FWCC meeting notes September 2020
Oct 7, 2020 19:00:39 GMT -5
Woody Williams, parson, and 4 more like this
Post by hatchetjack on Oct 7, 2020 19:00:39 GMT -5
Wildlife in Need Update:
Owner, Tim Starke has two federal civil suites against him. One with PETA and one with the Attorney
General’s Office. 20 big cats were relocated to Arkansas and Colorado. In addition, all other animals,
including falcons, fox, raccoons, coyotes, spider monkeys and hyenas were removed. The effort was done
in collaboration with the Indianapolis Zoo. There are no longer any animals on the property and litigation
continues.
Division of Law Enforcement Update:
It has been a busy summer for Law Enforcement. There will be 3 Lieutenants retiring by the end of the
year and 3 officers retiring this week. They are now working on plans for recruit school to help them get
their numbers back up. Currently, they are down 38 officers.
Bobcat Update:
DFW uses a variety of tools to assist with tracking bobcat populations, such as roadkill, observations
through Archer’s Index, large mammal report forms and Snapshot Indiana trail cams. Biologists shared
some of the historical data and showed how there has been uptick in bobcats starting around 2010, with
a peak in 2015, and continuing with an increased number through 2020. Bobcats are now reported in all
but two counties in the state, with populations more concentrated in the southwest, moving into
west/central Indiana. There is a study occurring looking at habitat suitability for bobcats, as well as a
landscape suitability project. Researchers will then look at building an individual based population model
to simulate how populations change over time and try to predict what would happen if you add in a
harvest season. There has also was a predator component added to the integrated deer research
management project where researchers will look at the estimates for predator on deer (coyotes and
bobcats). These studies are using hair snares to collect hair samples and collecting scat to look at
genetics. They are also look at teeth collected on coyotes for age information in harvested coyotes.
Legislative Update:
Unsure right now on what General Assembly will look like and there are a lot of uncertainties right now.
DNR will take a lighter approach this year as last session was heavy lift. DNR will be moving forward a
wild animal possession permit proposal to require USDA licenses to also require a state permit. In
addition, they will be working on making some language changes to the game breeders license. These
two efforts are designed to better monitor and protect wild animals in Indiana. DNR is also moving
forward a proposal for e- public notices or online public notices. Currently DNR is still investing heavily
with newspaper ads and with COVID and cost saving in mind, we will be asking to allow online notices
for all DNR public notices. The last proposal is to do some small licensing clean up to reduce
administrative work on Fish & Wildlife staff and streamline the process for notification of license
suspensions as a result of back child support. We are currently duplicating efforts that Department of
Child Services is doing and this will help streamline the process to reinstate or suspend licenses
appropriately. We will also be working to get rid of the commercial fishing license for Lake Michigan.
Currently there is a provision that they can be on a waiting list, but we do not see a foreseeable future
for these licenses, so we will work to remove that provision.
The Indiana Deer Hunters Association asked about license fee increases, as deer hunters are concerned about nonresident licenses
and the cost not being comparable to other neighboring states. In addition there is concern on outfitters
from other states coming to hunt in Indiana and accessing private property illegally. There is a $100
hunting guide fee with reporting that is required for these hunting guides currently.
Fish & Wildlife Updates:
Fish & Wildlife currently has 39 full time vacancies, 3 part time vacancies and several intermittent
positions that were not filled in the spring and summer due to COVID. This is the largest vacancy DFW
has had over the past several years. Filling positions are a little harder right now and things are moving
very slow. Two positions were filled, the new deer biologist will start next week and the NE Public Lands
Supervisor was filled. The NE Public Lands supervisor was an internal hire, so this will leave another
vacancy in the Division. License sales continue to be up. There are several new customers (haven’t
purchased in the last few years at least) and the Division is now working on plans on how we can keep
them moving into 2021 and beyond.
Owner, Tim Starke has two federal civil suites against him. One with PETA and one with the Attorney
General’s Office. 20 big cats were relocated to Arkansas and Colorado. In addition, all other animals,
including falcons, fox, raccoons, coyotes, spider monkeys and hyenas were removed. The effort was done
in collaboration with the Indianapolis Zoo. There are no longer any animals on the property and litigation
continues.
Division of Law Enforcement Update:
It has been a busy summer for Law Enforcement. There will be 3 Lieutenants retiring by the end of the
year and 3 officers retiring this week. They are now working on plans for recruit school to help them get
their numbers back up. Currently, they are down 38 officers.
Bobcat Update:
DFW uses a variety of tools to assist with tracking bobcat populations, such as roadkill, observations
through Archer’s Index, large mammal report forms and Snapshot Indiana trail cams. Biologists shared
some of the historical data and showed how there has been uptick in bobcats starting around 2010, with
a peak in 2015, and continuing with an increased number through 2020. Bobcats are now reported in all
but two counties in the state, with populations more concentrated in the southwest, moving into
west/central Indiana. There is a study occurring looking at habitat suitability for bobcats, as well as a
landscape suitability project. Researchers will then look at building an individual based population model
to simulate how populations change over time and try to predict what would happen if you add in a
harvest season. There has also was a predator component added to the integrated deer research
management project where researchers will look at the estimates for predator on deer (coyotes and
bobcats). These studies are using hair snares to collect hair samples and collecting scat to look at
genetics. They are also look at teeth collected on coyotes for age information in harvested coyotes.
Legislative Update:
Unsure right now on what General Assembly will look like and there are a lot of uncertainties right now.
DNR will take a lighter approach this year as last session was heavy lift. DNR will be moving forward a
wild animal possession permit proposal to require USDA licenses to also require a state permit. In
addition, they will be working on making some language changes to the game breeders license. These
two efforts are designed to better monitor and protect wild animals in Indiana. DNR is also moving
forward a proposal for e- public notices or online public notices. Currently DNR is still investing heavily
with newspaper ads and with COVID and cost saving in mind, we will be asking to allow online notices
for all DNR public notices. The last proposal is to do some small licensing clean up to reduce
administrative work on Fish & Wildlife staff and streamline the process for notification of license
suspensions as a result of back child support. We are currently duplicating efforts that Department of
Child Services is doing and this will help streamline the process to reinstate or suspend licenses
appropriately. We will also be working to get rid of the commercial fishing license for Lake Michigan.
Currently there is a provision that they can be on a waiting list, but we do not see a foreseeable future
for these licenses, so we will work to remove that provision.
The Indiana Deer Hunters Association asked about license fee increases, as deer hunters are concerned about nonresident licenses
and the cost not being comparable to other neighboring states. In addition there is concern on outfitters
from other states coming to hunt in Indiana and accessing private property illegally. There is a $100
hunting guide fee with reporting that is required for these hunting guides currently.
Fish & Wildlife Updates:
Fish & Wildlife currently has 39 full time vacancies, 3 part time vacancies and several intermittent
positions that were not filled in the spring and summer due to COVID. This is the largest vacancy DFW
has had over the past several years. Filling positions are a little harder right now and things are moving
very slow. Two positions were filled, the new deer biologist will start next week and the NE Public Lands
Supervisor was filled. The NE Public Lands supervisor was an internal hire, so this will leave another
vacancy in the Division. License sales continue to be up. There are several new customers (haven’t
purchased in the last few years at least) and the Division is now working on plans on how we can keep
them moving into 2021 and beyond.