Wildlife of
Indiana

Indiana, known as the “Hoosier State,” is a midwestern state that is part of the Great Lakes Region. It borders Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, Illinois to the west, and Kentucky to the South. Its major rivers are the Ohio River, Whitewater River, and Wabash River, which is the longest river east of the Mississippi.

Indiana has a varied topography that includes dense forests, grassland prairies, riverbanks, lakeshores, and rocky hills. Most of the land in Indiana is dedicated to farming. The principal crops are corn, soybeans, wheat, and dairy products. Indiana also has major population centers and many manufacturing industries are based there. It still has wild places, however, and they are home to a healthy population of native wildlife.

Wild Animals in Indiana

Indiana’s forest areas, rivers, and location on the Great Lakes have given it a wide variety of wildlife. It is home to common forest animals such as black bears, coyotes, badgers, beavers, and cottontail rabbits. Its rodents include fox squirrels, gray squirrels, and groundhogs. Bison and white-tail deer roam the grasslands, and black bears have a small but stable population in the state.

Indiana’s chief predators are gray foxes, red foxes, bobcats, and coyotes.

It has 13 native bat species, including some of the rarest species like Rafineque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), red bat (Lasiurus borealis), silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) and Indiana myotis (Myotis sodalis).

The state has its own native species, including the Allegheny woodrat and the eastern mole. Its unique reptiles and amphibians include the alligator snapping turtle, Blanding’s turtle, and eastern hog-nosed snake.

In the forests and wetlands, it is common to spot herons, turtles, ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. You will also hear the western chorus frog and the spring peeper, two frog species known for their charming springtime calls. Among its small mammals are the muskrat, opossum, and raccoon.

Birds native to Indiana include the ruffed grouse, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, and numerous songbirds. It also has one of the country’s rarest kingfishers, the belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), which is the only kingfisher found in the state.

Indiana’s rivers and streams teem with northern pike, striped bass, muskie, gar, and walleye. It is home to the eastern hellbender, a salamander that is one of the rarest amphibians in the world. This salamander with a strange name is also the largest salamander species in North America.

Some species of ticks can also be found in Indiana.

The Official Animal of Indiana

It’s common for states to choose mammals as their official animals, but Indiana chose a bird. In 1933, Indiana adopted the cardinal as its state bird. Native to Indiana, the cardinal lives in the state year-round. This bright red songbird is also the state bird of Virginia and North Carolina.

Indiana designated the Say’s firefly, one of Indiana’s 43 species of Lampyridae, as the state insect in 2018. This was only after four years of lobbying by the students of Cumberland Elementary in West Lafayette that began when second grader Kayla Xu discovered Indiana was one of only a few states that did not have a state insect. The class decided the best insect to represent the state would be Say’s firefly, named by Indiana naturalist Thomas Say in 1824 and which was also nominated by Purdue University entomologist Tom Turpin for state insect in 1998.

They embarked on an extensive letter writing campaign that led to a bill being created but never put to a vote, however when the students wrote directly to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb in 2017, he encouraged them to send letters of support to his office so he could share them with the General Assembly. Assisted by letter writing from students around Indiana, the students’ efforts were successful when the bill cleared the General Assembly with near-unanimous support and Gov. Holcomb honored them by having the signing ceremony at their school on March 23, 2018.

Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Indiana

Although it has a lot of farmland and large industrial cities, Indiana has many national and state parks and protected areas where its native wildlife thrives.

