Minnesota Mixed Bag: Minnesota to host National Wildlife Federation’s 2025 annual meeting

Minneapolis — Minnesota has been selected to host the National Wildlife Federation’s annual meeting in June 2025. The annual meeting brings together representatives from the group’s 52 affiliate state and territorial organizations to discuss and celebrate natural resources conservation.

Brad Gausman, executive director of the Minnesota Conservation Federation, said he and his team are excited for the opportunity to host and highlight some of the local partnerships to which the Minnesota affiliate is tied.

“It’s a huge deal for us. As an organization, we’ve been working to build our capacity for the last few years, and this is just a big step in our work to make our conservation progress in Minnesota known,” Gausman said.

Since the Minnesota Conservation Federation discovered it would host a few weeks ago, location and meeting topics haven’t yet been determined.

MORE COVERAGE FROM MINNESOTA OUTDOOR NEWS:

Minnesota DNR plans to sell 80,000 school trust acres in the Boundary Waters to U.S. Forest Service

Substantial changes in place for Minnesota’s Camp Ripley hunt this fall

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency seeks comments on plan to curb pollution in state waters

ZEBES CONFIRMED IN POLK COUNTY’S UNION, TWO OTTER TAIL COUNTY LAKES

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Union Lake, near Erskine in Polk County; First Silver Lake, near the town of Battle Lake in Otter Tail County; and Heilberger Lake, near Erhard in Otter Tail County.

A lake property owner contacted the DNR after finding a zebra mussel attached to a native mussel in Union Lake. DNR staff found more than 15 zebra mussels near the public-water access, which is more than a mile from the location of the initial discovery.

A First Silver Lake user brought two zebra mussels to a DNR office and provided details on the location where they were found. A DNR invasive species specialist found two zebra mussels on the public-water access boat ramp, about three-quarters of a mile from the location of the initial report.

And a lake property owner contacted the DNR after finding three zebra mussels attached to a native mussel in Heilberger Lake. A DNR invasive species specialist found five zebra mussels on the public-water access boat ramp, about a quarter-mile from the location of the initial report.

People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body.

INVASIVE CATTAIL REMOVAL ONGOING AT VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK

International Falls, Minn. — Voyageurs National Park staff and contractors will resume work removing areas of invasive, hybrid cattails in wetlands within Voyageurs National Park from July through October. Activities include grinding up mats of floating cattails with a specialized cutting machine and removing the debris by using a harvesting barge.

Debris will be deposited on shore, where it will be spread and decay naturally. Some areas of treated wetlands will also be re-seeded with a native aquatic plant mix.

Park visitors are reminded to not attempt to use boats or watercraft in recently treated wetlands to avoid getting stuck or damage motors as these areas are naturally shallow, mucky, and will contain remnant cattail debris. Follow-up removals will be repeated this summer as necessary to remove any debris.

Hybrid cattails have invaded approximately 500 acres of wetlands at Voyageurs, outcompeting important native and diverse plant communities. This long-term project will improve habitat for wildlife, provide enhanced opportunities for fishing, and help restore wetlands to more diverse, natural states. More information on the project can be found at: https://go.nps.gov/voya/wetlands

GUN DEER LICENSES AVAILABLE JULY 24 IN NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck, N.D. — More than 1,900 deer licenses are available in four units for North Dakota’s 2024 deer gun season, and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning July 24 at 8 a.m. Residents and nonresidents who have not already received a lottery or landowner license are eligible to apply online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website.

Hunters who wish to purchase additional licenses may do so Aug. 14 at 8 a.m. At that time, any remaining licenses will be issued as a concurrent season license, which may be used during the archery season with a bow; deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader.

NDG&F: RECORD WALLEYE PRODUCTION WILL BOOST STATE FISHERIES

Bismarck, N.D. — Walleye fingerling stocking in North Dakota recently wrapped up, with the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery setting a record with just short of 12 million fingerlings produced.

Distribution trucks traveled more than 12,000 miles over a two-week period to stock the fish, according to Jerry Weigel, North Dakota Game and Fish Department fish production/development section supervisor.

When combined with fingerling production from Valley City National Fish Hatchery, 177 waters were stocked in the state.

“Traditionally, in large production years, significant numbers of walleye fingerlings would go to big systems like Lake Sakakawea, Lake Ashtabula, and Stump Lake,” Weigel said. “This year, no walleyes went to those waters, given very strong survival from last year’s stockings. Just over 10 million fish went to up-and-coming smaller systems to enhance those fisheries along with taking advantage of rising lake levels at many prairie lakes due to the very wet spring.”