#ThrowbackThursday - Did you know that white-tailed deer were non-existent in Indiana for over 40 years due to overhunting? The last reported wild deer was killed in Knox County in 1893. From 1934 to 1942, 296 deer were purchased from other states and released in Indiana through a program from the Department of Conservation (the forerunner to today's DNR). In this 1934 photo, deer are being released from crates into Ferdinand State Forest.
Photo courtesy of Indiana Album Flick Family Collection
[ Image of Deer release in Ferdinand State Forest, Ferdinand, Indiana, circa 1934Description Typed on the back: "Northern white tailed deer from Michigan are being released in Indiana by the State Department of Conservation to restore some of the wild life [sic wildlife] that has vanished from Indiana. One of the animals is shown above leaping from the crate in which it was shipped to Jasper, Indiana. 3-29-34" ]
How did deer get to Indiana? by Woody Williams posted Dec 8, 2005 on Hunt-Indiana.com. This is a copy of an OLD report on restocking of deer in Indiana. White-tailed deer were "totally wiped out" and given a fresh start in 1934.
13. Cariacus virginianus (Bodd). Virginia deer.
Newton County. Extinct. Last deer killed was twenty years ago (1874). One was seen three years ago (1891).
Jasper County. Deer killed about 1890 (Pfrimmer).
Knox County. Found at one time in countless numbers. Now only met with occasionally in the cypress swamps of this county (Chansler).
October 12, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook: According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the last reported wild deer in Indiana died in 1893, leaving deer essentially extirpated in Indiana at the time.
Now, hunters are expected to harvest tens of thousands of deer in 2023.
DYK that there were no deer in Indiana from 1893 to 1934? Hard to believe, but it's true. Read more about it in this month's Nature Notes from Kankakee Sands: Indiana Nature Notes for January
Reminder: this was during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic
OH, DEER: As residents in Fort Wayne, Indiana, remain indoors amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, a deer took the opportunity to explore the quiet city streets. https://abcn.ws/3cLFX2b
OH, DEER: As residents in Fort Wayne, Indiana, remain indoors amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, a deer took the opportunity to explore the quiet city streets. https://abcn.ws/3cLFX2b
Fun Fact Friday | Did you know that we work with licensed wildlife rehabilitators when we receive orphaned or injured...
Fun Fact Friday | Did you know that we work with licensed wildlife rehabilitators when we receive orphaned or injured wildlife?
This story is a prime example of what it means to work together to save lives! A concerned citizen called us about a fawn that seemed to be abandoned. We advised to wait 24 hours to see if mom comes back. After 24 hours passed, the fawn was still there alone so they called us back. Another way to tell if mom hasn’t visited is to see if their ears have began curling back because that is a sign of dehydration.
Officer Koens went out to check on the fawn and it was clear that he/she was abandoned. Unfortunately it is likely that the mom had passed away. Officer Koens brought the fawn back to our shelter for Officer Steadman to transport him/her to a wildlife rehabber who has been rehabbing deer for 40 years!
We are very happy this fawn is in great hands and has a second chance at life. We are extremely thankful for wildlife rehabbers; they work so hard, especially this time of year, and save so many lives.
Ever wonder how deer manage to make it through winter’s chill? In addition to building up a layer of fat under their...
Ever wonder how deer manage to make it through winter’s chill? In addition to building up a layer of fat under their skin, deer grow thick winter coats designed for warmth. These coats have hollow guard hairs on the outside that are great at trapping heat, while a dense undercoat provides extra insulation. Their skin also produces oil, making their fur water-repellent—which as you can imagine, is super helpful in the snow!
Like many animals, deer become less active in winter to conserve energy. During extreme cold, they may even bed down for long periods without eating, relying on stored fat reserves. When they do forage, deer use their hooves to dig through snow to uncover grasses and plants—just like the tracks spotted along the barn road at Eagle Marsh.
Eagle Marsh offers an ideal winter habitat for deer, with food along wetland edges and dense vegetation in the woods provides shelter. Large natural areas like this are crucial for supporting wildlife through the harshest months.
