Division Mtg. Guest Speakers

Nicole Harmon of the Indiana Humane Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was our September 2026 guest speaker.

Guest Speaker: Saving Wildlife in Indiana

Our guest speaker was Nicole Harmon of the Humane Indiana Wildlife Rehab Center. Nicole has been with the center for 13 years and sees thousands of native animals every year. Harmon spoke highly of the DNR and Fish & Wildlife's role in modern wildlife rescue. They require that rehabilitators be licensed for the highest quality of care. The partnership also allows state and federal agencies to gather data quickly for their research by the sheer bulk of treated patients. Nicole sited an example of a DNR desire to collect data about viral infections in rabbits. Researchers could chase rabbits and try to collect them in the wild with traps; which is VERY difficult and stressful to animals she said, or they could perform a simple blood test on the hundreds of baby rabbits annually in the center's care.
It's a win-win.

Nicole gave us tips on renesting baby animals; squirrel babies found on the ground can be placed on the top of a ladder in a soft 'nest' towel for mama to find and retrieve. Getting the young to make a little noise will help their mother locate them when lost or fallen. Exposed rabbit nests can be covered with a laundry basket; mother will return when things are quiet to feed and check her young. Rabbits can fit into 2"x3" space at a full run. Human handling of a wild baby will NOT prevent its parent from accepting it again; that is a old wive's tale.

She warns against letting cats outdoors and reports that feral cats do most of the damage to small animals and birds. Humane Indiana is also a pet shelter organization and educates to bring awareness on spay/neuter for cats to keep their populations controlled.

Some meeting participants asked about discouraging animal pests away from human dwellings. Nicole suggested fladry as a non-lethal coyote deterrent. Hang rightly colored fabric flags (usually red) that flap unpredictably in the wind. This creates a frightening visual barrier that exploits a coyote's natural fear of novel objects. To push back chipmunks, Harmon said that dirty cat litter at their entrance holes make usage uncomfortable and force them to move away from a suspected predator like a cat. In fact, she continues, anything that makes an unwanted pest uncomfortable; light, loud noise, bad smells, will force him to move to new locations on his own. Only 85% of trapped and relocated animals will die; they can't find food, water or shelter in time to thrive.

When finding a wounded animal, Nicole tells us NOT to give it food or water. She urges us to call ahead and ask your local rehabilitator for assistance with renesting or troubleshooting injuries before driving an animal away from its home. She offers this list of Indiana's accredited wildlife rescuers near you. Fish and Wildlife: Indiana DNR Permitted Wildlife Rehabilitators

Guest Speaks for the River; June 2026 Convention Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker was Jen Rankin, President of the Wabash River Defenders. She spoke for the Wabash River.

Per their mission statement, they are volunteers who preserve, protect, and defend the Wabash River. They promote trash removal, ecology, boating, camping, wildlife habitat and history of this great river, the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi. The Wabash is one of the most impressive of all natural resources in Indiana and deserves their collective defense.

They have been coordinating volunteers to do an annual river clean up since 2011. Over 5 years, they'd pulled 62 tons from the banks of the Wabash River with the help of over 400 community volunteers. More recently they have been running the "River Wild" program which gets 7th graders from the county afloat on the Wabash. (Enter the Wabash Chapter volunteers who prepare the boats and equipment.) Students float from stop to stop, learning something new each time like water quality testing.

The group is also making River Camps where floaters can stop off and camp on the bank. All on the cleaner Wabash River, thanks to them and their long-term efforts.

Comical Guest Speaker; March 2026 Guest Speaker at Fort Wayne

As our Guest Speaker, Fort Wayne Chapter's President, Gabe Bowser, gave a hilarious presentation at his home chapterhouse. After lunch we settled in to chuckle along with Gabe while he delivered "A Social Club for Overwhelmed Adults". It is an invitation to potential Ikes who might join the League. By participating in club activies, he promises Stress Relief, Community, and Quality Outdoor Time. Throughout, Bowser pokes fun at his fellows and self with insider nudges, making the listener feel included and welcomed. While in the background, colorful snapshots of activities and members of Fort Wayne Chapter were flashing. It was a refreshing way to give a membership presentation.