2016-02-03 P & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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1/25/2016 Print DNR NEWS — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 25 2016 DNR announces 3 appointments to committee on natural heritage Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr has appointed two new members and one returning member to the Commissioner's Advisory Committee on Natural Heritage. The committee advises the department on programs related to the state's native prairies, forests, and wetlands and their native plants and animals. The new members are Peg Furshong of Sacred Heart and Nancy Braker of Northfield. The returning appointee is John Schladweiler of New Ulm. These appointees will be responsible for advising the department on issues related to sustaining the state's natural heritage and biological diversity. Since 1966, the committee has been making recommendations and providing advice to the state scientific and natural areas program. In addition, the committee now advises other programs within the department's Ecological and Water Resources Division, including Nongame Wildlife, Minnesota biological survey, prairie protection, rare resources, wetland monitoring, and terrestrial invasive species. Appointees have broad knowledge and experience related to natural area systems and represent the diverse ecological and demographic interests of Minnesotans. Landwehr appointed the new committee members in January for terms of five years. The appointees join current committee members David Chaffin of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; David Fulton of Saint Paul; George Host of Duluth; John Moriarty of Plymouth; Gerald Niemi of Duluth; Laurie Altmann of Marine on Saint Croix; Matthew Anderson of Saint Paul; Kevin Brennan of Fergus Falls; Gary Burdorf of Arlington; Linda Kingery of Crookston; John Pearson of Saint Paul and David Remucal of Chaska. For more information, go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/cac.html. -30- DNR question of the week Q: Do hibernating bears ever leave their den during winter if the weather gets unusually warm? A: Hibernating bears are prompted to come out of their den both by warming temperatures and by increasing day length (normally late March to early April). Thus, a January thaw typically will not fool a bear into coming out early. However, some bears may find themselves in a wet den when temperatures get warm, with snow melting around their den, and this could force them out. Bears also may be more prone to disturbance from humans during warm spells when they are not hibernating as soundly, and this could cause them to vacate their den. After abandoning their den, they will typically find another suitable site that they already know about. However, any new den would not have the bedding material that bears rake in during the fall when they are preparing for hibernation. Dave Garshelis, DNR bear research biologist about:blank 213