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Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, who operates the prairiewaters.com website has been working to promote tourism in Western Minnesota in Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine and Swift counties since the early 1980s.

In August, local Veterans, current and former servicemembers and their families can take part in a summit to discuss mental health issues affecting Veterans.

Minnesota’s ruffed grouse spring population counts are similar to last year and to other recent peaks in the 10-year population cycle of grouse — a pattern recorded for 73 years, according to a study from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.The Minnesota DNR and its partners use spring drumming counts to help monitor the ruffed grouse breeding population through time.The recent grouse population trend includes a low point in the cycle in 2021 that was not as low as previous lows, followed by the highest peak this year since 1972.Warm temperatures and dry conditions that favor high nest success and chick survival the last few years may partly explain the quicker than expected rise to peak levels in the 10-year cycle.

After making changes to the record fish program, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has seen steady interest by anglers in documenting their largest catches, as evidenced by the nine new state record fish the Minnesota DNR has certified since March.“Seeing all these new records is fantastic and we’re really pleased with how anglers have participated in the program so far,” said Mandy Erickson, fisheries program consultant.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the summer program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series.In a webinar on Wednesday, July 17, DNR birding expert May Vang will share ways to engage people in bird watching and conservation.