A gaggle of Canada geese congregate in Franklin’s Province Park.
Ashlyn Myers | Daily Journal
As Johnson County grows and habitats change, some readers have asked how to get along with and help wildlife as urbanization takes over. We asked the Indiana Department of Natural Resources how can residents live with them sustainably and comfortably.
Jessica Merkling, an urban wildlife biologist for the DNR, said most of the issues Hoosiers face with animals are caused by a lack of awareness and respect.
If you live by a pond that has a ton of greenery and open land, you’ve probably seen a gaggle of geese gather near your home. This can be concerning, of course, because geese aren’t always known to be the nicest of creatures – purely because they’re extremely protective. These and other animals often garner bad reputations, whether they’re truly deserving of them or not, she said.
“There are things that stereotypically people are afraid of, like snakes and coyotes, and that’s just because some misinformation gets spread about them. People do also have actual fears that need to be talked about as well, though,” Merkling said.
Instead of deterring people from animals, much of Merkling’s job is to teach people how to integrate wildlife into their own life, which sometimes includes helping people build safe habitats.
Merkling said that oftentimes, people call and ask how to increase the animal population on their land just for viewing pleasure. She usually helps people decide on animal-friendly greenery that fits their budget and wishes.
Locally, people often post on county Facebook groups about having an abundance of friendly squirrels in downtown Franklin or Greenwood. Merkling said these domesticated squirrels usually become so curious because they’ve been fed by local residents.
“It’s usually related to people feeding them,” Merkling said. “Sometimes it’s not intentional, you know. We have animals we typically think to put out food for, like birds, but sometimes people put out a bird feeder without thinking about the squirrels getting the food.”
In these more urban, downtown areas, Merkling said the small creatures are also more common because they feel safer. Hunting is more likely in rural areas, so squirrels naturally feel more drawn to places that are more populated.
Should you feed your squirrels? Merkling recommends against it.
“There’s just a lot of potential for issues,” she said. “For example, a couple of years ago we saw bird disease. Any time you’re feeding any wildlife, you’re inflating the number [of animals] that would be in an area. Once you do that, you potentially run the risk of spreading disease.”
Merkling’s other concern is that other animals can become interested in one’s property if they’re stealing food meant for birds or squirrels, which can create problems for Hoosiers and their unwelcome animal visitors.
For building a habitat, Merkling said building a sustainable and safe place for animals is the best way to help local wildlife while also enjoying it. When planting native vegetation, Merkling said that’s giving animals a place to live, and access to food and water. In return, people get the chance to live among wildlife.
On the other hand, Merkling said you can sometimes attract unwanted species if your land is a healthy habitat. If you end up with geese or maybe something more concerning such as coyotes, it’s important to know the laws on removing these animals. Merkling said specifics for different species are on the Indiana DNR website, found here: bit.ly/43GsNxB.
Some animals can be trapped or killed anytime, while others are endangered or require a permit issued by DNR. For example, a landowner can trap or kill a coyote on their own land at any time without a permit. However, in another example, Canada geese should only be trapped or killed during hunting season, but landowners can apply for a permit to kill or trap outside of the season if geese are posing a safety concern or damaging crops.
Overall, Merkling said because of its population and position in central Indiana, Johnson County isn’t too susceptible to concerning species. Most dangerous snakes and mammals tend to want more diverse terrain, commonly found in Brown County and in more southern parts of the state.
