Wednesday, July 30, 2025
www.thepapersonline.com
Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties
Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . . . 2➤ Pierceton Day Festival . . . 12
Vol. 55, No. 5
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
DNR WEIGHS IN ON KEEPING
HUMANS AND WILDLIFE SAFE THIS SUMMER By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer
If that’s the case, it’s recommended to call a wildlife rehaWith Hoosiers out bilitator, who camping, hiking and can determine enjoying the weaththeir own abiler every summer, ity to help the chances of encounsituation . A list tering one of Indiof rehabilitators ana’s wild creatures is available at are higher than ever . on .IN .gov/keepThe Indiana Dewildlifewild . partment of Natural There are Resources’ Division times, Merkling of Fish and Wildlife HANDLE WITH CARE — Picking up a baby bird and transsaid, when it’s has advice on how to ferring a human’s scent to it won’t drive away the mother, but could best to let nature enjoy nature while attract predators. Photo provided by the Indiana Department of take its course . keeping people, pets Natural Resources. “I recognize and wildlife safe . that can be in“Animals are ularly cleaned . credibly difficult, living their best Merkling recommends super- because it’s a life, but there is lives (in the summer),” said Urban Wildlife Biologist Jessica vising pets while outdoors, for value in wildlife dying and being Merkling . “Throughout the sum- their safety and wildlife’s . If an beneficial for other plants and mer, they’re raising their babies owner must leave their pet unsu- animals,” she explained . For anyone who encounters to prep for fall, when everyone is pervised, it’s best to keep it in a secure enclosure with a covered a sick or injured animal, or an finding their new mates .” Merkling is responsible for top . Spilled pet food outside, as animal dead without apparent helping landowners incorporate well as garbage cans, grill grease cause, there is a no-contact way wildlife habitat into urban areas, traps and compost piles can also to help . The DNR has a report portal on its website where anyand information on living with be eaten by wildlife . If someone encounters a baby one can submit their findings . wildlife, among other things . “Reports of sick and dead wildShe advises a hands-off ap- animal that seems abandoned, proach when it comes to inter- things may not be what they ap- life allow DNR Fish and Wildlife health biologists to track disacting with wild animals, even pear . “It’s actually incredibly rare ease trends in wildlife across the those who appear sick or hurt . “A lot of people have really, for wildlife to abandon their state,” said Fish and Wildlife . really good intentions when it young,” said Merkling, noting “Understanding what is ‘normal’ comes to quote unquote ‘help- young animals, like fawns and for Indiana can help wildlife ing’ wildlife,” she said . “I think baby birds, know to stay put health biologists identify disease that’s great; that’s the vibe that while waiting for their mother . outbreaks or identify new wildwe need . . . . Unfortunately, what They’re also naturally low odor life diseases in the state .” Common diseases Indiana happens is that a lot of time the to avoid attracting predators . People may have been taught wildlife see in the summer inway that people are caring is not actually helpful to the wildlife . . . . that putting a baby bird back in clude distemper; mange; house In general, though, the best rule its nest will get a human’s scent finch conjunctivitis; West Nile is do your own thing, observe it on it, making its mother want virus; and epizootic hemorrhagic disease, known to some local nothing to do with it . from a distance, enjoy it .” Merkling said this isn’t so . deer hunters as “blue tongue .” Merkling and colleagues in The DNR actively monitors the fish and wildlife department Picking up a baby bird won’t don’t endorse feeding wild an- drive its mother away, though a for chronic wasting disease, a imals . Birds can even develop human lingering can delay an- disease in deer that causes emanutritional deficiencies, like an- imals’ return to their young . A ciation, staggering, poor posture, gel wing syndrome, “often due to human’s scent can also attract excessive saliva, or carrying the head and ears low . Indiana’s people regularly feeding bread predators to a nest . “Typically, I don’t recommend CWD positive areas are neighto birds,” said Fish and Wildlife . For bird feeders, the DNR insists getting involved, unless there’s boring Noble, LaGrange, Steuthey be well maintained and reg- an issue that’s human-induced ben and DeKalb counties . As for diseases that can affect or from a pet; if you see mom die; or if you see humans, state rabies rates are obvious signs of in- relatively low . Bats are now the jury,” Merkling most common source of the disease, though Rabies by the Numadded . bers states only
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS — A young raccoon walks around in the daytime. Contrary to popular belief, a nocturnal animal spotted in daylight hours is not necessarily rabid. Photo provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
SAFE INTERACTION — Urban Wildlife Biologist Jessica Merkling shows her goose-handling skills during DNR goose-banding activities. Indiana’s birds can develop angel wing syndrome from nutritional deficiencies. For reasons such as these, Merkling doesn’t recommend feeding bread to birds, or feeding wildlife in general. Photo provided by Jessica Merkling. four bats in Indiana have tested positive for rabies this year . Contrary to popular belief, a raccoon seen in the daytime is not necessarily rabid . Just because an animal is nocturnal doesn’t mean it’s only active at night . Unless the animal appears aggressive or in distress, it’s most likely just fine, Merkling said . However, that doesn’t mean an animal bite shouldn’t be taken seriously . If someone is bitten by a wild animal, Fish and Wildlife said it must be promptly reported to the county health department .
If the animal exhibited signs of rabies, like aggression, fearfulness, excessive drooling, staggering, paralysis or seizures, medical treatment should be sought as soon as possible . According to the Center for Disease Control, once an infected person starts showing symptoms, the disease is nearly always fatal . To make an animal report or to learn more about living with wildlife, visit in .gov/dnr . To report a chemical spill in a local waterway, call the 24hour emergency line at (888) 233-7745 .