Marsh Madness 2025 Fundraising Update from Kalli Dunn, Property Manager, Indiana DNR

Grasslands and pollinator plantings are essential habitats for Indiana’s wildlife. Each year, staff across the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife and at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area focus on restoring, establishing, and maintaining grasslands and wildlife plantings to provide habitat for wildlife. Pollinator plantings are essential to supporting migrating songbirds and insects such as monarch butterflies in the summer. Other wildlife plantings include clover, wheat, and sorghum. These provide essential cover and winter food supply for a variety of wildlife including birds, quail, turkeys, and more. Fundraising efforts at this year’s marsh madness will go towards purchase of seed for these plantings.
The acquisition of Busseron Creek Fish and Wildlife area is a once in a generation acquisition completed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Nearly 4000 acres of intact wildlife habitat acquired all at once is almost an impossibility for the DNR and this was made possible through partnership with the Conservation Fund and several other organizations. The acquisition is the second largest ever made by the DNR.
Busseron Creek contains a portion of the old Minnehaha Fish and Wildlife Area which was lost by the Department in 2016 when the landowner did not renew our lease and the property was closed. Minnehaha had been operated for 30 years as a Fish and Wildlife Area and remains a significant part of local history. People are very excited about this acquisition and the now permanent protection of this wildlife habitat. Fundraising at this year’s Marsh Madness will go towards preparing this property to open later this spring.
– Kalli Dunn, Property Manager, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Donations can be made at https://friendsofgoosepond.org/donate/