04-29-2004, 03:42 AM
Biologists from Three States Discuss Prairie Chickens
An effort is in the works to connect prairie chicken populations in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
In March, biologists from private, state and federal organizations met in Fargo at a tri-state prairie chicken summit to discuss the status and distribution of prairie chickens, and the possibility of connecting segmented populations in the Dakotas and Minnesota by developing habitat bridges.
Grassland corridors established between populations would enable birds to eventually link and mix with differing populations, leading to improved genetic diversity and expanded range, according to John W. Schulz, private land section leader for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Some habitat bridges would be shorter than others. For example, the prairie chicken population in Grand Forks County, N.D. is only about 25 miles from the population near Crookston, Minn.
The habitat bridges don't have to be contiguous to be successful, Schulz said, nor do they have to run a straight line. If some habitat bridges are established, birds could be trapped and moved to the new lands, shortening the distance between hook-ups between prairie chicken populations.
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An effort is in the works to connect prairie chicken populations in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
In March, biologists from private, state and federal organizations met in Fargo at a tri-state prairie chicken summit to discuss the status and distribution of prairie chickens, and the possibility of connecting segmented populations in the Dakotas and Minnesota by developing habitat bridges.
Grassland corridors established between populations would enable birds to eventually link and mix with differing populations, leading to improved genetic diversity and expanded range, according to John W. Schulz, private land section leader for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Some habitat bridges would be shorter than others. For example, the prairie chicken population in Grand Forks County, N.D. is only about 25 miles from the population near Crookston, Minn.
The habitat bridges don't have to be contiguous to be successful, Schulz said, nor do they have to run a straight line. If some habitat bridges are established, birds could be trapped and moved to the new lands, shortening the distance between hook-ups between prairie chicken populations.
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