Ever wonder what we can do to manage winter severity’s impact on deer populations? The best way: habitat improvements.

In the northeast part of the state, the Minnesota DNR planted more than 63,000 conifer and oak trees across multiple sites through the Conservation Partners Legacy Grant program (with help from North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District). These trees are critical for creating snow shelters and travel corridors for deer in their wintering areas along the St. Louis River.

The DNR and its partners have also done a lot of on-the-ground work to improve existing habitat in the northeast, including hand-cutting competing vegetation near planted conifers, prescribed burning to enhance blueberry and acorn production, using tree cages to protect seedlings and saplings for future winter cover, and removing invasive species.

So what about work private landowners can do on their land? Check out the DNR’s private land habitat page. You can also check out a recording of our outdoors skills webinar all about creating more wildlife habitat in your woodlands.