Private landowners are invited to attend a native grassland and pollinator habitat workshop at Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area on June 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

The workshop will be led by a biologist involved with Indiana DNR’s Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds (GGS) program. Landowners will learn about the GGS initiative, how to create native grassland and pollinator habitat on their land, and about the financial assistance available to them for habitat development. For more details on the workshop, see https://bit.ly/2R86ay9.

Residents of Pike and surrounding counties interested in pollinators, wildlife viewing, hunting, or conservation-minded land management are encouraged to attend. More workshops will be held throughout southwestern Indiana.

Advance registration is required. Register at swcdhabitattour.eventbrite.com or by calling Pike County Soil and Water District at 812-354-6120 ext. 3.

For more information on the GGS initiative, see on.IN.gov/Grasslands, or contact Adam Delucenay at adelucenay@dnr.IN.gov in northern Indiana, Emily Jacob at ejacob@dnr.IN.gov in southwest Indiana, or Nate Yazel at nyazel@dnr.IN.gov in southeastern Indiana.

In Indiana several grassland wildlife species, like bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasant, Henslow’s sparrow, and loggerhead shrike, are in decline. Developing grassland and pollinator habitat on private land is essential for their survival. Learn more about the importance of Indiana’s grasslands at youtube.com/watch?v=Sk2ven6z1rc.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

Media contact: Josh Griffin, private lands program manager with DNR Fish & Wildlife, 317-234-9737 or jgriffin@dnr.IN.gov.