5/1/2017
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DNR news releases, May 1, 2017
MN Department of Natural Resources <[email protected]>
Mon 5/1/2017 11:11 AM
To: Adam Uren <[email protected]>;
header
Minnesota DNR News For Immediate Release: May 1, 2017
Contact: Julie Forster Information Officer
651­
259­5356
In This Issue
Cases rise of disease carried by raccoons that can infect dogs
Catch a lake sturgeon sporting a tag? Report it
Removing lake plants could require a permit
Trees—good for your health
DNR question of the week
Contact: Dr. Michelle Carstensen, wildlife health supervisor, DNR, 651­539­
3309.
Cases rise of disease carried by raccoons
that can infect dogs
Reports are on the rise of a disease in raccoons that can infect domestic dogs.
Taking precautions can minimize chances of the disease spreading to pets.
The disease, called canine distemper, can be spread through the air or by
direct contact with urine, feces, blood or saliva.
Cases have been confirmed in Olmsted and Yellow Medicine counties and sick
raccoons also have been reported in Dodge, Winona and Kandiyohi counties,
according to the Minnesota departments of natural resources (DNR) and
health (MDH).
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“Canine distemper virus does not affect humans,” said Dr. Joni Scheftel, state
public health veterinarian at MDH. “However, distemper in animals can look
like rabies, so it is important to stay away from sick wildlife.”
Pet owners should ensure dogs are current on vaccines. Pets should be kept
away from sick or dead wildlife. Anyone unsure if their dogs are current on
canine distemper vaccine should talk with their veterinarian about the
vaccination status of their pets.
People should stay away from sick raccoons and dead wildlife should be left
alone. If disposal is necessary, the animal can be buried where it is found or
picked up with a plastic garbage bag using gloves and placed in the garbage.
Some municipalities may have an animal control officer who can assist. The
DNR and the MDH do not provide animal removal services.
“The canine distemper virus is found throughout the state and a few cases are
reported every year, but there seems to be a rise in reports this year,” said Dr.
Michelle Carstensen, wildlife health supervisor for DNR.
Other states – including Tennessee, Virginia and Texas – also have reported
increased cases of canine distemper virus in raccoons and foxes this year.
Canine distemper virus affects the central nervous system of mammals such
as raccoons, foxes, wolves and skunks. Infected animals behave abnormally,
losing their fear of humans, stumbling, shaking and can appear to be overly
friendly. Other symptoms include sneezing, coughing and discharge from the
eyes and nose.
Visit bit.ly/CanineDistemper for more information about the disease. ###
NOTE: Raccoon image available at ftp://mediaroom.dnr.state.mn.us in folder
named “news release resources,” then in folder named “05­01­17 raccoon.” sturgeon research tag
DNR sturgeon research tag
Contact: Phil Talmage, Baudette area fisheries supervisor, 218­634­2522, ext.
230.
Catch a lake sturgeon sporting a tag? Report
it
Six feet – that’s the length of the longest lake sturgeon tagged by the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and there’s a chance a Rainy
River angler could catch that 6­foot fish or others out of the 8,959 sturgeon
tagged to date as part of a long­term study.
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“Spring sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River has been excellent this year,” said
Phil Talmage, DNR Baudette area fisheries supervisor. “As if catching a lunker
sturgeon isn’t enough, catching a tagged fish and reporting it gives anglers and
the DNR an added bonus. Cooperation from anglers is an essential part of this
long­term tagging and recapture study.”
Anglers who report the tag number on a sturgeon receive an email back from
the Baudette office thanking them, along with maps and information collected
on their tagged fish and its history since tagged. The information tells a story of
the sturgeon’s travels from when it was captured until it was caught and
reported.
Of the 8,959 lake sturgeon tagged so far, 5,484 were longer than 45 inches at
the time they were tagged. The longest sturgeon tagged was 72 inches – 6
feet – but weight was not recorded for this fish when it was captured on the
Rapid River, near Clementson, in 2014.
