia is present throughout North America,” said Michelle Benavidez Westrich, Fish & Wildlife health supervisor, “so it is not surprising to see mortality events such as this happen in our state.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tularemia is a potentially serious disease in humans. However, infections in humans are not contagious and most infections can be treated with antibiotics. No humans or domestic animals have been affected by the current rabbit mortality event in Tippecanoe County. If you have questions or concerns about human health, contact your local health department for guidance. For questions about domestic animal health, contact your veterinarian.
You can take the following steps to avoid tularemia transmission:
- Always wear appropriate insect repellant when spending time outdoors.
- Check for ticks after spending time outdoors and remove any ticks promptly.
- Prevent your pets from interacting with dead or living wildlife.
- Avoid handling dead animals. If absolutely necessary, wear disposable gloves, double-bag the carcass, and dispose of it in a secure trash receptacle.
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Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened the final public comment periods for proposed changes to Indiana’s deer hunting and river otter trapping rules before members vote on final adoption.
Indiana DNR is proposing to open regulated otter trapping statewide but retain all other otter trapping regulations, such as the statewide quota, bag limits, reporting, and tagging for the regulated otter season. Indiana DNR values river otters and recognizes their value to the state, said DNR furbearer biologist Geriann Albers.
“We take the responsibility of balancing differing views around wildlife management seriously and are thoughtful about making small incremental changes for river otters,” she said.
Indiana DNR is confident the changes will not negatively impact river otter populations, which staff will continue to monitor.
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The Indiana DNR invites Hoosiers to share their experiences with accessibility at DNR properties across the state.
An online, five-question survey is now available at on.IN.gov/2024-guest-survey. It can be completed in about five minutes.
Creating a welcoming environment for all guests while retaining natural experiences is a key priority for DNR. The department’s new accessibility webpage at on.IN.gov/dnr-accessibility provides information on accessible activities like visiting beaches and pools, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, exploring trails, and more.
“Exploring Indiana’s great outdoors is a pastime that must be available to everyone,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “It’s exciting to see people find new experiences to enjoy through the accessibility webpage we launched this year. Through feedback we receive on this survey, we will continue working to improve accessibility and help overcome barriers that may prevent people from experiencing Indiana’s incredible natural and cultural wonders.”
As DNR adds and refines accessible activities based on feedback from this survey, the webpage will continue to be updated with new activities and places to explore.
“The DNR continues to make strides towards improving access, and we encourage people to reach out to our properties with accessibility questions,” said Ric Edwards, DNR director of ADA compliance. “We are fully committed to creating memorable, natural outdoors experiences for everyone to enjoy.”
To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
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Hybrid Striped Bass
The Indiana DNR East Fork State Fish Hatchery recently completed annual striped bass and hybrid striped bass stockings. More than 78,000 striped bass fingerlings and 146,000 hybrid striped bass fingerlings were added to 12 lakes around the state. The stocked fish averaged 1–2 inches in length.
The breakdown of stockings of striped and hybrid striped bass by lake, with the respective counties listed in parentheses, was as follows:
- Worster Lake (St. Joseph) – 3,270 hybrids
- Cedar Lake (Lake) – 7,810 hybrid
- Lake Shafer (White) – 12,910 hybrids
- Nyona Lake (Fulton) – 1,040 hybrids
- Lake Freeman (Carroll and White) – 15,470 hybrids
- Clare Lake (Huntington) – 420 hybrids
- Shadyside Park Lake (Madison) – 1,000 hybrids
- Cecil M. Harden Lake (Parke) – 20,600 striped bass
- Brookville Lake (Union and Franklin) – 46,667 striped bass
- Monroe Lake (Monroe and Brown) – 53,750 hybrids
- Hardy Lake (Scott) – 1,000 striped bass and 7,000 hybrids
- Patoka Lake (Dubois, Crawford, and Orange) – 10,000 striped bass and 44,000 hybrids
Indiana anglers can look forward to continued quality striped and hybrid striped bass fishing opportunities in the coming years as a result of these stockings. To learn more about striped and hybrid striped bass fishing, visit bit.ly/striped-hybrid-bass-fishing.
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As a result of Indiana’s positive detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in April, the Indiana DNR has restricted moving deer from any CWD Positive Area for rehabilitation purposes.
CWD, described in detail at on.IN.gov/cwd, is a fatal neurological disease in white-tailed deer.
With the change, an individual who finds an orphaned, sick, or injured deer in a CWD Positive Area may only surrender the deer to a DNR-permitted wild animal rehabilitator that is located within a CWD Positive Area.
“This restriction is to help minimize the spread of CWD to new parts of the state, as fawns can carry this disease without appearing sick,” said DNR’s Deer Program lead, Joe Caudell.
Currently, there is one CWD Positive Area in Indiana. It includes LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb counties. The state’s first positive case of CWD in white-tailed deer was confirmed by DNR in LaGrange County. While no deer have been documented in Steuben, Noble, or DeKalb counties, those counties are considered part of the CWD Positive Area because of their proximity to where the CWD-positive deer was found.
During their first few weeks of life, fawns often hide by themselves, motionless, to avoid predators while the mother seeks food.