What's the state of Minnesota's vast wildlife community?
Minnesotans have an opportunity to get answers from state specialists next week. On Aug. 17, the Department of Natural Resources says it wants the public's questions — any questions — about wildlife and habitat in Minnesota. Managers at 35 offices across the state will field calls, emails and visits from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Perhaps the stakes have never been higher for Minnesota's wildlife, owing to habitat loss and mounting signs of climate's impact.
Have a say
The "Talk About Wildlife" session is an evolution of the deer open houses organized by the DNR. The DNR's Cory Netland would like to see more Minnesotans weigh in.
Netland, area wildlife supervisor in New London, Minn., said the public's involvement has been at times disappointing. The aim — and hope — with the current session is to diversify the topics.
Netland noted that while he'd like input on the management of a high deer population in permit area 277, for example, the preservation of grassland habitat in his region also is top of mind. He said the public's insights can help inform his work and that of his colleagues across the state.
"A lot of changes are happening out there, and we'd like to hear about that and their concerns," he added.
Topics are vast
In that context, perhaps Star Tribune's recent coverage can inspire questions:
*Habitat at wildlife management areas: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) this week said the DNR had violated terms of habitat grants it receives by allowing timber sales on some wildlife management areas without properly documenting possible logging's impact on wildlife. DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen said she has "zero concerns" that the agency can come up with the necessary documentation. Meanwhile, the FWS is holding up $22 million in grant money.
