Come on out and bait a hook! The Department of Natural Resources needs volunteers to help at the Fishin’ Pond at the Indiana State Fair, Aug. 2-18.

The Fishin’ Pond is an immersive fishing experience for ages 5-17 free upon entrance to the fair and offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings and afternoons of the fair. Without volunteer help, the popular opportunity connecting kids and families to fishing wouldn’t be possible.

Fishin’ Pond volunteers handle various duties, including registering participants, baiting hooks, removing fish from the hook, preparing fishing equipment for use, and guiding families around the pond. To help make the annual Fishin’ Pond a success once again, please consider sharing your skills and registering to volunteer for one or more shifts at bit.ly/FishinPondVolunteer.

Volunteers receive a free parking pass, fair entry for the days worked, and a DNR volunteer T-shirt.

New accessible walkway at Tippecanoe River State Park

Tippecanoe River State Park guests with mobility challenges who want to enjoy the overlook to the park’s waterfowl area now have the option of using its new accessible sidewalk.

“This is a great area to sit on a bench and enjoy the wildlife and natural surroundings,” said property manager Vernon Gillum. “Turtles, frogs, snakes, and songbirds are frequent visitors to this area, and other wildlife such as hawks, raccoons, and waterfowl can also be seen.”

The parking lot for this overlook is at the Walnut Picnic Area, where the birdfeeders are located.

Both the overlook and the accessible walkway were made possible with the support of the Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park. Pulaski County Girl Scout Troops no. 47607 and no. 00167 also assisted with the overlook construction.

“The park is very fortunate to have this group of volunteers who care so much about the park and making it more accessible to everyone,” Gillum said.

Tippecanoe River State Park (on.IN.gov/tippecanoeriver) is at 4200 N. U.S. 35, Winamac.

Make water safety a priority

With summer now in full swing, Indiana Conservation Officers remind Hoosiers to make water safety a priority now and throughout the warm weather.

“With the kickoff to summer upon us, all Hoosiers are urged to recognize the danger water poses and make water safety the utmost priority,” said Capt. Jet Quillen, of the Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement.

Follow these basic safety tips:

- Discuss the dangers of water with your family and loved ones before going out.

- Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.

- Go with a buddy.

- Do not venture around flooded or fast-moving waterways.

- Wear a life jacket.

- Keep an extra watchful eye on children.

- Avoid alcohol.

If you go boating, make sure you know the rules and boat safely. Reduce speed in unfamiliar areas and be aware of unusual water conditions respective to your size and type of boat. These are not only safety tips, but also important environmental considerations, as they can help prevent beach erosion. Regardless of your boat type, assess water levels before going out and monitor your speed while underway.

Designate a sober boat operator. Alcohol causes impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction time. Wave action, sun exposure, and wind can magnify the effects. It is illegal to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft in Indiana while intoxicated due to alcohol or drugs. Indiana law defines intoxication as having a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or greater.

Each life jacket should be U.S. Coast Guard approved, in good working condition, and size appropriate for the wearer. New life jackets are designed to be lighter, less obtrusive, and more comfortable than in the past. Inflatable life jackets allow mobility and flexibility for activities like boating, fishing or paddling, and can be much cooler in warmer weather than older-style life jackets.

To learn more about boating education and safety, see on.IN.gov/boatered.

Public input on otter trapping rules

Public comment is now open to the Indiana Natural Resources Commission for proposed changes to the state’s river otter trapping rules. If adopted, the changes would take effect in November for the 2024-25 river otter trapping season.

Ihe Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to open regulated otter trapping statewide but keep all other otter trapping regulations like the statewide quota, bag limits, reporting, and tagging the same. Indiana DNR values river otters and recognizes their value to the state.

“Responsibly managing our state’s wildlife populations is vital to our DNR mission,” said Indiana DNR’s furbearer and turkey program leader, Geriann Albers. “In recent decades, our careful management work has reestablished strong river otter populations across Indiana. As we consider incremental updates to our management practices, the focus will remain on how we continue to maintain this strong population now and into the future.”

Public comments can be submitted online at IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket by locating the “Submit Comments Here” link in the Rulemaking Docket for the River Otter Trapping Rule. Comments may also be mailed to: Natural Resources Commission, Indiana Government Center North 100 North Senate Ave., Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

The deadline for submitting public comments is June 25. A public hearing will also be held on June 25 from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. ET in the Roosevelt Ballroom at Fort Harrison State Park Inn. 

For more information on the proposed rule changes, visit wildlife.IN.gov/rule-regulation-changes. Questions about the proposed otter rule changes should be directed to Geriann Albers at 812-822-3304 or galbers@dnr.IN.gov.

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com 

Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.