Wilder Wetlands in Indiana

part of the 8,000-acre Wilder wetland in southwest Indiana

With help from NRCS, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has completed the largest single purchase of land for wetland habitat conservation in Indiana’s history with the acquisition of the 8,000-acre Wilder property in southwest Indiana. The purchase was celebrated recently at a ceremony attended by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. The property has been sought after since 1951 as a prime site for wetlands restoration. In 2000, NRCS successfully purchased a 7,200-acre permanent easement on the site through the Wetlands Reserve Program. Once restored, this culturally, biologically, and historically significant site will increase the amount of wetlands in Indiana by about one percent.

Since the easement, Indiana NRCS has been on-site at the Wilder property purchase solving county and State highway infrastructure and underground fiber optic cable, pipeline, and utility transmission crossing restoration issues. 

Once restored, this 8,000-acre property will be managed for purposes ranging from wildlife viewing to hunting. This expansive wetland complex will also become an important stopover site for migratory birds and will be managed for both game and non-game species. The area supports one of the largest and most diverse nesting waterfowl communities in Indiana.

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Declining North American shorebird species will benefit significantly from the restoration as the site has been a stopover for generations of migrating birds like ducks, geese, egrets, and sandhill cranes. Resident species including herons, rails, and amphibians like the southern leopard frog will also benefit.  The wet prairie restoration is already reaping benefits with the State endangered crawfish frog increasing in numbers.
Your contact is Michael McGovern, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 317-290-3200, ext. 324.