DNR Adds Over 2,000 Acres Of Protected Wildlife Land
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Over 2,000 acres of land was added to Minnesota's 1.3 million-acre system of wildlife management areas (WMAs) this fall.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said the 2,067 acres of newly acquired land have been added to 20 existing WMas and helped create two new WMAs.
"These WMA lands provide important habitat for game and nongame wildlife species," Ed Boggess, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division director, said in a recent press release. "Enhancing our system of public land strengthens habitat, as well as our Minnesota outdoors tradition by making sure everyone has access regardless of a person's connections or how much property they own."
The DNR also said that as public land these acres can be managed more closely to help the varying wildlife respond to environmental conditions.
The new WMAs are located in Ground House in Mille Lacs County and Phelps Lake in Rice County.
Minnesota has roughly 1,500 WMAs located in 86 of the state's 87 counties.