Education

Come join IWF, Land Stewardship, and Friends of Marott Park Nature Preserve on a creatures of the night hike at Marott Park on Friday, August 27th! We will be using UV lights to look at caterpillars, moths, and other nighttime creature activity as well as listening for nocturnal animals, such as owls. Meet us in the Marott parking lot across from Park Tudor athletic fields located on College Avenue between 73rd and 75th St. at 8pm. The hike will last for 1-1.5 hours. Make sure to bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes! To register, email blake@indianawildife.org. For more information, follow the link below: https://indianawildlife.org/event/creatures-of-the-night-hike-at-marott-park-woods-nature-preserve/. #indianawildlife #creaturesofthenight #nighthike #nature #exploringindiana #marottpark

This is a friendly reminder that the IN-DNR is still recommending taking down your bird feeders, including those for hummingbirds, as a mysterious songbird illness continues to spread across Indiana. Reports of diseased and dying birds are now found in 69 counties across Indiana and in neighboring states with multiple bird species being affected. They have now ruled out avian influenza, West Nile virus, Newcastle disease virus, as well as other illnesses, but have not yet determined the cause of the disease. You can help to stop the spread of the disease by taking down your bird feeders and baths after cleaning them with a 10% bleach solution. This prevents birds from congregating and spreading the illness to one another, much like social distancing. Symptoms of the illness are eye discharge, neurological problems such as tremors, swollen heads, and the inability to fly. If you come across a bird with these symptoms, make sure to report it to the Indiana DNR following this link. https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/wildlife-diseases-in-indiana/sick-or-dead-wildlife-reporting/ . If you find a dead bird, do not touch it with your bare hands, and make sure to double bag it and dispose of it with your normal trash. #indianawildlife #songbirds

The DNR confirmed a black bear sighting in Southwest Indiana last weekend. This is the fourth confirmed black bear in Indiana. Attacks are rare and bears are actually very shy and non-aggressive animals. It’s always good to know what to do in order to coexist with wildlife! The DNR gave some tips on what to do if you encounter a black bear. Tips if you see a black bear: Do not feed it. Observe it from a distance. Do not climb a tree. Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms and backing slowly away. Report bear sightings to the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/report-a-mammal/?fbclid=IwAR2evFW6IdzzRxX_XHKXXlZWUZrB1w0LFgCGCpxwDfLDwDRwgu3njRZctPA Photo courtesy of the DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. #blackbear #blackbearsighting #indianawildlife #wildlife #coexistwithwildlife #coexist #safetytips