 |
|
|
 ith more than 23,000 acres of marshland, lakes, forests and grassland, Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area is the largest public hunting grounds in the Twin Cities region. A mere half-hour north of St. Paul, it's a popular destination for wildlife watchers, hunters, and trappers. In fall, flocks of ducks and geese darken the skies above, and in summer, birdwatchers can see sandhill cranes, sedge wrens, bald eagles and common loons. More than 275 bird species call it their home, as do many deer, turkeys, pheasants, and small game. Families looking for a place to teach their children about wildlife often choose Carlos Avery for their first outing. The area was designated a site of outstanding biological diversity by the Minnesota County Biological Survey.
Right now, this unique open space in the northern suburbs is beset by several housing and commercial developments on its immediate borders, threatening to swallow up the surrounding lands that buffer the habitat and the hunting and recreational activities it supports. Communities in Anoka and Chisago counties are making difficult choices about how to grow.
As the land surrounding Carlos Avery is developed, it becomes an island of wildlife habitat amidst a sea of pavement and lawns. Standing alone, disconnected from other habitat, it's less able to sustain populations of wildlife. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are working with Ham Lake to find a solution that reduces development impact on the oak forest and on Carlos Avery—maybe by clustering the houses on smaller lots to preserve more of the open space and natural habitat.
Metro Wildlife Corridors, Ducks Unlimited, and Pheasants Forever all are planning restoration projects to maintain the quality of wildlife habitat in Carlos Avery, and the DNR's Fisheries and Wildlife Division and the Trust for Public Land are interested in working with willing landowners in Anoka and Chisago counties to purchase key natural lands surrounding the wildlife management area in order to protect its integrity.
About the photographs
Large photo: Doug Beasley; small photo: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
|
