Camp Ripley has been a world-class military training center since 1931. For decades, various branches of the military and state agencies have trained at the center and benefited from its resources. They aren’t the only ones benefiting though.
Camp Ripley has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to conduct county biological surveys and assist with the tracking of wildlife on its sprawling 53,000 acres.
“The great thing about the National Guard camp… particularly the way they are concerned about wildlife and the environment there is that it does provide this wonderful sanctuary,” said Dave Garshelis, Black Bear Project Leader, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
In the late 1960’s, the wolf population in Minnesota was limited to the northeast portion of the state. Currently Minnesota’s gray wolf population is listed as a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The DNR states feels that a decision to remove the wolves from that list is anticipated in the next year. Part of their population growth is due to the efforts of Camp Ripley and DNR staff.
“Technology has changed significantly in the way we track wolves. That’s really something that was pioneered right on Camp Ripley,” Dan Stark, Wolf Management Specialist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The tracking has shown that the wolves at Camp Ripley are reproducing and expanding into other areas such as Wisconsin and Northern Michigan. In fact, one of the first wolves to be collared in Michigan had been caught as a pup five years earlier by Mike Nelson, a Sr. Research Scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey and is raising pups of her own.
The goal of such conservation and protection initiatives at Camp Ripley is not only to benefit the environment, but also the people who train there.
“The Minnesota Guard and the environment are not two ends of the spectrum,” Col. Richard Weaver, Camp Ripley Post Commander. “We want it to be a place where Soldiers can train here forever and keeping the environment…woods, the foliage, the animals, everything here is in our best interest.”
Four local college students were sent by the National Guard DOCS program to capture the partnership between Camp Ripley and the Minnesota DNR in a documentary. The filmmakers are competing with three other teams to get this National Guard Green Documentary to be premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival. You can view the film below, but to vote please visit the National Guard DOCS website.
