If Your Indiana Yard Looks Like This, Stay Alert at Night

You might want to take a look at your yard. If it looks like something or someone has been digging holes in your yard, you have a problem.

It never fails, this time of year, I will walk the dogs outside in my backyard and I'll notice that there are random holes dug up in my yard. I know it's not them trying to bury a bone or anything. I thought that it could be moles, or stray cats in our neighborhood trying to dig up the moles. However, that's not the case with these holes. In fact, you will likely never catch the culprit in the act of digging these holes because you're likely asleep when they do. Oh, and in the event that you do catch the "hole bandit" in your yard, you definitely don't want to get near it.

Who's Responsible for These Holes in Your Yard?

By looking at that photo, some of you might already know who's behind those holes. However, others might be surprised to know that these holes are a sign that you have a skunk problem. Here's why skunks are leaving their mark in your yard. You see, skunks like to dig for grubs, as they are one of the skunks' favorite foods. Naturally, grubs can be all over your yard, so skunks won't just dig in one place to find them. Skunks mate during late February or early March, with four to seven mouse-sized young born 62 days later in May. So, that's another big reason why those holes in your yard have been popping up.

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Other signs that you might have a skunk problem include garbage cans being raided, skunk tracks. and of course spotting the furry, black critters with white stripes. One thing you need to keep in mind is that they are nocturnal, so you'll typically only spot them and smell them after the sun goes down. So that means that if you are outdoors at night, you might want to be a little cautious because the last thing you want is to come across one of those skunks and get sprayed!

How To Get Rid of Skunks in Your Yard

The most effective and easy way to get rid of skunks is to call a pest control company. You can also try to live trap it yourself, but then you have to also consider what you are going to do with the skunk once you do trap it. However, there are some other things that you can try out before calling a pest control company.

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The first thing you should do is to get rid of things in your yard that attract skunks if you can. Some of these things include pet food, open garbage, plants, berries, nuts, and logs/shrubs. Also try getting rid of their food sources like grubs, earthworms, and other insects. Essentially, you want to tidy up your yard often if you have a skunk problem. You can also try some motion sensors or solar lights in your yard since skunks aren't fans of bright lights.

There are a few other DIY ways to get rid of skunks in your yard which you can find by clicking here. Again, if the problem persists after trying these tactics, it is best to call pest control to handle the situation.

(H/T- Predator Guard and Gardening Etc)

7 Invasive Insects in Indiana You Should Kill Immediately If You See Them

In an effort to inform the public on the types of invasive species that are known to be found in their state, the USDA offers a "Pest Tracker" on their website, where you simply click the name of your state from the drop-down menu provided to see pictures of the different insects and weeds, along with descriptions of the type of plant life they target and the damage they can do if they're not dealt with.

Gallery Credit: Ryan O'Bryan

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Spotted Lanternfly

The Spotted Lanterfly is native to China and was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. While it may look pretty, it has the potential to have a "serious impact" on the U.S. grape, orchard, and logging industries.

The USDA says to "check outdoor items for spotted lanternfly egg masses, including those items you may bring indoors. Scrape any egg masses into a plastic zippered bag filled with hand sanitizer, then zip the bag shut and dispose of it properly."

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Khapra Beetle

The Khapra Beetle is native to India and was first discovered in California in 1953. While it prefers hot and dry areas, it can survive "almost anywhere in storage facilities that are protected from cold environments." It is considered "one of the world’s most destructive pests of stored grain products and seeds."

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Asian Gypsy Moth

As their name suggests, Asian Gypsy Moths make their way to the U.S. in shipping containers from Asian countries. While the threat isn't huge right this minute, the USDA says if the species is able to get a foothold in the country, "they could cause serious, widespread damage to our country’s landscape and natural resources." Females can lay hundreds of eggs which in turn can result in hundreds of hungry little caterpillars that will feed on 500 different species of trees and shrubs making those plants more susceptible to disease and the widespread death of large sections of forest land.

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European Gypsy Moth

The longest-tenured invasive species on this list, the European Gypsy Moth, like the name suggests, is native to European countries and was first discovered in Massachusetts way back in 1869. Like the Asian Gypsy Moth, the caterpillars that eventually grow into moths feast on a wide variety of trees and shrubs making them susceptible to disease and other pests that can eventually kill them.

