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Statewide: March 28, 2012 Archive

Wildlife expert to manage hunter, landowner issues

Posted at 12:31 PM on March 28, 2012 by Elizabeth Baier
Filed under: Environment, Southeast Minnesota

20100510_deer_eating_51.jpg
Photo by Rob Nopola

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has hired someone to to better work with deer hunters and landowners in southeastern Minnesota.

Since February, Clint Luedtke has met with farmers, recreational land owners and others to reduce deer-related crop damage and increase effective deer management strategies.

DNR officials describe southeast Minnesota as a "puzzle" when it comes to deer issues, since the region has many private farms, public forests, absentee landowners, crop depredation, and a growing interest in big buck hunting.

Some regional farmers say they lose thousands of dollars a year in crop damage because of deer.

DNR officials say hunting is the only tool for the agency to manage deer in some of these areas. But not all private landowners/farmers welcome hunters on their properties and DNR officials say many hunters sometimes focus only on catching big bucks.

Luedtke, a former wildlife biologist from Arizona, says many of the problems happen between farmers trying to raise crops near others trying to hunt larger bucks.

"We've got these pockets of deer that are persistently causing damage to crops," Luedtke said. "It has become such a big issue, so we're kind of under the hot seat to get something done."

Luedtke's region includes Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties.

What's wrong with the Minnesota River?; Capitol tone in three Tweets

Posted at 7:50 AM on March 28, 2012 by Michael Olson
Filed under: Around MN

St. Peter Security Hospital director removed
Mankato Free Press: "The short-lived and controversial tenure of Minnesota Security Hospital CEO David Proffitt is over."

Waterborne disease outbreak is traced to Duluth water park
Duluth News Tribune: "An outbreak of a waterborne diarrheal disease has been linked with Duluth's Edgewater Resort and Water Park, a state health official said on Tuesday."

What's wrong with the Minnesota River?
Redwood Falls Gazette: "For years experts have addressed the water quality issues of the Minnesota River by stating it is not where it needs to be. While one would consider much of that expertise anecdotal, the reality of the river's water quality is closer to becoming officially determined."

Great Lakes residents clash over water levels
AP: "U.S. and Canadian officials are considering an audacious and costly effort to control the freshwater seas' ups and downs in a way they never have before. A panel of scientists and engineers will release Wednesday a five-year study of options ranging from minor tinkering to a massive, $8 billion engineering project that would invite comparisons to the Panama Canal or the Hoover Dam."

Editorial: Raise fees to bolster hunting, fishing
Star Tribune: "Minnesotans have repeatedly renewed their commitment to the state's valuable natural resources over the years. With approval of the proposed increases in license fees, their elected representatives in St. Paul can help ensure that the state's hunting and fishing habitats will not be ignored this time."

Minnesota bill would make users' private social network sites off-limits to employers
Grand Forks Herald: "Conservative and liberal Minnesota legislators are combining efforts to stop a business practice they say invades job applicants' privacy. The bill includes all social networking sites where users can make a profile and control who sees it."

Billionaire Taylor's net worth stays steady, Forbes reports
Mankato Free Press: "Mankato businessman Glen Taylor's net worth has stayed steady at $1.8 billion, ranking him as the 719th wealthiest person in the world and 256th richest in the United States."

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