Critter Corner No. 13 – The Virginia Opossum by George Sly
(image courtesy of Wikimedia) In the last edition of Critter Corner I spoke of the coyote as a Goose Pond mammal which doesn’t garner the respect it deserves. To this list of unappreciated mammals I now add the Virginia opossum. Hardly anyone I encounter seems to have a good word for this curious…
Read MoreCritter Corner No. 12 – The Coyote by George Sly
I must say, this is the first edition of Critter Corner I have had to begin by offering a disclaimer. But the fact is that few other animals generate the polarized love or hate sentiments engendered by Canis latrans. So, I have to begin by professing a degree of sympathy and admiration for this much…
Read MoreMAJOR POTENTIAL UPGRADE FOR SHOREBIRD HABITAT AND SHOREBIRD VIEWING ACCESSIBILITY AT GOOSE POND FWA
The Field E habitat improvement project, with hydrology study and design specifications done by Ducks Unlimited. Installation to be done by DFW South Region Public Access. The work is projected to begin in late November or this coming winter weather permitting. Funding for DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife by individuals purchasing state hunting…
Read MoreBuy Indiana Hunting and Fishing License
Purchasing Indiana state hunting and fishing licenses, with apportioned matching funds generated through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (popularly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act) signed into law in 1937 and the Dingell-Johnson Act of the 1950″s, pays for the majority of the cost for running and managing Indiana Fish and Wildlife Areas. Funds…
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Critter Corner No. 11 – The Common Snapping Turtle By George Sly
I ran across one of these fellows on a recent trip to GPFWA. With water levels at their lowest, I espied a large animal moving across a small island between two shallow pools in the GP 11 basin. Training my binoculars on the movement, a huge common snapping turtle was revealed. Much like the image…
Read MoreCritter Corner No. 10 – The River Otter by George Sly
Goose Pond FWA has gained a well-deserved reputation as a site for spotting rare birds. Now we can add a mammal to the category of rarities. On Dec. 17th, 2015, during the GPFWA Christmas Bird Count, Sandy and Jeff Belth of Bloomington spotted a river otter on the property. CBC compiler Lee Sterrenburg noted that…
Read MoreCritter Corner No. 9 – Eastern Cottontail by George Sly
For this edition of Critter Corner, I’d like to shift gears and return again to consideration of Goose Pond mammals. Since the fall hunting season is well upon us, it seems appropriate to ponder the habits of one of the state’s most popular game animals – the eastern cottontail rabbit. This very familiar animal belongs…
Read MoreCritter Corner No. 8 – The Common Water Snake by George Sly
With the beginning of fall, and the anticipation of the frosty weather to come, this edition of Critter Corner is devoted to a common denizen of the Goose Pond wetlands who will soon enter its long winter nap. Normally by late October we will have seen the last of the Common Water Snake until its…
Read MoreCritter Corner No. 7 – The Bullfrog by George Sly
As all of us know, a visit to Goose Pond FWA can present us with an extraordinary visual banquet. The sight of thousands of Sandhill Cranes descending into their evening roost, the stately soaring of a group of American White Pelicans, or the blizzard of Snow Geese departing on a feeding foray are the kinds…
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