State wildlife officials are urging Indiana residents to destroy invasive zebra mussels that could be hiding in so-called moss balls sold for aquariums.

The Indiana Department of Environmental asked the public Thursday to stay away from Wolf Lake in Hammond until the investigation is concluded and the birds' cause of death is determined.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources began receiving reports in mid-February of dead or dying waterfowl around the northern portion of Wolf Lake in Hammond.

There is an increase in coyote sightings around Indiana, but the Indiana Department of Natural Resources says seeing a coyote is not cause for concern.

Back in the 1950s, ciscoes lived in more than 40 lakes in the state. Now they only live in seven in northeast Indiana.

National Public Lands Day, on Sept. 26, is the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort involving public lands.

Black bears are rarely seen in Indiana. In 2015, a black bear entered the state from Michigan, becoming the first black bear confirmed in Indiana since the 1870s, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is working with two other water quality agencies to collect data and samples for a new project called the White River Mainstem Project.

Online plant sellers could make it harder for Indiana to enforce its new invasive plants rule. Well-known companies allow Hoosiers to purchase plants from all over the world without knowing theyre invasive.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene on the day of the alleged assault and released the 68-page document to The Associated Press Thursday following a public records act request.