The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) has been confirmed in the Northern Indiana counties of Elkhart, Porter and St. Joseph, next to railroad lines through Chesterton, Elkhart and Mishawaka.

This is the third region of the state in which the invasive pest has been found, joining the 2021 find in Switzerland County (southeast) and the 2022 find in Huntington County (northeast). The DNR continues to survey to determine the extent of the currently infested areas.

A planthopper originating in Asia, spotted lanternfly is of concern across most of the United States because of its adverse effect on fruit orchards, nurseries, and the logging and wine industries. It was first discovered in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014 and is often unknowingly spread by humans. It’s now found in many Eastern states as well as along the rail lines in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo in Ohio, and in Chicago.

The adult insects have piercing, sucking mouthparts and weaken plants by feeding on them, making it difficult for the plant to survive the winter. Congregating spotted lanternfly insects produce large quantities of honeydew, which over time become infested with sooty mold attracting other pests in the area, further threatening native plants.

More information is at on.IN.gov/spotted-lanternfly.

Anyone who spots the insect or signs of it should contact DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology by calling 866-NO EXOTIC (866-663-9684) or emailing DEPP@dnr.IN.gov.

Lake Michigan opportunities

Each November and December in Lake Michigan, native lake trout move near shore to spawn. Once the water temperatures are below 55 degrees, anglers can find success fishing for lake trout by casting from boats at the Port of Indiana submerged reef or shores such as Michigan City Pier and Portage Lakefront Park. Recommended presentations include jigging with blade baits, spoons or tube jigs. Anglers can also try trolling with downriggers with dodgers and flies or spin-n-glows set near the bottom.

November is also the time when native lake whitefish move near shore to spawn. They provide great fishing opportunities from Thanksgiving until Easter. Anglers can occasionally find whitefish at the Port of Indiana public shore fishing site. Single salmon eggs, small pieces of salmon skein, or small pieces of night crawler fished on the lake bottom are successful fishing techniques for many anglers. The lake whitefish are one of Lake Michigan’s tastiest fish – try baking, frying, grilling or boiling them in a classic Wisconsin fish boil.

Feed Indiana families with your deer

Are you ready to hunt and help hungry Hoosiers in need? Consider donating your harvested deer to Indiana Hunt for Hunger. Your donation of a single deer can provide 200 meals for a local family.

Participating is simple:

1. Hunt your deer.

2. Harvest your deer.

3. Drop off your field-dressed deer at a local participating processor. The processing fees are paid for by Hunt for Hunger.

4. The processor will create healthy venison burger to distribute to food banks.

Find a list of local participating processors on our webpage at: https://www.in.gov/dnr/law-enforcement/sportsmens-benevolence-fund/. Indiana’s DNR is proud to partner with Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, the Dubois County Sportsmen Club, and Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry for Hunt for Hunger.

Clifty Falls to close temporarily

A deer management hunt will take place at Clifty Falls State Park in November. The park will close for the hunt on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. and will re-open at 8 a.m. on the 29th. To find out more information about the deer management hunt and other natural resource management activities at Indiana State Parks, visit on.IN.gov/parks-natural-management.

Grants for urban forestry projects

Grants totaling $1.8 million are available to fund urban forestry throughout Indiana. Administered by the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry, Community & Urban Forestry, the funding is available through the USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry program.

Projects fundable through the grant include tree planting, tree inventories with management plans, urban tree canopy assessments, storm response planning, public and/or staff education, program outreach, and the establishment and strengthening of local urban forestry programs. Funds are awarded on a reimbursable basis, and no match is required.

Communities interested in applying should note grant awards are available for a minimum $50,000 and a maximum $250,000, and only areas with census tracts determined to be underserved or disadvantaged according to the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool are eligible.

All applications are due Dec. 22. All application materials are available for download at dnr.IN.gov/forestry/programs/community-and-urban-forestry/ira-grants.

eaders can contact the author by writing to this publication, or e-mail to jackspaulding@hughes.net.

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