For Immediate Release
June 24, 2014
Contact: Barbara Simpson, Executive Director, Indiana Wildlife Federation
Phone: 317-875-9453
Email: simpson@indianawildlife.org
Members of the Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF) at their 2014 Annual Meeting approved two policy resolutions supporting “common sense conservation” of wildlife, and wildlife habitat in Indiana. IWF opposes the construction of the proposed “Mounds Reservoir” near the headwaters of the White River in Anderson, and urges its full membership to also express their opposition. Damming the White River as proposed would inundate approximately 10 miles of high quality, free flowing river and nearly 1000 acres of adjacent, forested lands. Several valuable wetlands areas would be destroyed, including the entire Mounds Fen State Nature Preserve, which shelters this rare habitat type, and is currently protected by state law. One-third of Mounds State Park, featuring a nationally recognized cultural site, would also be flooded. Constructed around 160 BCE by indigenous peoples of eastern North America, the ceremonial mounds area was inhabited by the Hopewell culture centuries later.
A second policy resolution intensifies the organization’s long standing opposition to the shooting of deer in fenced enclosures. This policy calls for the state to prohibit the importation and exportation of live deer (cervids); their carcasses, reproductive materials, and unboned meat. The policy goes further, calling for protection of monetary funds authorized for Department of Natural Resources to manage wildlife, and to prevent diversion of such funds to control disease outbreaks in captive deer. IWF further urges that all deer farms be required to participate in the now voluntary herd certification program administered by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Captive deer operations should also be required to erect double, eight foot fences to prevent the escape of diseased animals. This revised policy stresses the importance of protecting Indiana’s wild, free ranging deer herd from chronic wasting disease (CWD) and bovine tuberculosis, and to allow them to be enjoyed by all Hoosiers.
The Indiana Wildlife Federation was founded in 1938, and is involved in state and regional education and advocacy for conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat. IWF is an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.