Wildlife biologist to serve Douglas County area

Pheasants Forever recently hired Josh Meissner as its newest Farm Bill wildlife biologist in Minnesota.

Meissner will work with area landowners and farmers to implement wildlife habitat conservation measures aimed at increasing pheasant, and other wildlife populations in Douglas County.

Meissner will be based at the Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation District in Alexandria.

“We look forward to having a Pheasants Forever Farm Bill wildlife biologist working in Douglas County to add grassland habitat, improve water quality and reduce soil erosion,” said Dean Krebs, President of the Douglas County Pheasants Forever chapter.

Pheasants Forever now has eight Farm Bill wildlife biologists in the state who work to provide technical assistance to farmers and landowner through one-to-one consulting regarding the benefits of conservation programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program.

By working to develop and implement individual wildlife management plans, these eight biologists represent Pheasants Forever’s on-the-ground efforts to ensure landowners are aware of conservation program options, Krebs said.

The Douglas County Farm Bill wildlife biologist position is a result of a partnership between Pheasants Forever, USDA – NRCS, Douglas County SWCD, Douglas County Pheasants Forever chapter, Viking Sportsman, Brandon Sportsman, Evansville Sportsman, and the Alexandria Chapter of Minnesota Deer Hunters Association.

“I would really like to stress how these conservation organizations have come together to put this full-time employee on the ground in Alexandria,” said Krebs, “This is a tribute to the great working relationships between the groups and pooling resources, which will make a big impact on wildlife habitat in Douglas County.”

Meissner can be contacted at (320) 763-3191 or via e-mail at jmeissner@pheasantsforever.org.

For more information on Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill wildlife program in Minnesota, contact Eran Sandquist, Pheasants Forever Minnesota regional wildlife biologist at (763) 242-1273, or e-mail esandquist@pheasantsforever.org.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 130,000 members and 700 local chapters across the U.S. and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent.

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