BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - North Dakota Outdoors Mike Anderson sits down with Game and Fish director Terry Steinwand to review highlights from 2020 and assess future challenges.
2020 was a challenging year for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department because of the Covid-19 pandemic, yet biologists adapted and were able to continue their vital work.
“And it started with fisheries. They adapted by getting out there, wearing masks, putting up what I would call spit guards when they were doing their spawning details. Taking all the necessary precautions and extremely important for the future of the fishery in North Dakota,” said North Dakota Game and fish director Terry Steinwand.
Big game, upland game and waterfowl surveys didn’t miss a beat this year either.
“Our wildlife division, with annual waterfowl surveys in May, we were the only state in the Central Flyway, which is composed of 11 states from North Dakota down to Texas, that actually did that spring survey. So, again, it just shows what kind of people the sportsmen and women of North Dakota have working for them,” said Steinwand.
Many people took to the outdoors this year, which kept game wardens busy, too.
“Enforcement always has a difficult job. Hunting seasons, they don’t get a lot of days off. And during the pandemic, like everybody else at Game and Fish, they continued to do their job and in a spectacular fashion,” said Steinwand.
In-person hunter education courses had to be revamped to meet the need of a long list of participants.
“We also adapted with Hunter Education. Of course, the in-person classes which we normally would have, really had to be postponed or even canceled for the most part. But we went into the online system with some new features,” said Steinwand.
Steinwand says in addition to the Covid-19 challenges, the Game and Fish Department will face similar hurdles in 2021.
“It’s probably is what we’ve seen for the last number of years, chronic wasting disease, aquatic nuisance species and R3, meaning recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters and anglers out there,” said Steinwand.
Director Steinwand says the mild winter so far will help keep our state’s wildlife populations heading in the right direction as well.
Much of Director Steinwand’s attention in early 2021 will be devoted to safeguarding our natural resources at the 67th Legislative Assembly.
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The Link LonkJanuary 03, 2021 at 07:39AM
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North Dakota Game and Fish reviews 2020 and future challenges - KFYR
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