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Asian Longhorned Beetle

The USDA says the Asian Longhorned Beetle has the capability "to cause more damage than Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight and gypsy moths combined" if infestations are not detected and wiped out early. It attacks hardwood trees such as Ash, Birch, and Elm, and could potentially destroy "millions of acres of America's treasured hardwoods, including national forests and backyard trees."

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Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer is native to Asia and was first found in southeast Michigan in 2002 and has already destroyed "tens of millions" of ash trees in 30 states.

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European Cherry Fruit Fly

A relative newcomer to the U.S., the European Cherry Fruit Fly was first discovered in upper New York state in 2017, roughly a year after it was discovered in Canada. It feeds on cherries and sweet honeysuckle and has the potential to ruin 100% of a cherry crop if not brought under control.

For more information on each of these pests, visit the Pest Tracker on the USDA website. And, if you spot any of these in your area, contact your local Department of Agriculture, or the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Animals You Might Encounter in The Wild in Indiana

There is no shortage of stunning wildlife in Indiana. Here are six species native to the state that you might encounter the next time you head outside.

Gallery Credit: Kat Mykals

Kimberly LaForest

Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle is a most majestic bird and one of the larger of the raptors. Some key characteristics of the Bald Eagle according to Indiana DNR include:

dark brown body and wings with white feathered heads and tails
bright yellow beaks and legs in adults
wingspan of 6.5 - 7 feet across
28-38 inches in total body length
weigh 8-14 pounds with males weighing more than females

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Beaver

The beaver is the largest of all the rodents and at one time were rare in the state of Indiana. They have since been repopulated. Some key characteristics of the Beaver according to Indiana DNR include:

weigh 30 - 70 pounds and are about 4 feet long
large incisors that continue to grow throughout their lifetime
large, webbed hind feet for swimming
large, flat tails used as a propeller in water and as a "kick-stand" of sorts when cutting down trees
most Indiana beavers build "modified bank burrows"

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Osprey

The osprey is found on every continent in the world except for one - Antarctica and in Indiana is considered to be a species of "specific concern." At one time, included on the state's endangered species list, thanks to restoration efforts, it has been updated to "specific concern," meaning it requires "monitoring because of known/suspected limited abundance or distribution or because of a recent change in legal status or required habitat." Some key characteristics of the Osprey according to Indiana DNR include:

blackish-brown feathers on the top of the bird with white feathers on the underside
black talons and bill
yellow or orange eyes with a large black strip extending from the eye, along the side of the head to the back
weigh 2.5 - 4.25 pounds with females weighing more
wingspan approximately 6 - 6.5 feet
only raptor to enter the water after it's prey

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Muskrat

Muskrats look very similar to beavers, minus the large, flat tail but are really more closely related to other members of the rodent family like mice and rates. Some key characteristics of the muskrat according to Indiana DNR include:

long, dark reddish-brown fur along back and sides with more silvery fur on it's underside
weigh on average about 3 pounds
a more rat-like, hairless tail with a scaly appearance
awkward on land
produce a strong musk during mating season - hence the name, muskrat
diet consists of both plant and animal materials making them omnivorous

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Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron can be seen near waterways across the Hoosier state where they often will nest in colonies known as a heronry. They are protected both by state and federal law and it is illegal to capture or kill one. Some key characteristics of the Great Blue Heron according to Indiana DNR include:

large birds weighing 4.5 - 8 pounds
total length, head to toe, can measure as much as 55 inches
wingspan can reach over 6 feet
blue-grey in feather color on the body
white heads with black striped from the eye extending to the back of the head, known as a "plume stripe"
long necks often seen in an "S" shape
produce a strong musk during mating season - hence the name, muskrat
diet consists of both plant and animal materials making them omnivorous

Other birds of interest to the Indiana Paddlecraft Wildlife Index include the Great Egret and the Kingfisher.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources via IN.gov/DNR

Blanding's Turtle

The Blanding's Turtle are easily identifiable by their smooth shell and bright yellow neck but are not all that common in Indiana. Some other key characteristics of the Blanding's Turtle according to Indiana DNR include: