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OutdoorMN News - Consider Nongame Wildlife Program in the ‘season of giving’


Rick

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

by Christine Herwig, DNR northwest region nongame specialist

The birds have mostly flown south, the butterflies are cocooned until spring, and the turtles have settled in for a long winter’s nap. But for the biologists who work with these species, December is a busy time of analyzing research data, writing reports and getting ready for next year’s field season.  

It’s also the time of year when staff with Minnesota’s Nongame Wildlife Program reflect on what makes their work to protect and manage the state’s birds, butterflies and turtles possible: donations from generous and engaged Minnesotans.

Unique within the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the program is mostly funded through donations from individuals and groups. By making a donation online to the Nongame Wildlife Program as part of their end of year giving, Minnesotans can support more than 800 types of wildlife, including threatened and endangered species.

People give to this program because of its role in highly visible conservation success stories, such as the recovery of loons, bald eagles, trumpeter swans and ospreys. They also understand the value of the program’s work on behalf of less charismatic species that play important roles in Minnesota’s ecosystems and natural heritage, such as the timber rattlesnake, northern goshawk, Blanding’s turtle, eastern hognose snake, common terns, native mussel species and many others.

The program is doing good work, but there are many more species that need a helping hand from committed individuals and organizations. Every dollar donated to the nongame fund is matched by revenue from Reinvest in Minnesota critical habitat license plates. Donations also are used as match to federal grants and other outside funding sources, leveraging additional money to support nongame species conservation, research and habitat protection projects, such as:

  • The “Get the Lead Out” campaign, promoting a voluntary change from lead tackle and ammunition to prevent lead poisoning in birds, mammals and fish.
  • Research on the effects of the BP oil spill on loons, pelicans and other water birds.
  • Surveys to determine nesting habitat needs of northern long-eared bats, a species threatened by white-nose syndrome.
  • Partnerships with local and state groups for on-the-ground wildlife conservation efforts and to promote viewing opportunities.
  • The popular Eagle Cam and Falcon Cam websites.

All these projects – and the wildlife they benefit — owe a debt of gratitude to the many individuals and organizations who have generously contributed their time, skills and money.

As the year and the “season of giving” come to a close, Minnesotans may want to consider what they can do to add to this list of conservation success stories. Those interested in making a donation can do so on the nongame donation page. Also consider the Nongame Wildlife Program in part of an estate plan. For more information, visit the nongame page.

Discuss below - to view set the hook here.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
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