Photo Credit: Emily Wood

IWF Adopts New Policies to Stop Habitat Destruction

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.

DNR Black Bass Tagging Study

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDR) is tagging 500 legal-sized black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass) on three rivers in central and northern Indiana as part of a new research project.  Anglers who catch tagged bass can earn $5, $10 or $25 by reporting their catches and returning tags to IDNR researchers.

IDNR biologists are tagging black bass in the West Fork White River (Madison, Hamilton, and Marion counties), Eel River (Wabash, Miami, and Cass counties), and St. Joseph River (St. Joseph and Elkhart counties) during the late summer and fall.

The research project will help biologists learn more about angler catch rates and fish movement in these rivers.  Information gained from anglers reporting their tagged catches will help us better manage these species.

Tagged bass do not have to be kept to receive a reward.  Anglers may just remove the tag and release the fish.  Tags must be returned to the IDNR to receive a reward.

The project is a collaboration between Indiana DNR, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Indiana Smallmouth Alliance, Reel Women/Reel Men of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Fly Casters, Manchester University, and St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers to promote a healthy Indiana black bass fishery.

To learn more about the project, please visit: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/7709.htm