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Wildlife on the Hoosier National Forest
Pictured: A spotted salamander sits among the leaves of a vernal pool. The habitat needs of wildlife drives most of our projects on the Hoosier. The focus of habitats provided by the Hoosier are often those lacking elsewhere in the state.
Maintaining Biodiversity and Meeting Public Demand
On the Hoosier, our objectives include protecting and restoring native habitats important for conserving biodiversity, and managing habitats in a manner that meets public demand for hunting and wildlife viewing. Wildlife habitat management on the Forest routinely target species groups and communities such as upland early successional species, wetland habitats, barrens, species associated with dead and dying trees, fire-adapted communities and old growth species. Management is directed toward maintaining biodiversity for all wildlife within the capabilities of long-term sustainability, and managing for certain species at higher levels to meet public demand. Frequently, this means protecting especially important habitats like wetland and riparian areas.
The mix of open land and forest provides a wide variety of wildlife habitats. Common mammals include white-tailed deer, fox, woodchuck, opossum, and gray squirrel. Common birds of interest are turkey, pileated woodpecker, several neotropical migrant songbirds, and migratory waterfowl. The karst ecosystems include many unusual cave species.
Wildlife Programs
Threatened and Endangered Species
There are six federally listed threatened and endangered species whose ranges could include the Hoosier National Forest. These species are:
- Indiana bat – endangered
- Gray bat – endangered
- Northern long-eared bat – threatened (listed 2015)
- Fanshell mussel – endangered
- Rough pigtoe mussel – endangered
- Sheepnose mussel – endangered (listed 2012)
We regularly inventory for bats and have closed our caves in the past to help protect bats from the White Nose Syndrome. Surveys have also been done of mussels in rivers and streams.
Fish
Panfish, catfish, and bass fishing opportunities are available throughout the Forest. Our fishing section about various species and where they can be located around the forest.
