WILD-LIFE REFUGES IN MINNESOTA 



As an important factor in the present nation-wide effort to 

 check the decrease in wild animal life that has been going on so 

 rapidly in recent years, it has been found expedient to set aside 

 selected areas of land and water of variable extent, within the 

 confines of which it is unlawful to destroy or molest desirable 

 wild creatures. These tracts are called Refuges and are intended 

 to be resting and feeding places for migrants or peaceful havens 

 wherein wild things may live, make their homes, and multiply, 

 free from persecution. The Federal Government, the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies, the Canadian Government, and 

 most of the states of the Union have taken an active part in this 

 work and the combined areas that have in this way been con- 

 secrated to the use of the wild birds and other animals of North 

 America make a grand total of many thousands of square miles. 

 The beneficial results are already very great, especially in con- 

 serving the water birds along the sea coasts and the big game 

 animals in the interior. 



Minnesota has been doing her part along this line and much 

 wise and productive legislation has been enacted. Wild-life refuges, 

 or game refuges as they are more commonly called, are of two 

 kinds in Minnesota, according to the degree of protection afforded. 

 First, those within which it is forbidden to take or kill any mammal 

 or bird of any kind at any time or to carry firearms with intent 

 to kill. Such a refuge is a real nature sanctuary if the law be 

 enforced. Itasca State Park, with its increasing wealth of wild 

 animal life, is an instructive example of an ideal refuge of this kind. 

 Second, those within which it is forbidden to take or kill any 

 mammal or bird protected by law at any time: that is there is no 

 open season for any game mammal or bird within such a refuge, 

 but the law does not prevent the hunting of unprotected species. 



In the first class are included all state Public Parks with 

 an encircling area one-half mile wide; all refuges that may be 

 established by the Game and Fish Commissioner in accordance 

 with a state law where all the land owners therein have petitioned 

 for such action; refuges on government land designated as such 

 by the Federal Government; and a belt three miles wide immedi- 

 ately outside of the limits and completely encircling cities of fifty 

 thousand or more population. Cities and towns and included 



