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Western Great Lakes

Two Key Forest Parcels Added to Minnesota’s Public Lands

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This summer, with support from the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and other conservation partners, RGS & AWS successfully acquired and transferred two 80-acre strategic forestland inholdings to public agencies that manage sustainable forest lands. The two parcels – one in northeast Aitkin County and another in southeast Lake County – were private inholdings within the Savanna State Forest and Lake County Forestry lands, respectively. The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) was established by the Minnesota Legislature to recommend annual funding allocations from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) to restore, protect and enhance Minnesota’s wetlands, prairies, forests and...

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RGS & AWS Welcomes Two New Team Members Supporting Conservation Across the Upper Midwest

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RGS & AWS is expanding its conservation and development capacity in the Upper Midwest with the addition of two new team members: Emma Belling as forest wildlife specialist in Wisconsin and Brett Edstrom as director of regional development for the Western Great Lakes. Emma Belling – Forest Wildlife Specialist, Wisconsin Belling will serve in a collaborative partnership role based in Rhinelander with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Her work within a DNR service center will support both public and private lands across northeastern Wisconsin. A Wisconsin native, Belling earned a degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and brings...

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In the Habitat Business

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by Troy Holcomb, Minnesota DNR Division of Forestry It’s a frosty 10-degree morning in early February—the perfect time to find a northern Minnesota logger in their natural habitat. “It’s a good time to be a logger,” said Gene Ruud of Timber Transport, and he has good reason. Consistent low temperatures and minimal snow cover made accessing timber harvest areas with heavy equipment easier than previous years. To loggers, cutting trees isn’t just a job– they carry out their mission with a zeal and passion akin to an experienced pointing dog in their prime. Each year across Minnesota, between two and three million...

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Luke Statz Joins RGS & AWS as Western Great Lakes Regional Engagement Coordinator

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The Western Great Lakes region of RGS & AWS is excited to announce Luke Statz as the new regional engagement coordinator. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a degree in natural science education and a minor in biology, Statz brings eight years of experience teaching middle and high school science. His passion for the outdoors and hands-on education shines through his work, including an annual drumming survey field trip on school forest property in collaboration with RGS & AWS biologists. Luke is eager to transition from the classroom to a new role educating others about the importance of...

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Wisconsin Habitat Restoration Project Update

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RGS & AWS Drummer Funds assisted in financing a habitat restoration project in Brule, Wisconsin. The project was performed in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and implemented on Brule River State Forest property. The project aims to rejuvenate old alder stands by shearing areas of alder to create three age classes. This practice will improve the woodcock, ruffed grouse, golden-winged warblers, deer, bear and snowshoe hare habitat. A wood turtle protected nesting area was also added to the project to assist in the reproduction of this species, which is listed as threatened in Wisconsin. Learn more about the Eastern...

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RGS & AWS Hires Ashley Strabel as Forest Wildlife Specialist

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RGS & AWS welcomes Ashley Strabel as a forest wildlife specialist working in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Strabel is based out of the Hayward, Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources office and will be serving public and private lands in northwest Wisconsin. Strabel earned a degree in forest ecosystem restoration and management with a wetland sciences certificate from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. During the past ten years, she’s a wide variety of work experience ranging from ecological restoration and invasive species management to erosion control and nutrient management education. Her recent employment includes performing forest...

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