Indiana Ecological Services Field Office

There are several ways you can help to restore and protect wildlife and native plants in Indiana.

You can provide resources for wildlife, including pollinators and bats, by creating habitat with plants native to your area. You can welcome bats to your property by installing a bat house and turning off any unnecessary lights.

Other ways to protect wildlife and natural areas:

• Be a responsible pet owner
• Keep dogs on leashes
• Keep cats indoors
• Give unwanted pets to a friend or neighbor – avoid releasing pets into the wild
• Landscape to save insects and natural areas while improving watershed health
• Plant native, non-invasive plants in your garden
• Avoid insecticides and other garden chemicals
• Create rain gardens to manage runoff
• Prevent the spread of invasive species invasive species
  An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
  
  Learn more about invasive species
• Clean boats of all aquatic organisms including plants and drain all water before transporting
• Clean boots and shoes before entering a new natural area
• Participate in volunteer opportunities at local parks to remove invasive species
• Consider tracking your plant and wildlife sightings with a community science reporting app such as iNaturalist or eBird