Section: Nature & Environment

Minot student wins 2025 Earth Day Patch Contest

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by: MinotVoice  |  

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced the winners of the 2025 Earth Day Patch Contest. Over 1,600 students from 100 schools entered this year’s contest. Winners in four age categories are Tryg Klindworth, Beulah (K-3); Mariah Achtenberg, White Shield (4-6); Jazmin Vasquez, Minot Bishop Ryan (7-9), and Brielle Volk, Mohall (10-12). Achtenberg’s design

Read & Share   sourced from: ND Game & Fish

Sharp-tailed Grouse Dancing in the North Dakota Outdoors

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Every spring starting in March, male sharp-tailed grouse gather on leks or dancing grounds to display for female onlookers. This ritual, triggered by photoperiod, has been going on in North Dakota for hundreds or even thousands of years. Learn more in this week’s NDO News.

Read & Share   sourced from: ND Game & Fish

Pollinators in Peril: One-Fifth of North American Species at Risk

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Pollinators — the tiny workers behind much of our food and thriving ecosystems — are in serious trouble. A comprehensive new study reveals that over 20% of pollinator species in North America face the risk of extinction. Bees are the hardest hit, with nearly 35% of species teetering toward disappearance. Habitat loss, pesticides, and climate

Read & Share   sourced from: The Canadian Press

North Dakota Lawmakers Push for Federal Protections for Teddy Roosevelt National Park’s Wild Horses

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by: MinotVoice  |  

North Dakota lawmakers are stepping up to protect a treasured symbol of the state’s heritage. The Legislature has approved a resolution urging Congress to establish federal protections for the wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Supporters argue that the nearly 200 horses are not just a tourist attraction but also a vital part of

Read & Share   sourced from: Dickinson Press

Idaho House calls for state to take over Camas National Wildlife Refuge from feds

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

A quiet stretch of protected land in eastern Idaho is now the center of a political tug-of-war. The Idaho House has joined the Senate in urging the federal government to hand over control of the Camas National Wildlife Refuge to the state. Supporters say it’s about water access for nearby farmers. Opponents warn it could

Read & Share   sourced from: Idaho Capital Sun

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Zebra mussels found in Fish Hook Lake near Park Rapids

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

An unwelcome invader has reached Fish Hook Lake. The Minnesota DNR has confirmed zebra mussels in the lake, just months after finding them in nearby Potato Lake. These tiny but destructive mussels can disrupt ecosystems, damage boats and docks, and even pose risks to swimmers. With no way to remove them once established, the focus

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Sask. Water Security Agency Projects ‘Near Normal’ Souris Basin Run Off

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency develops comprehensive basin run-off projections each spring for river basins the impact the province. It matters in Minot because much of the Souris River’s upper basin lies in Southern Saskatchewan, and the water that runs off there passes through Minot before it heads back North into Manitoba. As of the

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Hoeven: Trump Administration to Reverse Biden WOTUS Overreach, Provide Regulatory Relief & Certainty

by: MinotVoice  |  

Senator John Hoeven is welcoming a move to rein in federal water regulations, calling it a win for farmers, energy producers, and landowners. The EPA’s decision to roll back the expanded WOTUS rule aligns with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling and aims to reduce regulatory burdens. Hoeven, a longtime critic of the broader definition, says

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Colorado lawmakers consider protecting wild buffalo from poaching

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By: Eric Galatas, Public News Service |

Colorado lawmakers could add buffalo, also known as bison, to a long list of wildlife that have been restored to their natural habitat across the Centennial State. Senate Bill 25-053 would classify wild roaming buffalo as wildlife, to be managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife the same as deer, elk, moose and other big game species. Nick

Read & Share   sourced from: Public News Service

North Dakota Selects Three Aquifers for Recharge Study

by: MinotVoice  |  

North Dakota’s water future depends on smart planning, and state officials are taking a proactive approach. After a comprehensive study on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), the Department of Water Resources has identified three key aquifers for further analysis. These underground reserves—vital for agriculture, industry, and communities—are under increasing pressure. With the help of advanced modeling,

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Beekeepers say catastrophic honeybee losses are cause for alarm

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by: MinotVoice  |  

The honeybee crisis has taken a devastating turn. Beekeepers across the country are reporting staggering losses—millions of colonies gone in just months. While bee die-offs aren’t new, this year’s numbers are unprecedented, with some losing nearly all their hives. The fallout is already hitting California’s almond orchards, which rely on these pollinators. Researchers are scrambling

Read & Share   sourced from: MPR

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15 years in the making, MN could set nitrate standards for lakes

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By: Mike Moen, Public News Service |

Minnesota is giving its water quality standards a fresh look. With public input in their hands, officials are under pressure to add language about nitrate levels, a move some said is long overdue. Nitrate pollution is often tied to farm runoff containing fertilizers and animal waste. There are standards for drinking water but conservation groups

Read & Share   sourced from: Public News Service

Keep North Dakota Clean Contest Inspires Youth to Take Action Through Art and Media

by: MinotVoice  |  

North Dakota students have a chance to turn creativity into action with the 57th annual Keep North Dakota Clean (KNDC) contest. Open to PreK-8 students and those with special abilities, the contest challenges participants to create artwork promoting environmental stewardship, with winning designs displayed on billboards across the state. For high school students, a new

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Microplastic pollution found “pervasive” in Antarctic snow

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Recent research highlights the troubling discovery of high levels of microplastics in Antarctic snow, challenging the notion that even the planet’s most remote regions are spared from plastic pollution. A new study published in _Science of the Total Environment_ shows concentrations reaching over 3,000 particles per liter, far exceeding previous estimates. The implications are significant,

Read & Share   sourced from: The New Lede

Microplastics found in human brains in high levels

by: MinotVoice  |  

New research has confirmed what many feared—plastic isn’t just in our environment, it’s in our brains. A study published in _Nature Medicine_ found nanoplastics in every human brain sample analyzed, with concentrations rising over time. Brains from dementia patients contained significantly more plastic, though researchers caution that a direct link remains unproven. The findings raise

Read & Share   sourced from: The New Lede

Watch: 2024 Game and Fish Violation Trends

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by: MinotVoice  |  

In this week’s NDO News, learn about the game and fish violations seen across the state in 2024. Watch below.

Read & Share   sourced from: ND Game & Fish