22-03-2025
Outdoors Notebook: Grand Forks man joins Sand County Foundation
Mar. 22—MADISON, Wis. — The Sand County Foundation has named Alex Erickson of Grand Forks as associate director of the Leopold Conservation Award program.
Erickson, who began his new job March 17, will play a key role in outreach to Leopold Conservation Award recipients and sponsors nationally.
Based in Madison,
Sand County Foundation
is a national nonprofit that works with farmers, ranchers, foresters and other private landowners to improve soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat. Leopold Conservation Awards are presented annually in 28 states to innovative landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their own land.
"With a strong background in agricultural sales, business development and marketing, Alex is uniquely qualified for this role," Lance Irving, Sand County Foundation's vice president of the Leopold Conservation Award, said in a statement. "He also brings a deep appreciation for conservation and agriculture.
"I am excited for the Leopold Conservation Award's network of past recipients, sponsors and partners to collaborate with Alex to advance conservation across the country," Irving added.
Erickson graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in biology. He enjoys many outdoor pursuits in Grand Forks and serves as secretary of an archery club, the Sand County Foundation said.
BISMARCK — North Dakota anglers, hunters and trappers should note that new licenses are required beginning April 1, the Game and Fish Department said in a reminder.
Licenses can be purchased
on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website,
. Once the license is processed, hunters and anglers will have the option to print a hard copy and/or download the license to a smartphone or mobile device, which is helpful when asked to show proof while hunting or fishing in rural areas that lack cellular service.
Licenses can also be purchased at
more than 80 vendor locations
throughout the state. The 2025-26 small game, fishing and furbearer licenses are effective April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, the agency said this week.
The proposed rule includes species-specific protections and flexibilities to encourage conservation of the butterfly under the ESA, according to a news release from the FWS. The comment period will be reopened for 60 days, until May 19, 2025, to give all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule, which was published on Dec. 12, 2024. Comments that previously were submitted do not need to be resubmitted, as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final listing determination.
The public comment period reopened March 19. Information about how to submit comments can be found at
by searching for docket number FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137.
* On the web:
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Minnesota has been named among the top five fishing states in the country by
the world's largest platform for booking fishing trips. Based on 17 criteria in four categories — Community, Facilities, Financial and Geography — Minnesota climbed into the top 10, securing a shared fifth place with Wisconsin.
The top 4 remained unchanged from 2024, with Alaska holding the No. 1 spot, followed by Florida, Delaware and Michigan.
In a news release, said Minnesota was the biggest climber in this year's rankings, receiving 99.5 out of a total possible score of 210 points. The North Star State scored especially well in the Financial category, leading the field with 51.5 out of 65 points.
