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Views and opinions: Kayaking deaths a reminder to be careful in the outdoors
 

Indiana conservation officers are investigating the deaths of a father and daughter who died after a kayaking accident at Blue Grass Fish and Wildlife Area.

Joshua Varner, 33, and Vivian Varner, 4, of Newburgh were kayaking on Blue Grass Pit April 4. A family member became concerned when they had not returned when expected. Emergency services were called around 7:15 p.m.

Around 9:45 both victims were found floating in the water. Joshua was pronounced deceased at the scene, while Vivian was taken to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, where she succumbed to her injuries.

The kayak belonging to the victims was found capsized in the water approximately 500 yards away. The water temperature was 55 degrees and the depth where the two were found was roughly 10 feet. It is unknown what caused the kayak to capsize, but lifejackets were not being worn by the victims.

Conservation officers strongly encourage the use of lifejackets while boating or near water. An old friend of mine – and a retired Indiana conservation officer – Monte Beaver, once said, “I’ve never recovered the body of a drowning victim who was wearing a lifejacket.”

More information on boating safety can be found online at www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/5066.htm

Construction curbs access to four state parks

Four big construction projects starting this month will affect guests traveling to Brown County State Park, Clifty Falls State Park, Hardy Lake, and Brookville Lake for part or all of the summer season. The most current information about alternative routes can be obtained at stateparks.IN.gov/7881.htm or by calling the property office before traveling.

Brookville Lake: Fairfield Causeway Road will be closed from April-October. Access to Mounds State Recreation Area (SRA) is still from State Road 101. Quakertown SRA can be accessed from 101 on Dunlapsville Road. At least one pier of the Fairfield Causeway Bridge is expected to remain open to boat traffic during the project. Call 765-647-2657.

Brown County State Park: The north entrance two miles east of Nashville, on SR 46, will be closed until May 9 while repairs are made to the park’s historic Ramp Creek Covered Bridge. Park visitors must use the west entrance two miles south of Nashville on 46. Horse campers may continue to use the south entrance into the equestrian campground. Call 812-988-6406.

Clifty Falls State Park: Beginning in early April, SR 256 from Austin to Hardy Lake Road will be closed for a widening project. It is the primary access to Clifty Falls off Interstate 65 for guests traveling from the north. The project will continue through the summer.

From I-65, guests should take the Scottsburg exit (SR 56) and head east toward Madison, then take 56 east all the way into Madison to access the park. An alternative route is to take 56 to SR 203 north to reach SR 256 and then head east to Clifty Falls State Park. Call 812-273-8885.

Hardy Lake: SR 256 from Austin to Hardy Lake Road will be closed for a road-widening project. It is the primary access to Hardy Lake off I-65 for guests traveling from the north. The project will continue through the summer. From I-65, guests should take the Scottsburg exit and head east toward Madison, then head north on SR 203, crossing over 256, and continue north on Hardy Lake Road to the property. Call 812-794-3800.

Crosley Lake closes for dam renovation

Visitors to Crosley Fish & Wildlife Area will soon see the early stages of Crosley Lake’s dam renovation. In preparation for the renovation, draw down of the lake begins this month.

During the renovation, Crosley Lake will be closed to the public to ensure safety and expedite the process. The project is estimated to be completed in the fall of 2020. Upon completion, DNR fisheries staff will conduct a survey and stock fish as necessary to restore fish populations.

Looting leads to arrests

Conservation officers arrested a Harrison County couple on the evening of April 11 for allegedly illegally digging for artifacts along the Ohio River.

James Schuppert, 56, and Diana Hutchinson, 50, both of Central, face multiple charges, including Department of Natural Resources (DNR) archaeological violations, methamphetamine manufacturing, illegal ginseng possession, and illegal wildlife possession.

Officers had received numerous reports of illegal archaeological digging and criminal trespass along the banks of the Ohio River in recent weeks and stepped up patrols. Thursday afternoon, Officer Jim Schreck observed a suspicious vehicle parked in a field outside of Mauckport, and began a foot search along the riverbank.

During the search, the suspects returned to their vehicle and left the area. Shortly afterward, Officers Paul Crockett, Zac Howerton, Cpl. Mick Rutherford, and Schreck located the vehicle at Schuppert’s residence, and investigated.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers located a meth lab, drugs, and paraphernalia, illegally possessed ginseng, box turtle parts, and a large amount of archaeological artifacts. The artifacts included arrowheads and stone tools/implements, some of which are suspected to have been illegally excavated and/or stolen from landowners.

Schuppert and Hutchinson were arrested at their residence without incident. Members of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Section assisted at the scene.

Keep the bird feeders full

During the Arctic blasts of winter, bird lovers faithfully make the trek to fill the bird feeder during the worst of Indiana’s weather. But now the weather is turning, many bird lovers abandon the feeders, assuming the birds no longer need the extra boost of sunflower and Niger seed.

My advice is to keep the feeder full. The birds need an extra boost in protein as they start to build nests and their eggs begin developing. The insect population is still almost dormant and most of the wild seed birds forage on has been consumed.

In a couple weeks, our buzzing little buddies, the ruby-throated hummingbirds, will make their way into Indiana. Each year, I get calls from people wanting to know the recipe for sugar water to feed the hummers. It is 1 part white cane sugar to 4 parts water. Do not use any food coloring, as it is not needed.

The birds will locate the sugary source, and it is even thought the food coloring might be harmful to the birds. And don’t forget to keep the feeders clean.

Odds and ends

Remember to buy your new fishing license for 2019. Last year’s licenses expired on March 31, 2019. If you purchased your license online last year, you can log into your account, confirm your information, and purchase your new license.

Hey, all you aging anglers: You might want to do as I did and purchase a Lifetime Senior Fishing license. It’s just $17 once, and done!

In other news, lampreys are one of the first fish species to spawn each spring as streams start to warm. Though they lack jaws and some of the fins of other fish, they use their sucking disk and body to move rocks, clearing out small depressions in gravelly areas to lay their eggs. When actively spawning, several of the snake-like fish will be seen squirming together.

The native Northern brook lamprey is one of Indiana’s state endangered fish species. Monitoring its spawning habits and identifying important spawning areas helps with its conservation and is made possible by donations to the Nongame Wildlife Fund.

If you think you may be witnessing a lamprey spawning event this spring, the state would love to hear about it – email the information and a photo or video to fishid@dnr.IN.gov

Finally, the barn owls are back, and nesting season is well underway. The female recently laid two eggs. Barn owls lay six eggs on average, so check back to see if she lays more.

This year, the first egg was laid on March 19. Check out the barn owl webcam at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/8180.htm

 

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.

4/18/2019