I get a lot of inquiries about the outdoors, many and varied, and two weeks ago was no exception. At about 10 a.m., a small car pulled up front and a nice lady came to the door. As I answered the door, she said, “Are you Jack Spaulding?”

I replied to the affirmative, and she continued. “I read your column, and I thought you might be able to help me; I have a problem.” Inquiring as to the nature of her concern, she answered, “I have an animal staying at my pond and I need to know if it is an otter, a mink, or a weasel.”

“Is it in the water or on the bank?” I asked.

“It’s in the water … I’ve never seen it when it wasn’t swimming.”

“Is it big like a beaver?”

“No, I know what a beaver looks like; it’s smaller. And it doesn’t seem to be overly afraid of people.”

“Otters are large animals, similar in size to a beaver, so that rules out an otter. Since it stays in the water, it pretty much rules out a mink and definitely a weasel. Does it have hair on its tail?”

“No hair on the tail.”

“Is it about 10 inches long, not counting the length of the tail?”

“Yes.”

“Madame, I believe you have a muskrat in your pond.”

“Are they destructive?”

“Yes – they will dig holes and make dens in the earth fill of the dam and weaken it. If it goes on too long, your dam could possibly fail.”

“How do I get rid of it?”

“I think since it is on your property and it is being destructive, you can have it destroyed. But, just to be sure, call the sheriff’s department and ask them to contact the local conservation officer. He can tell you the regulations.”

Over the years, I have fielded thousands of questions, and some of my readers think I am an employee of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Well, I’m not; I’m just a guy who loves the outdoors.

State tree nursery buying seeds

Indiana’s state tree nursery in Vallonia will pay you to collect certain tree seeds throughout the state if they meet DNR specifications.

Each year the nurseries, part of the DNR Division of Forestry, plant millions of seeds to produce tree and shrub seedlings for conservation planting within the state. Each year much of the seed the nurseries use is supplied by collectors. DNR Forestry pays seed collectors on the basis of “pure live seed,” which means the seeds must be from the required tree species, and cannot be infected with disease or infested with insects.

DNR Forestry’s goal is to produce 2 million-3 million seedlings each year for conservation plantings. Because of natural factors, achieving the goal requires planting about 8.5 million seeds.

DNR Forestry, which operates the nurseries, orchestrates statewide seed collection with the goal of diversifying the seed source. Such diversification allows the nursery to grow seedlings well adapted to grow into mature trees. Some of the seeds sought include black oak, black walnut, pin oak, red oak, shumard oak, white oak, bur oak, chinkapin oak, swamp chestnut oak, and swamp white oak.

Some pointers for collecting:

•Always call first to see if the seeds you plan to collect are still needed

•Collect only seeds and fruit – no leaves, sticks, or trash

•Keep species separate – if you’re not certain if two (or more) trees are the same species, keep them in separate containers

•If you are not certain if you have the proper species, call the offices below to email a photo of the seed/fruit, leaves, bark, and twigs for identification

•Keep the seeds/fruit cool until you can deliver it to the office – an air-conditioned basement is good for a short period of time

To learn more, call Jasper-Pulaski State Tree Nursery in Medaryville at 219-843-4827, or Vallonia State Tree Nursery at 812-358-3621.

Dredging closes Winona Lake access site

The Winona Lake Preservation Assoc. has received a grant from DNR’s Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program for a project on Winona Lake in Kosciusko County. The project will include a temporary closure of the public access site and ramp on the northwest side of the lake for about four weeks starting on Sept. 11.

The project involves the removal of sediment accumulated over time. The sediment will be removed by hydraulic methods, and affected areas will be restored to historical depths. Three areas will be dredged using state and association funds.

Extreme caution should be exercised when boating on Winona Lake during the dredging. A hydraulic dredge and pump line will be present. Due to the location of the dewatering basin, pump lines will be located at or near the surface of the lake and may stretch completely across the lake.

The lines should be marked with buoys. Orange buoys mark the only location where lines can be safely crossed by watercraft.

A portion of funding for the project comes from annual LARE fees paid by registered motorboat owners and from the association.

Maxinkuckee WCA construction

Construction to replace a levee at the Maxinkuckee Wetland Conservation Area will begin this month. A 27-year-old levee constructed on Kline Ditch has experienced recent failures. The current levee has been repaired many times in recent years, but replacement is required for a permanent solution.

The wetland created by the levee will be lowered while the levee and spillway are being replaced. Once the new levee is complete, the wetland will be restored to previous levels. The property will remain open during construction, which is expected to be completed by early winter. The public is being asked to avoid staging and construction areas until construction is complete.

Volunteer for Monroe Lake shoreline cleanup

A summer full of fun and recreation at Monroe Lake creates more than memories; it also results in a lot of trash. The lake needs your help to clean up the mess and create a more inviting habitat for both people and wildlife.

Volunteers are needed for Monroe Lake’s annual shoreline cleanup on Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m. Volunteers will be transported by boat from Cutright State Recreation Area to different areas of the shoreline.

Advance registration for the cleanup is required by Oct. 4 via bit.ly/monroeshoreline2019 as space on the boats is limited to 80 volunteers. All volunteers must be at least 10 years old, and those ages 10-17 must be accompanied by a registered adult.

All volunteers will be returned to Cutright by 5:30, where they can enjoy a “thank you” cookout at the shelter. Questions about the cleanup should be directed to Monroe Lake’s Interpretive Naturalist, Jill Vance, at jvance@dnr.in.gov or 812-837-9967.

Registration for put-and-take pheasant hunts

Signups for put-and-take pheasant hunts began on Sept. 7. Hunters can begin purchasing a reservation at on.IN.gov/INhuntfish

You do not need to log in or create an online account to purchase a reservation, but you must have an online account to look up completed reservations at a later date. Hunters must register online for put-and-take hunts, as they are no longer available on a first-come, first-served basis at Fish & Wildlife Areas (FWAs).

The cost is $30 per reservation. Reservations are nonrefundable; however, they can be transferred to another person. Individuals will receive an email notification upon completion of the reservation, including their hunt registration ID, date reserved, and property name – and should make sure to keep the confirmation.

FWAs participating in put-and-take hunts this year are Atterbury, Glendale, J.E. Roush Lake, Pigeon River, Tri-County, Willow Slough, and Winamac. Hunters must check in between 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET (until only 2:30 p.m. for Willow Slough) on the day of the hunt. Hunting starts at 9 a.m. at each property.

All are required to have a current Indiana Hunting License and Gamebird Habitat Stamp to participate in put-and-take hunts. Individuals participating in these at FWAs are prohibited from harvesting game animals other than pheasants on days when pheasants are released and hunted.

Man injured in tree stand fall

Indiana conservation officers are investigating a tree stand fall occurring the morning of Sept. 7 on a property in Angola. Todd Austin, 58, of Fremont was preparing tree stands for the upcoming deer season. He attempted to climb into a tree stand when a strap on the climbing sticks attached to the tree broke, causing him to fall approximately 20 feet to the ground.

A friend who was helping him called 911. Austin was transported to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne via Steuben County EMS for treatment of his injuries.

With Indiana’s deer season approaching, officers would like to remind everyone to always wear a full-body safety harness and lifeline system to prevent falls anytime your feet are off the ground when hunting from an elevated stand, and always check the condition of your equipment prior to use.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.