• Indiana Dunes State Park is a protected stretch of beach along the coast of Lake Michigan. The beach features sand dunes that soar as high as 200 feet. It is an excellent place to see shorebirds and native flowers that include many native orchid varieties.
• Prophetstown State Park is a wetlands and forest preserve on the shoreline of the Rock River. You are likely to see a muskrat, otter or beaver here. White-tail deer, rabbits and ducks also frequent the park.
• Oubache State Park, located along the Wabash River, is a camping area where you can see many animals, including a resident herd of bison in a protected enclosure.
• Tippecanoe River State Park is ideal for nature lovers. Bordering seven scenic miles of the Tippecanoe River, this park allows you to see frogs, newts, squirrels, raccoons, beavers and an enormous variety of waterfowl. Some of the rarest birds have been spotted here, including the swamp sparrow.
• Chain of Lakes State Park is home to nine large lakes and 25 miles of forested trails. It is a wonderful place to fish for Indiana’s native fish species like catfish, white bass and northern pike. You will also see amphibians, reptiles, white-tail deer, bobcats and many small rodents.
• Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife Area lies between the Ohio and Wabash rivers in southwest Indiana. It is a 7,500-acre park with a lake, swampland and forested areas. It is a good place to see birds and fish. Muskrat dens and beaver dams dot the lakes, and many small mammals and rodents visit the streams to fish and get water.

Largest Animals in Indiana

Among the diverse range of animals found in Indiana there are some species that are a little, or a lot, larger than others.

The biggest in the state is the bison. It’s the largest land animal in North America, and a male can weigh up to 2,500 pounds and grow to 6 feet tall, while a female on average can weigh 1,000 pounds and reach 5 feet tall. Bison were hunted to extinction in the state in the 1830s, however a herd of 23 bison were reintroduced to Indiana by the Nature Conservancy in 2016. These bison can now be seen roaming wild at the Kankakee Sands Nature Preserve and their population is gradually increasing.

The longest snake in Indiana is the eastern rat snake, which frequently grows to lengths of up to 6 feet. The longest of this non-venomous species ever recorded was 7ft 6in long.

The largest bird in the state is the bald eagle. Females are typically about 25% larger than males, with the male’s wingspan on average 6 feet at most, while a female’s wingspan can hit 8 feet. Females are usually 5-10 pounds heavier than males.

One of the biggest species in Indiana is the blue catfish. It can weigh up to 150 pounds and reach close to 4 feet in length. The largest blue catfish ever recorded in Indiana weighed 104 pounds and was netted in the Ohio River. These fish are primarily only found in the state’s lakes, rivers, and large streams.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Indiana Today

Most of Indiana’s animals are not dangerous, however there are some that can harm humans in painful if not fatal ways.

Any state with a high population of deer is likely to report many accidents involving deer and drivers and in Indiana more than 14,000 deer-related crashes are reported per year. Despite the presence of black bears, bobcats, and coyotes, there have been no recorded attacks of these animals on humans.

Indiana has several snake species, but most of them are harmless to humans. The snakes that are venomous are the timber rattlesnake, copperhead, and cottonmouth — and these are the most dangerous animals in the state.

The timber rattlesnake has large, long fangs and when it bites a person its venom will instantly cause pain, swelling, excessive bleeding, and various neurological symptoms. The presence of hemotoxins in its venom prevents blood from coagulating and means a wound cannot properly close, so there is a chance that a person could bleed out and die if medical treatment is not given immediately. While copperheads’ venom contains hemotoxins, the effect is relatively localized and although a bite may be painful it is generally only mildly dangerous to most people.

Cottonmouths have very potent venom that can destroy human tissue and leave permanent scarring but is almost never fatal. Its venom is less powerful than the rattlesnake’s venom but typically more powerful than the copperhead’s venom. When biting to defend themselves, cottonmouths release less venom than if biting to injure and kill prey.

One spider to watch out for is the black widow spider. It has a potent neurotoxic venom that can cause muscle aches, chest pain, nausea, muscle tightness, cramping, difficulty breathing, and diaphragm paralysis. Another is the brown recluse. Approximately 10% of bites from brown recluses are dangerous and may even be fatal in some cases.

With two-thirds of the state dedicated to farmland, it’s possible that farm animals can pose a threat to people in Indiana. Farming accidents involving animals, particularly with larger animals like horses and pigs (which can grow 3-6 feet long and weigh up to 770 pounds), can occur. There are about 22 fatalities related to cow incidences each year according to the CDC. Dairy cows are easily startled and considering they can reach 5.5 feet tall and weigh 1,400-2,000 pounds there is a risk of being trampled, especially by the more aggressive bulls. Ducks and turkeys can carry infectious diseases such as psittacosis that can be transmitted to humans by inhaling dust from feathers, secretions and droppings.

