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Dawn Bale is an IPFW student majoring in biology and geology. She is also the owner of a dog named Eddie, a purebred bloodhound who is a trained tracking dog.
Bale has combined a research project with her love of dogs and, in the process, has captured the interest of state officials. Bale and Eddie hunt for the emerald ash borer (EAB), a small, bright green insect that is infesting and destroying ash trees in parts of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and other states.
The infestation has become such a problem that Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels declared May 22-28 as "Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week." As part of the week's activities, Bale and Eddie showed off Eddie's tracking abilities at the Nature Center at Pokagon State Park near Angola on May 23. Kyle Hupfer, director of Indiana's Department of Natural Resources, talked about the insect and why it's important not to transport it from place to place.
On Saturday, May 28, the public is invited to attend a similar presentation at Pokagon's Nature Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bale and Eddie will again show how he has been taught to search for EAB. There will also be games, an information booth and other activities.
For more information, call 765-494-6682.
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