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Minnesota landowners can plant conifers to help wintering wildlife

This week, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urged landowners in Minnesota to plant native conifers like fir, pine and spruce to aid wildlife and recovery, offering seedlings through the Minnesota State Forest Nursery as a long-term investment in land and wildlife.
Last summer's derecho on June 20-21 toppled 11,600 acres near Bemidji, Minnesota, and Minnesota foresters expect recovery work to continue for years.
Wildlife experts note that conifer species like spruce and balsam fir offer thermal cover, helping white-tailed deer, turkey, grouse, and songbirds survive winter, Lori Barrow said.
Fallen blowdown trees now pose a `huge fire risk if not cleaned up`, but inaccessible areas and weak salvage timber markets limit cleanup efforts, foresters say they’re `keeping our fingers crossed` about the fire season.
Managing conifers helps connect winter cover across landscapes, and private woodland owners can use DNR Woodland Landowner Handbooks or work with professional foresters to support long-term regeneration.

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Minnesota landowners can plant conifers to help wintering wildlife

Minnesota foresters are still dealing with the big blowdown that occurred in Bemidji last summer, hoping this year's fire season will not cause more problems to the area. The big blowdown – officially called a derecho – occurred during the summer solstice on June 20-21 and impacted what at the time was believed to be as much as 11,600 acres. Lori Barrow, DNR private lands forester in Bemidji, told the Grand Forks Herald this week that estimate h…

15 hours ago·Fargo, United States

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