Indiana Considers 2 Hunting, Trapping Proposals

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission, NRC, votes on two controversial proposals at a public meeting in Indianapolis Tuesday.

The Department of Natural Resources would allow bobcat hunting and require euthanasia of certain nuisance wildlife in Indiana – examples are possums and raccoons. Both are part of a biennial wildlife rule amendment package. And both were met with public opposition.

Erin Huang, Indiana State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, says over 200 people attended public hearings in March, and more than 2,000 comments were submitted to the Natural Resources Commission in opposition to at least some part of those rule changes.

“You don’t see a lot of people showing for department of natural resources rules. Usually they are sparsely attended.  I think it’s very telling that there was such a huge amount of people that showed up and commented on this rule and the NRC needs to take notice.”

And, the NRC did take notice. The hearing officer recommended the NRC ‘not’ adopt the rules involving bobcat hunting and euthanasia of nuisance wildlife.

The proposals are minimal and don't fully address the public's concerns, the department's chief administrative law judge Sandra Jensen said in a report.

"With respect to these administrative rule proposals, the hearing officer recommends additional enlightened discussion and thorough consideration by the commission," she wrote.

The DNR did not return requests for comment. Its public statements maintain the populations of bobcats and certain nuisance animals are getting too large.  Almost 150 comments favored some part of the proposals and their potential to manage wildlife populations and keep them healthy.

The NRC meeting takes place at 10 a.m., Fort Harrison State Park.