Preschooler program at Salamonie Feb. 18, 19

Enjoy learning about nature in an active way with your child or grandchild. Register them for the Otter program designed for youth ages two through five on Wednesday, Feb. 18 or Thursday, Feb. 19 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Salamonie Interpretive Center.
During the one and a half hour program, children and their parent or caregiver will enjoy activities and crafts focused around otters. No matter the weather the program is planned for both indoors and out beginning at the Salamonie Interpretive Center.
There is a $2 fee per child for the program. Property entrance fee is waived for program attendees. Participants can choose to bring their lunch to eat together after the event. For more information call 260-468-2127 or log onto: www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis.

No CWD detected in Indiana deer herd sampling

From Indiana Department of Natural Resources:


Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was not detected in the 862 deer collected during the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife’s 2008 CWD sampling.
In every year since 2002, DFW employees have been collecting CWD samples from hunter-harvested deer during the opening weekend of firearm season. Since 2007, these efforts have been supplemented with collecting road-killed samples throughout the year. CWD has not been detected in the more than 10,000 deer collected during the entire monitoring period.
CWD is one of a group of diseases called Transmissible Spongiform Encepalopathies (TSEs). Other examples of TSEs include scrapie in sheep and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. The agents of CWD are called prions, which are abnormal, protease-resistant forms of cellular proteins normally synthesized in the central nervous system and lymphoid tissues. Prions that cause CWD are highly resistant to heat or disinfectant, and can be transferred to other deer through direct or indirect contact. No study has ever proven that CWD is transmissible to humans.
CWD has been reported in free-ranging deer herds in Wisconsin, Illinois and West Virginia, among other states. Indiana has never detected CWD within its free-ranging or captive deer herds. For more information on deer health, visit dnr.IN.gov/fishwild.

Hunter Education Class Changes

Sorry about this but we had a scheduling conflict with the state for the Free Hunter Education courses and had to change the dates for the class. It will be held at the same location but on different nights.
The new dates are: April 13th, 14th, & 15th from 5:30 to 9:00 pm all three nights at the 4-H Community Center in Bluffton.
Instructors:
ICO Kenny Wireman, Darrell Reynolds, Mike and Jodi Pinkerton, Rich Falk, Rick Bergman and Tracy Myers.
The event is sponsored by Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
To register or for more information call 260-824-0692.
Under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian. Attendance at all classes is required for certification.

Fifth annual historic preservation photo contest starts

Indiana Department of Natural Resources Release:

Photographers with an eye for the many historic preservation highlights of Indiana have until April 15 to submit entries for the 5th annual Historic Preservation Month photo contest.
The contest is an annual highlight of Historic Preservation Month, which is held every May.
Each photographer can submit up to three photos. Each image should be identified with the name, location and description of the subject. Entries also must include the photographer’s name and contact information. For contest requirements and entry form, see dnr.IN.gov/historic.
Students have an added incentive to enter. The school class with the most participants will get a free tour of the Indiana Statehouse and Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
Winning images will be printed in Preserving Indiana (the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology's newsletter) and placed on the division’s Web site. Photos will be displayed in the Indiana Statehouse, the Indianapolis Artsgarden, and the Indiana University-Southeast Library in New Albany in May 2009.
For more information, call Amy Walker (317) 232-1647 or awalker@dnr.IN.gov

Salamonie otter program for preschoolers

According to a DNR press release:

Otters will be the center of attention during a program designed for preschoolers at Salamonie Reservoir, Feb. 18–19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The same program is being offered twice to accommodate more children.
Ages 2 to 5 are invited participate with their parent or caregiver. Activities and crafts focusing on otters will highlight the event.
There is a $2 fee per child for the program. The property entrance fee is waived for program attendees. Participants may bring a lunch to eat together after the event.

DNR Grant to protect Indiana Pre-History

From a Department of Natural Resources press release:

A federal grant of $180,454 from the Preserve America program will help fund the “Inventory and Promotion of Indiana’s Prehistoric Mounds and Earthworks.”
The DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA), which serves as the State Historic Preservation Office, will run the project. Archaeologists at several universities in the state will assist.
The project will produce a comprehensive inventory of Indiana’s prehistoric mounds and earthworks, a narrative report of findings, and an educational public Web page about these fragile cultural resources.
Prehistoric mounds and other types of earthworks were constructed in Indiana between approximately 1500 B.C. and 1500 A.D. DHPA estimates that about 1,000 such resources exist statewide. During the last two centuries many have been damaged or destroyed by erosion, agricultural practices, development and looting.
“This project will guide planning and resource management efforts, identify sites that may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and help educate Hoosiers about early peoples of Indiana," said the DHPA's Steve Kennedy. "The Web page will promote heritage tourism by directing people to publicly accessible locations where they can see and learn about mounds first-hand.”
Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our nation’s heritage. Former First Lady Laura Bush has served as Honorary Chair of Preserve America since its inception in March 2003. The Preserve America Initiative was launched by then-President Bush to promote cultural and natural preservation and to encourage greater appreciation of our national heritage.
The Preserve America Grant program is administered by the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service in partnership with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The competitive matching grants can be awarded to designated Preserve America communities, state historic preservation offices, and tribal historic preservation offices to support their preservation efforts through heritage tourism, public education, and planning.
Mrs. Bush, former Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation chairman John L. Nau III announced the first round of Preserve America Grants for FY 2009 on Jan. 17. The list includes 31 projects in 17 states and one tribe totaling nearly $3 million.

For more information on Preserve America, including a complete list of grant recipients, criteria and application forms, see PreserveAmerica.gov.

Hunter Education

Free Hunter Education courses are available February 23, 25 and 26, 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the 4-H Community Center in Bluffton.
Instructors:
ICO Kenny Wireman, Darrell Reynolds, Mike and Jodi Pinkerton, Rich Falk, Rick Bergman and Tracy Myers.
The event is sponsored by Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
To register or for more information call 260-824-0692.
Under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian. Attendance at all classes is required for certification.