DNR Information Center provides outdoors tips

People seem to know where to get information about Minnesota’s great out-of-doors. More than 170,000 of them contacted the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Information Center in 2012.

The Information Center, located in the DNR headquarters at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul, was recently renovated to better serve visitors. Information Center and License Center staff are now together just inside the main entrance. Free visitor parking is available in front of the building.

“The new lobby location is much more convenient for license buyers and information seekers,” said Suellen Rau, the DNR Information Center supervisor.

During the past fiscal year, the Information Center answered more than 108,000 calls and 52,000 emails, and worked with almost 9,500 walk-in guests. More than 837,000 brochures were mailed or handed to those visitors during the year. The Information Center is busiest just before the fishing opener and the firearms deer season.

Fishing and hunting regulation booklets and state park brochures are most in demand. At this time of year, snowmobile regulations and trail maps are popular.

“We’re the first stop for many callers and emailers who want DNR information,” Rau said. “Some want brochures, some have questions, and some just want to provide input about DNR’s management of the state’s resources.”

The Information Center is open for calls and walk-in traffic Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Customer service specialists are at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367, or via email at info@dnr.state.mn.us.

Tags: news, updates, outdoors, dnr