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IDNR Report
The Indiana DNR has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a blue-winged teal in Greene County through surveillance conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and DNR Division of Fish, Wildlife & Nature Preserves. HPAI has also been confirmed as the cause of death in black vultures in Jefferson County and is suspected as the cause of black vulture deaths in Franklin County. Signs of HPAI in waterfowl and raptors include:
- Sudden death
- Neurological impairment (e.g., lack of coordination, swimming/walking in circles, tremors, twisted neck)
- Lack of energy and appetite
- Swelling of the head, neck, and eyes
- Nasal discharge, cough, sneezing, lack of coordination, and diarrhea.
If you find wild waterfowl or raptors that are dead for no obvious reason or showing any of the above signs, report it online at on.IN.gov/sickwildlife.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the public health risk for HPAI is low. However, it is possible for humans to contract HPAI. Avoid contact with sick waterfowl and other sick wildlife whenever possible. If a carcass must be removed, put on disposable gloves and a mask, double bag the carcass, and place it in the trash. If possible, use a tool such as a shovel to pick up the carcass instead of your hands. Wash hands with soap and warm water immediately afterward.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends that waterfowl hunters process birds in a well-ventilated area or outdoors and wear protective clothing such as a face mask and gloves. Meat harvested from waterfowl should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F before consumption.
Reach out to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) if you develop any of the following symptoms after coming in contact with waterfowl: eye irritation or redness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, or rash. Call IDOH at 317-233-7125 during business hours. Outside of business hours, call 317-233-1325 and follow the prompts in the automated menu to speak to the epidemiologist on call.
Some domestic and agricultural animals are also known to be susceptible to HPAI, including poultry, cattle, and cats. If you have these animals at home, be sure to process and dispose of any harvested waterfowl away from your animals and practice good biosecurity measures.
For more information on HPAI, visit on.IN.gov/avian-flu.
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IDNR Report
The Indiana DNR has stocked rainbow trout in Fort Wayne and Huntington waters.
Shoaff Park and Spy Run Creek, both in Fort Wayne, received 300 fish each. Memorial Park in Huntington received 200 fish. The stocked trout averaged 8 to 10 inches in length.
Shoaff Park is on Fort Wayne’s northeast side at 6401 St. Joe Road. The pond is at the west end of the park, along the St. Joseph River.
Spy Run Creek stocking is in Franke Park across the parking lot from the Fort Wayne Zoo at 3411 Sherman Boulevard.
Memorial Park features two ponds and is west of downtown Huntington at 1200 West Park Drive. Only the north pond will be stocked.
There will not be any events associated with these stockings, so fishing can begin after 1 p.m. on Oct. 17.
All anglers age 18 and older must have a valid Indiana fishing license and trout stamp to fish. The harvest limit per angler is five trout.
The purpose of the stocking program is to offer an exciting and safe way for families and anglers to experience the fun of fishing.
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SJCP Report
St. Joseph County Parks will implement a deer management program at Spicer Lake Nature Preserve in New Carlisle, Indiana this November.
The deer management hunts will take place November 15 and 16, November 22 and 23 and December 6 and 7. Spicer Lake Nature Preserve will be closed to the public on those dates. To emphasize deer population reduction, the management program will be an antlerless hunt.
Five hunters (including one alternate) will be selected by lottery for the following above dates to participate. Hunters must possess a valid multi-season antlerless license. Applications for the lottery will be available on the St. Joseph County Parks web site. The deadline for applications is October 11. Participants must attend a mandatory meeting with IDNR Conservation Officer and park staff. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday October 29 at 6pm at the Spicer Lake Nature Center.
In addition to being a county park, Spicer Lake is also a state dedicated nature preserve, a classification given to high quality ecosystems. Review and approval for the deer management program was required by the Division of Nature Preserves of the IDNR.
More information and Hunter Application Forms are available at www.sjcparks.org.
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IDNR Report
Indiana’s final Free Fishing Day of 2025 is Saturday, Sept. 27, so mark your calendars!
While there are no licenses or stamps required on Free Fishing Days, all regulations, such as seasons, bag limits, and size limits, still apply.
These special days offer Indiana residents only the opportunity to try fishing for the first time without having to purchase a fishing license or trout/salmon stamps.
If you already have your annual fishing license, this is a perfect opportunity to take friends and family fishing who haven’t gone before. Additionally, you can plan a fishing trip with the click of a button using DNR’s new Fishing Trip Planner. After answering a few questions about your trip preferences, the planner charts your course and does the work for you.
Not sure where to go fishing? Check out the Where To Fish map and find your new favorite fishing spot.
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IDNR Report
A swamp chestnut oak tree in Jennings County has been recognized as the largest of the species in the country by the National Champion Tree program, with a height of 95 feet, a circumference of 318 inches, and a canopy spread of 118 feet.
The record swamp chestnut oak is on the family farm owned by Richard and Kris Schepman outside of Crothersville. Today, Governor Mike Braun and Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) leaders presented the Schepmans with a certificate recognizing their family’s stewardship of this impressive tree.
“Over the last century, Indiana’s forested land has substantially grown as a result of Hoosiers’ conservation work and responsible stewardship,” said Governor Braun. “The Schepman family and private landowners across the state deserve high praise for their commitment to growing healthy trees like this giant in Jennings County, which I hope continues to stand tall for generations of future Hoosiers to enjoy.”
The DNR Division of Forestry, which maintains a list of Indiana’s largest known tree of each of the state’s native species, notified the national program of the tree, and its record score of 442.5, which is the tree’s height (feet), circumference (inches), and canopy spread (feet, multiplied by 0.25) added together.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the swamp chestnut oak is native to “the Atlantic Coastal Plain from New Jersey and extreme eastern Pennsylvania, south to north Florida, and west to east Texas; it is found north in the Mississippi River Valley to extreme southeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and locally to southeast Kentucky and eastern Tennessee.”
The tree is on private property, so it is not available for public viewing.
Indiana’s current state champion trees, which are updated when a notification of a larger tree is received, are posted at on.IN.gov/big-tree, where you can also learn how to measure trees and enter those you think may qualify.