UNDATED – Indiana paddlers have an opportunity to observe wildlife while enjoying Indiana’s water resources. The Department of Revenue would like more information about the wildlife that spend time around Indiana’s waterways and is asking paddlers for help.
Volunteer paddlers will document wildlife they observe while floating, from June 1 to July 31, by completing paddling trip postcards. Volunteers will be mailed a packet upon sign-up.
The information paddlers collect allows wildlife managers to estimate changes in key wildlife populations more accurately over time.
Indiana DNR would like more information about the wildlife that spend time around Indiana’s waterways. The Indiana Paddlecraft Wildlife Index compiles wildlife observations from people who use canoes, kayaks, or other non-motorized paddle craft on Indiana’s waterways. Volunteer paddlers can help by completing a paddling trip postcard documenting the wildlife they observed.
The DNR has selected some key species that are either challenging to study or are lacking Indiana-specific information. The species selected are also those paddlers may be able to easily identify. These include:
- Bald Eagle
- Blanding’s Turtle
- Beaver
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Egret
- Kingfisher
- Mink
- Muskrat
- Osprey
- Painted Turtle
- Red Eared Slider
- River Otter
The Paddlecraft Wildlife Index documents the number of wildlife seen per hour floated and per miles floated. After several years, these numbers will allow wildlife managers to estimate changes in key wildlife populations over time. With paddlers’ help, Indiana DNR may also gain insight into new locations where this wildlife is living.
If you are a paddler and enjoy wildlife watching while paddling, this might be a volunteer opportunity for you. To sign up click here.
Forms, instructions, and simple identification keys for the selected wildlife to monitor will be mailed a few weeks before the survey period begins.
