Vandals destroy fencing on private property and Sem WMA in Marshall County

While checking fencing on his property adjacent to the Sem Wildlife Management Area in Marshall County, a local cattle producer near the Grygla area discovered that vandals had damaged a section of fence he shares with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The name of the property owner is not being released.

The DNR surveyed the entire fence line on the Sem WMA and found that about 2 miles of fence erected for cattle grazing had been damaged, and in some sections, completely destroyed. Construction of the new cattle fence had just been completed last summer.

The neighboring cattle producer grazed the WMA under a Cooperative Farming Agreement (CFA) with the DNR. The agreement is essentially a barter system to exchange grazing on WMAs for services for a WMA, such as seeding, mowing firebreaks, or maintenance on facilities such as campgrounds and parking areas.

“The fence was built to allow grazing on the WMA under the DNR Conservation Grazing program,” said Becky Ekstein, Thief River Falls assistant area wildlife manager. “This vandalism not only hurts the DNR and those who enjoy recreating on state lands, but more importantly it hurts our neighbor.”

The DNR Conservation Grazing program uses livestock to improve wildlife habitat. A Grazing Work Group comprised of representatives from various agencies and the Minnesota Cattleman’s Association provides guidance and planning.

The DNR is committed to grazing as a management tool, similar to bison and elk historically grazing prairies. Grasslands thrive with periodic disturbance such as fire, grazing, mowing and haying. A lack of disturbance can lead to a decrease in the quality, diversity and productivity of grasslands.

There are about 10,000 acres of WMA land that are currently being grazed, most in northwestern Minnesota.

“Our goal on the Sem WMA is to use a combination of methods, including grazing, to improve the wildlife habitat on the WMA, and in particular, habitat for the sharp-tailed grouse,” said Ekstein. “We want to make the area more attractive for the birds by maintaining a more open canopy. Deer and other game species will still thrive in the area.”

Ekstein said it has been difficult and costly for DNR to meet management goals using only fire and mechanical treatments. Conservation grazing is aiding in meeting these goals on this area and others.

The fence does not restrict access to the property by those who enjoy it, and the grazing poses limited interference with hunting seasons and does not discourage use by area wildlife species. Cattle are off the WMA by October 1.

Plans to repair and replace the damaged fencing are underway and estimated to cost several thousand dollars.

For a brochure on the DNR Conservation Grazing program, visit mndnr.gov/publications/wildlife/grazing-brochure.pdf.

Anyone with information on the vandalism to the Sem WMA or any other wildlife or natural resource violation can call the Turn in Poachers (TIP) Hotline at 800-652-9093.