That's why there's no area wildlife manager at Rochester, no assistant manager at Cambridge, no roadside wildlife specialist at New Ulm, no forest wildlife coordinator at Grand Rapids. It's why we're forced to terminate food plot agreements with landowners, turn down requests from local conservation clubs to come talk at their meetings, cut way back on forest wildlife habitat improvements, and reduce animal damage assistance. But the fact is, you can't get something done if there's no one to do it. The governor's Habitat Initiative made up for a chunk of Wildlife's shortfall by adding vital funding for habitat restorations and acquisitions and even restoring 10 wildlife management positions. But bear in mind, they're still down 15 positions.
Wildlife management is work.
And it takes people to do the work. It's not as if you can just write a check and a wetland is magically restored, or a prairie suddenly comes to life. For wildlife management to occur, you need people-people who drive trucks, operate backhoes, wade through marshes, type in data, analyze formulas, study research findings, shear brush, dig fence posts, combine prairie seed, plant trees, meet with legislators, balance the budget, write the regulations, hammer out agreements with landowners, and give advice to hunters and trappers. The same is true for managing fisheries and native plant communities. We need people to get the work done.