Sandhill Crane Populations and Management in Minnesota
Sandhill cranes have expanded their range in Minnesota and elsewhere and as populations have expanded several states, including Minnesota, have initiated sandhill crane hunting seasons and other states are considering doing the same. Partially this is in response to increasing complaints of crop degradation by sandhill cranes. Despite expanding populations, though, sandhill cranes remain a species of management concern and current information on population distribution and migration patterns of sandhill cranes in Minnesota is insufficient for projecting the impact of hunting or for making informed management decisions. Researchers at the University of Minnesota are using this appropriation to conduct a survey to better understand population distributions, movement patterns, habitat usage, and survival of sandhill cranes in Minnesota in order to inform harvest and management strategies that will minimize conflict with agricultural interests.
$250,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to delineate population boundaries, habitat use relative to crop depredation, and migration patterns and survival of Minnesota's two populations of sandhill cranes, Mid-continent and Eastern. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.