Minnesota Wildlife

Please share your thoughts about deer populations

Beginning Monday, Jan. 23, we?re asking for public input on deer population goals in 23 deer permit areas in eastern and south-central Minnesota.

Opportunities for input will include an online questionnaire, a webinar and two in-person public meetings. We?re excited to hear your thoughts about deer population trends where you live, work and recreate.

The targeted DPAs this year are:

• DPAs 152, 155, 156, 157, 159, 172, 183, 221, 222, 225, 248, 249, 604 in the East Central Uplands goal block; and
• DPAs 219, 223, 224, 227, 229, 235, 236, 285, 338, 605 in the Sand Plain/Big Woods goal block.

The DNR establishes deer population goals ? how much of a population increase or decrease is desired in a particular DPA ? as part of managing the state?s wild deer.

Population goals established in this process will provide direction for deer management in DPAs for a 10-year period, with a midpoint review at the five-year mark. Goal blocks and the DPAs that comprise them are established based on similar habitat, land uses, deer populations and deer hunter distribution.

Find all the details, including about a webinar coming up on Monday, Jan. 23, on the DNR?s deer goal setting page.

Photo?courtesy of Alex Lamoreaux, iNaturalist

Reminder about deer feeding and attractant bans

Here?s a reminder that deer feeding and attractant bans are in place across the state to prevent concentrations of wild deer in areas with a higher risk for disease. These bans are precautionary steps the DNR took after deer that tested positive for?chronic wasting disease?were found both in the wild and on deer farms.

Feeding bans encompass wider areas because food sources can concentrate deer and allow for close contact ? one of the mechanisms for CWD spread. Find more information on the deer feeding and attractant ban page.

DNR to fly elk surveys in northwestern Minnesota

The DNR will soon be conducting aerial elk surveys. DNR staff will survey the Kittson County and Grygla elk herds in northwestern Minnesota and the border elk herd in both Minnesota and Manitoba.

The surveys are typically conducted each year during the winter, weather permitting, and are expected to be completed in two weeks.

Aerial survey information is used to monitor elk populations and help the DNR make decisions about future elk management and harvest regulations.

DNR pilots will fly surveys during daylight hours at an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 feet.

The DNR is also asking for help from those who have recently seen elk in their area. People are encouraged to contact their local DNR office with sighting information:

• Karlstad area wildlife office, 218-436-2427
• Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area, 218-633-7671
• Thief River Falls area wildlife office, 218-219-8587

You can also document observations online using the?DNR elk sightings tool.

Bear cubs being born

January is a time of renewal and new life for Minnesota?s black bear population!

Mother bears will give birth to their cubs in mid-January to early February. Cubs are born with their eyes closed and weigh about a pound. They grow quickly, weighing about 4 to 6 pounds by early March. The average litter size is 2.7 in Minnesota, which means that litters of three are more common than litters of two. The largest litter ever documented here is five, although Pennsylvania holds the record for the largest litter in North America, six cubs! Litter sizes of first-time mothers are typically smaller than those of experienced mothers.

Bears wait longer than any other large mammal in Minnesota to reproduce. We know that food availability in our state?s forests is the driving factor for when bears first produce cubs. In the food-rich central and northwestern forests of the state, bears often reproduce at 4 years old. The food-poor northernmost forests along the Canadian border do not have oaks (which produce nutritious acorns), causing bears to not typically reproduce until 6 years of age or older. Bears reproduce at 5 years old in the rest of bear range. Learn more about black bears on the DNR website.

Enjoy watching wildlife???

Looking for a new outdoor activity? Try wildlife watching!

It?s a great way to fight the winter blues. Take your family on a wildlife watching trip to your favorite Minnesota state park, forest or natural area. Go out at dawn and dusk for the best viewing opportunities. Check out more of our helpful tips.

Photo: a Canada Jay at Sand Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area

Plan for fall hunting?

Know someone who needs to take firearms safety or get practicing for archery season for when fall rolls around again? Check out our recorded skills webinars on those topics. Click firearms safety and archery at our Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship page to access the webinars.

Photo courtesy of?Bee Xiong