The heaviest sturgeon tagged and weighed was 89.1 pounds, but only 63.5
inches long. This fish came from the Littlefork River in 2000. The largest
sturgeon sampled was caught off of Pine Island in September of 2007. This
fish was 73 inches long and estimated to weigh 120 pounds. Unfortunately, the
DNR was not set up to tag this fish, so it was released without a tag.
“Our tagging program is part of an effort to monitor sturgeon as the population
recovers,” Talmage said. “Besides understanding sturgeon movement and
reproduction cycles, the tagging effort also allows us to make population
estimates.”
Population estimates of the number of sturgeon longer than 40 inches in the
Lake of the Woods­Rainy River system were made in 1990, 2004 and again in
2014. The sturgeon population grew from about 16,000 in 1990, to about
60,000 in 2004 and about 92,000 in 2014.
The Lake of the Woods­Rainy River system is one of the few areas in the
country that has a sturgeon population that is healthy enough to support a
fishery.
“In Minnesota we are fortunate that sturgeon are beginning to recover in most
watersheds throughout the state,” Talmage said. “This has been accomplished
though improving water and habitat quality, stocking to reintroduce the species
and improving fish passage through dam removal and modifications.”
Intense commercial exploitation during the late 1800s and early 1900s
decimated the once abundant sturgeon population in Lake of the Woods and
Rainy River. After the decline of the commercial fishery, the sturgeon
population was unable to rebound due to water pollution and degraded habitat
in the Rainy River, the primary spawning area and nursery habitat for young
sturgeon. But because sturgeon are extremely long­lived, enough individuals
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managed to survive and reproduction was sufficient to maintain a small
population.
With the passage of clean water legislation in the late 1960s and early 1970s,
especially the Clean Water Act in 1972, the sturgeon population started to
recover as water quality and habitat conditions improved. Now reproduction is
successful in most years.
In Minnesota, lake sturgeon are listed as a Species of Special Concern. What
happened to sturgeon in the Lake of the Woods­Rainy River system also
happened to many populations throughout the continent. In addition to water­
quality and habitat degradation, the constructions of dams impacted
populations throughout the world.
In the Minnesota waters of Lake of the Woods and Rainy River, anglers can
catch­and­release sturgeon Oct. 1 through May 15 and July 1 through Sept.
30. Anglers who purchase a $5 sturgeon harvest tag can harvest one fish 45­
50 inches inclusive, or over 75 inches in length, per calendar year: April 24
through May 7 or July 1 through Sept. 30. The sturgeon season is closed May
16 through June 30.
To report a tagged fish visit mndnr.gov/taggedfish or to report it directly to the
Baudette office, find contact information and other management information at
mndnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/baudette.
For statewide sturgeon fishing regulations, visit
mndnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing.
###
Note: Photos available at ftp://mediaroom.dnr.state.mn.us in folder named
“news release resources,” then in folder named “05­01­17 sturgeon.”
Contact: Steve Enger, aquatic plant management program, 651­259­5092.
Removing lake plants could require a permit
Lakeshore property owners are reminded that a permit may be required to
remove aquatic plants.
“We remind folks each year that aquatic plants are essential to healthy lake
ecosystems and property owners who want to remove them should check the
regulations to see if they need a permit,” said Steve Enger, supervisor of the
aquatic plant management program for the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources.
Aquatic plants provide food and shelter for fish, ducks and other wildlife. They
stabilize the lake bottom, which helps maintain water clarity. These plants also
protect shorelines from erosion by absorbing energy from waves and ice.
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Property owners who want to remove aquatic plants with devices that create
strong water currents need to know that such devices are illegal to use in a
way that uproots plants, moves sediment or excavates the lake bottom.
Specific regulations govern what situations require permits for aquatic plant
removal. Aquatic plant regulations and a guide to aquatic plants can be found
at mndnr.gov/shorelandplants, or by calling 651­296­6157 or 888­646­6367. To
apply for a permit, visit the DNR’s permitting and reporting system at
mndnr.gov/mpars.
