REGIONAL— Have thoughts or questions about wildlife or wildlife management here in the North Country? Then you’ll want to take advantage of an open chat with area wildlife managers, set for Thursday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You can talk by phone or show up in person at DNR offices across the state, including the Tower area office. The DNR has offered these open conversations for the past several years and has found plenty of interest in the opportunity from members of the public.
“People have a lot to talk about when it comes to Minnesota wildlife and habitat, and we’re asking folks to please stop by or give us a call,” said David Trauba, DNR wildlife section manager. “Hearing people’s experiences with wildlife and what’s important to them helps us connect what we do with how people experience the outdoors, and that’s immensely valuable.”
Conversation topics can include anything related to wildlife. Hunters might have questions about public land and how to access it, hunting regulation changes, or how wildlife is faring in their area. Bird watchers might want to hear about wetland and prairie restoration projects taking place nearby. Others might benefit from discussing techniques to manage damage to agricultural crops caused by wildlife.
While the Aug. 20 office hours provide dedicated time for conversations about wildlife, DNR staff are always happy to talk with members of the public throughout the year.
These wildlife conversations began in 2018 with the release of the statewide deer management plan (mndnr.gov/deerplan) and have continued and broadened to encourage discussions about all wildlife and habitat topics.
When it comes to deer, potential topics include general discussions about deer, upcoming hunting season changes, chronic wasting disease management, topics for the DNR deer advisory committee’s consideration, and other thoughts and feedback regarding deer management.
The DNR’s Tower area office is located at 650 Hwy. 169, in Tower and wildlife staff can be reached by phone at 218-300-7860.