Endangered Animals in Indiana

Indiana has more than 150 species on its Species of Greatest Conservation Need list.

The list includes the following animals:

• Barn owl (Tyto alba)
• Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister)
• Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)
• Eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)
• Plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)
• Swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus)
• Badger (Taxidea taxus).

As part of its Wildlife Action Plan, the state established the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund. Although it is managed by the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the fund does not get government money and relies on private donations.

According to the DNR, Indiana citizens have donated more than $13 million to help preserve the state’s endangered animals. The state also receives funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help preserve its most endangered species.

Indiana, like many other states, has taken steps to conserve its natural resources. According to a survey by the Nature Conservancy, 90% of Hoosiers of all political parties want the government to take more steps to preserve natural spaces, and 74% support the use of alternative energy sources.

The osprey is one species that can be considered an Indiana conversation success story. The bird of prey was previously classified as endangered but due to the increased number of nests built, with 126 reported to be active in 2020, the DNR has remove it from the endangered list.

Rare Animals of Indiana

In addition to endangered and rare species such as the country’s rarest kingfisher, the belted kingfisher, and the eastern hellbender, one of the rarest amphibians in the world, Indiana is home to some animals that are becoming increasingly rare to locate and see, mostly due to declining populations from habitat loss.

The Indiana bat was on the first list of endangered species created in the U.S. in 1967 and is one of Indiana’s longest listed endangered species. These bats named for the state are at threat from humans interrupting their hibernation during the winter, pesticides and habitat loss from clear cutting forests. This species also suffers from by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that infects hibernating bats and ultimately causes bats to starve and die. Since observed in 2006, the disease has killed millions of bats across the country.

Other species that are rare in Indiana include:

• Ottoe skipper: This small butterfly with a wingspan under 40 milimeters is very rare and there have been few sightings in recent times. It’s endangered, with urbanization causing habitat loss.
• Poweshiek skipperling: Once found in Southern Canada down through Indiana, this butterfly suffered a devastating decline in population due to habitat loss and since 2005 has become extremely rare.
• White warty-back pearly mussel: This endangered mollusk was once a common creature found where major rivers meet. It’s thought they still live somewhere in Indiana, but sightings are incredibly rare. The level of concern about this species is high as there are none in captivity.
• Rusty patched bumble bee: The population of these bees has decreased by nearly 90% in the past two decades due to their habitats becoming farming grounds and being exposed to pesticides.

The Official State Animals of Indiana

The official state animals of Indiana are iconic symbols that represent the state’s vibrant, natural beauty. As of 2023, the state animals included species like the northern cardinal, known for its bright red feathers and melodic song, and Say’s firefly, a favorite of dark summer nights.

The Flag of Indiana

Indiana’s flag was officially adopted by the Indiana General Assembly on May 31, 1917 as part of the celebration of the state’s 1916 centennial. The design, by artist Paul Hadley of Mooresville, was the winner of a contest sponsored by the Indiana Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. There was a $100 cash prize for the winner and the contest attracted 200 entries.

The design consists of a blue field with a torch surrounded by 19 stars: 13 in an outer circle, five in an inner semi-circle, and a large star above the torch. The 13 stars represent the original states of the U.S., the five symbolize the states admitted before Indiana, and the single star is the embodiment of Indiana. The torch is representative of liberty and enlightenment and the rays depict their influence.

The General Assembly made an addition to Hadley’s design by including the word “Indiana” written above the torch. It was originally technically the state banner but later became the state flag in 1955 when Indiana standardized the flag dimensions.

Indiana State Seal

The Indiana state seal has a long history that goes all the way back to the year 1787. The seal features a man chopping a tree while a buffalo jumps over a log and the sun rises over the mountains.

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