###
Contact: Jennifer Teegarden, forestry outreach specialist, 651­259­5285.
Trees—good for your health
By Jennifer Teegarden, DNR forestry outreach specialist Today is the first day of Arbor Month in Minnesota, which causes me to reflect
on the many benefits of trees. The shade that trees cast is an important benefit
to me.
In 2000, I was diagnosed with skin cancer, or melanoma. Luckily my treatment
only required removing the cancerous mole and doctor’s orders to avoid bright
sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Because melanoma can spread to other
organs in your body, I didn’t argue with my doctor’s recommendation.
Luckily for me, shade from trees reduces exposure to UV rays, the primary
cause of skin cancer. So now, during the summer, I stick to the trees when I
am outside. I use shade as natural sun block to prevent further damage to my
skin and to stay healthy. It has worked—I have been cancer free for 17 years.
Walking among the trees has also helped me discover another health benefit—
stress reduction. Studies show that exposure to forests decreases mental
fatigue by relaxing and restoring the mind, and lowering your blood pressure
and heart rate.
Over the years, I have learned about the numerous health benefits of trees.
There are hundreds of research studies supporting the positive effect of trees
on our overall wellbeing. Besides the benefits of reducing skin cancer and
stress, did you know childhood asthma rates are lower in urban neighborhoods
that have a higher density of tress? Or that kids who play in nature are more
relaxed and attentive, which improves their ability to learn and their
performance in school? As a parent, I realize the importance of time outside in
forested places for my daughter’s health and success.
This year for Arbor Month, to honor the importance of trees to our personal
health, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone
to get their daily dose of trees. Spend time with trees every day to improve
your health.
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As an added incentive, we’re launching the #31DaysOfTrees Challenge.
During Arbor Month—the entire month of May—every time you get your daily
dose of trees, let us know. It’s simple, just post a picture or video to Facebook,
Twitter or Instagram along with the hashtag #31DaysOfTrees (include
@MinnesotaDNR for Facebook). You will be entered to win one of five
Minnesota state parks permits and have 10 trees planted at a Minnesota state
forest in your honor. Your chance to win increases the more times you post
photos or videos of you and your friends and family enjoying a daily dose of
trees. The DNR will select our top five favorite entries based on best selfie,
best video, best location, most unique tree and most creative way to get your
daily dose of trees. There are so many ways to get your daily dose of trees: climb a tree, go
camping, sit under a tree, take a hike or visit a forest. Or if you need some
down time, consider reading a book under a tree or just plain relaxing in a
hammock in the shade of a tree. Trees, they are good for your health. Visit the Minnesota’s Arbor Month
webpage at www.mndnr.gov/arbormonth for challenge details and to learn
more about the health benefits of trees.
###
Note: Photo of Jennifer Teegarden with her daughter Alexis, 9, is available at
ftp://mediaroom.dnr.state.mn.us in folder named “news release resources,”
then in folder named “05­01­17 Teegarden.”
DNR question of the week
Q: I’d like to plant a tree on my property and want to make sure it gets off to a
good start. What are some tips for tree planting? A: Trees need to be planted properly to live a long and healthy life. The first
step is to pick a tree best suited for the planting site. Take into account your
local climate, soil type, available space and the amount of sunlight the location
receives. Once you’ve selected a tree to plant, here are a few tips:
Keep the tree’s roots damp until planting.
Remove pot­bound and encircling roots.
Plant the tree so the tree’s first woody root is at ground level.
Layer 2 inches to 4 inches of mulch over planting area, keeping mulch
away from trunk.
Water newly planted trees at least once a week for three years.
To learn more, visit: www.mndnr.gov/treecare/residential_plant.html. https://outlook.office.com/owa/?realm=norlites.com#x_link_1491411839600
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Jennifer Teegarden, DNR forestry outreach specialist
###
minnesota department of natural resources
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | mndnr.gov
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