Justin Runberg, Author at Outdoor News

Isle Royale closes two campsites amid wolf activity

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Isle Royale National Park officials closed two of its northern camping areas for the remainder of July as staff try to discourage wolves from entering campsites to steal food.
Liz Valencia, acting administrative officer and park public information officer, said park officials have seen increasing problems involving a couple of wolves in the park. That said, the behavior is not new. “It’s something that started a couple years ago at Isle Royale.”

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Rejected loon chick finds welcoming new family in Minnesota

Featured, Home Page News, Minnesota, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News / Justin Runberg

A baby loon has found a new family after attempts to reunite it with its parents failed because an aggressive sibling repeatedly drove it away.
The Minnesota Loon Rescue Team, based in Brainerd, received a call June 27 about a loon chick that had been beaching itself on Little Carnelian Lake, north of Stillwater. The team rescues loon chicks when they need help. Gail Buhl, a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator with the Minnesota Loon Rescue Team, said the chick had been following kayaks, canoes, and beached itself before the team arrived.

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Dredging project to boost habitat begins Lake Onalaska restoration on Minnesota/Wisconsin border

Featured, Featured, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Minnesota, National Fishing, National Hunting, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News, News, Wisconsin / Justin Runberg

Restoration efforts are underway on Mississippi River’s Lake Onalaska with the first of eight dredging projects aimed at restoring fish habitat, improving water quality and benefiting other wildlife.
After more than two years of planning and fundraising, the North Shore Lane dredging project began June 16.

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Big bluegills booming in Big Stone Lake as Minnesota state record is set a second time this year

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing, National News, News / Justin Runberg

For the second time this open-water season, Big Stone Lake has produced Minnesota’s new state-record bluegill. It’s one of three weighing more than 2 pounds caught there in recent weeks.
Kyle Anderson, DNR fisheries specialist in Ortonville, said the original record was caught at the end of May by Chris Mulcahey of Waterville. His bluegill weighed 2 pounds and measured 11.75 inches. Then on July 7, Dale Hoffman of Ramsey caught the new state record.

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Kelly Straka steps down as Minnesota DNR’s director of Fish and Wildlife Division

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Fishing, National Hunting, National News, News / Justin Runberg

The Minnesota DNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will have a new director Aug. 8 after Kelly Straka steps down to pursue a new opportunity in veterinary medicine closer to her home in Hermantown.
DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen has appointed Jason Moeckel to take over the role. Strommen said Straka’s last day will be Aug. 7 and that she will participate in one final Game Fair at the Armstrong Ranch as part of a sendoff.

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Three-year study aims to protect cold-water fish habitat in Minnesota

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News / Justin Runberg

Researchers are studying Minnesota’s cold-water fish habitat to better understand how climate change and land use affect lakes and streams, with the goal of helping wildlife managers better protect those ecosystems.
The Protecting Cold Water Fish Habitat project is funded by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources and is being led by University of Minnesota graduate student Michael McGuigan. The study has three primary objectives.

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Harvest on Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs at 40% of state’s ’26 walleye quota

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing, National News, News / Justin Runberg

As Minnesota enters mid-July, the walleye harvest on Lake Mille Lacs has reached about 40% of this year’s quota, an increase from the same period last year.
Brian Nerbonne, regional fisheries manager with the DNR, said a creel survey is conducted on Lake Mille Lacs every two weeks during the summer. The latest data collection period was June 1-15.

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