“I have an idea.”
For decades beginning in the late 1970’s, those four words became a launching point for dozens of initiatives that have changed the face of Minnesota, thanks to the remarkable work of Carrol Henderson and his cast and crew at the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program.
At a time when so many think of government as lumbering and expensive, this remarkable program, begun in 1977 on an annual budget of $30,000, has proven that government can get incredible things done on a shoestring.
And what a difference it has made, building awareness and concern about the plight of many nongame species, providing average citizens with the tools to help wildlife in their own backyard, and undertaking projects that have brought species like peregrine falcons and trumpeter swans back to Minnesota.
It’s been an amazing ride over the past 48 years as Minnesota has become an acknowledged national leader in promoting nongame wildlife. And it’s all recounted in Henderson’s newest book: “A National Legacy: Fifty Years of Nongame Wildlife Conservation in Minnesota,” published by the University of Minnesota Press.
Bringing passion, creativity, and ingenuity to his task, Henderson looked beyond simple species-focused conservation and created a model that involved the public. With an emphasis on habitat, high-profile species, and hands-on experiences, along with a holistic approach, his model brought wildlife advocacy into daily life as Minnesotans learned the benefits of pollinator gardening and bird feeding.
The book is a must have for anyone interested in wildlife. It’s chock full of inspiring stories in which Henderson often manages to find some humor. That’s especially true in his recounting of the time he had to