The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1935-06-06
Outdoors

Minnesota Is entering into the
final period Of the dangerous
spring fire season with most favor
able conditions confronting the
personnel Of the state division of
Forestry and Fire Prevention, A.
e. Pimley, Assistant in charge Of
fire prevention, said. A material
decrease in the number of fires
this spring and damage resulting
is noted over the same period last
year, Mr.. Pimley stated.
During the months Of April and
May Of this year, there were 285
fires in protected areas of the state
that were extinguished by rangers,
with the area covered less than r.
600 acres. Most Of this was open
bog and meadow and the damage
negligible. Most of the fires were
small, the largest fire todate COW
'ering about 500 acres.
In 1894 during these two months,
April and May, there occurred
1,54S fires covering an area of
over 268,OOO acres, causing damage
in the amount of better than $780,
900.
More adequate fire protection
and better methods of fire preven-
ton are stressed in policies adopt
ed by the Minnesota Conservation
Commission.
Introduction of new upland game
bird species into northeastern Min
nesota, the black grouse or the
capercailzie of Sweden, is frowned
upon by the Minnesota Department
of Conservation, according to E. V.
Willard, Commissioner. For the
past two years a movement to in
troduce these game species into
certain parts of the state has gain
ed considerable backing on the
part Of sportsmen.
Commissioner Willard cited that
all attempted introduction in this
country and in Canada of these
game birds have failed, "black
grouse never having succeeded in
raising young in North America
under natural conditions"
"Any foreign Importation Is q
potential danger in that it may
bring in new diseases or parasites
to which our native game birds
are not resistant and might be the
means Of wiping them out" Mr.
willard said. "The capercailzie Is
not a desirable table fowl because
of a strong turpentine flavor that
results from eating Of evergreen
needles.
"Capercailzies are peculiarly
susceptible to poaching in the
breeding season. The most suitable
SPOT for releasing capercailzies
would be wilderness areas because
they require extensive pine and fiji
habitat. In these isolated regions
law enforcement is difficult and
reaching is problem"
Mr.. willard pointed out that
"over 50 species Of game birds
have been imported to America
and released, and only two, the
ring-necked pheasant and the
Hungarian partridge, have prvoen
successful"
Expenditure of money to Pro
vide more adequate food and COW
er for native game birds is prefer
able to experiments with addi-
tional foreign game birds that may
prove a menace to ruffed, spruce
and sharp-tailed grouse and are
poorly adapted to conditions IN
our state was Mr.. Wizards re-
commentator.
Appraising Of state-owned lands
in preparation for fall sales was
started June 1 by the Division OF
Lands and Minerals, F. A. Wildes,
Director, announced. Six apprais-
ers are in the field.
Persons desiring any tract OF
state owned land to be offered for
sale at the next public auctions
should address a request to one OF
the appraisers or to the Division
of Lands and Minerals, st. Paul.