This Issue

Grounds for Wildlife

Hunters know how to speak up on behalf of wildlife and hunting. Perhaps they took their lessons from Richard Dorer, who barnstormed the state a half-century ago, calling hunters to work for wetland conservation. In this issue, "For Wildlife Forever?" tells the story of how Minnesotans banded together to create a system of wildlife management areas. Today, more than 1 million acres of state WMAs protect habitat and provide public land for hunting.

The question mark in "For Wildlife Forever?" points to a predicament: how to build on the 50-year success of the WMA system as roads, shopping centers, and other developments overtake open spaces and as outdoor people--from ATV riders, to bicyclists, to snowmobilers --covet room to move.

The job of protecting habitat has become too big for hunters to do alone. Too big even for the most generous donors. Mike Spannaus, for example, recently gave the DNR 30 wooded acres, valued at $70,000, in Sibley County. "I always got a deer in there, just about every year," said Spannaus. Because his land is now a WMA, he plans to hunt there again this year. But Spannaus worries about the homes popping up on nearby river bluffs, and he would like to see his neighbors conserve land too. "I wish that more people would do it," he says, "and I don't know why they don't."

Figuring out how to save land and waters can be daunting. But Glen Shirley knew he had to try when he saw the For Sale sign go up on his neighbor's 192 acres of marsh, woodland, and fields along Chub Lake. He started by calling DNR plant ecologist Hannah Dunevitz for advice.

Because of the DNR's Minnesota County Biological Survey, Dunevitz knew that the oak forest and wetlands were rare in Dakota County, where only 2.6 percent of the land still supports natural vegetation. Shirley invited Dunevitz to speak at a township meeting. Telling citizens about the area's songbirds, wood ducks, wild turkeys, and rare Blanding's turtles helped spark their desire to protect the resources and preserve the rural character of this countryside just 30 miles from St. Paul.

Before long, the Chub Lake committee formed. They met for almost two years to consider options for use (such as a park, golf course, house lots) and for raising nearly $1 million to buy the land. Eventually, the DNR Metro Greenways program contributed half of the funds. Conservation and sports groups, government, business, and citizens pooled their money to come up with the rest. July 15, 2000, more than 100 people gathered to celebrate, thank the landowners, and tour the new WMA.

A year later, I walked around Chub Lake WMA with my brother, a local landowner. Whether or not he hunts on the WMA, he values it as public space and home to wildlife. "It's good for the people who live around here," he said, gazing across the marsh. "It's good for everyone in the state--even if you never see this place."

Each WMA adds to the total habitat open to wildlife. "Naturally, the amount of habitat pretty well determines the success of a species as measured by total numbers," said Roger Holmes, now retired DNR Fish and Wildlife director, in a 1972 Volunteer story on wildlife management.

Though Holmes was not speaking specifically of plant life, he could have. WMAs protect native plant communities too, and they shelter rare species alongside common ones. For example, in the moist, ankle-twisting old pastures on Godfrey WMA in northwestern Minnesota, the state endangered western prairie fringed-orchid grows beside the common bog birch favored by moose.

Certainly, WMAs cannot accommodate every recreational use. But they offer opportunities to hunters and non-hunters alike. Because they do, they deserve the support of all. The Chub Lake committee found ways for everyone to lend a hand: join the planning committee, donate money for land, spread the word to local groups, write to local officials.

In October the DNR will dedicate a new WMA in honor of the system's 50th year. This anniversary is a chance for each of us to ask what we can do to celebrate our WMAs and build on their success.

Kathleen Weflen, Editor
kathleen.weflen@state.mn.us