Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society

08/05/2026

Please take a moment of your time and follow the directions to ask the USFWS to retain the 2024 drain tile setbacks. This is extremely important for sharptails and a multitude of prairie/grasslands/openlands species!

NAGP Supporters, by this Friday, August 7, Please Ask the USFWS to Retain 2024 Drain Tile Setbacks

WE NEED YOU TO ENGAGE on this important issue for prairie grouse, waterfowl, upland birds, pollinators, other wildlife, and other wetland benefits.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing its 2024 Drain Tile Setbacks Rule. This policy protects the Prairie Pothole wetlands found in the Northern Great Plains and safeguards their surrounding grasslands.

NAGP supports retaining the current science-based, site-specific protections. Weakening them could diminish permanent conservation easements funded by hunters and the American public.

We ask you to:
- Go to the Federal Register and click the green "Submit Public Comment" box at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/24/2026-14995/national-wildlife-refuge-system-request-for-information-on-implementation-of-drain-tile-setbacks
- Ask the USFWS to Retain the 2024 Drain Tile Setbacks final rule and its no-drainage standard.
- Make comments as an individual, not as a NAGP member or any another organization member. Comment as a hunter, birder, conservationist, landowner, etc.
- Add a personal story for greater impact of why prairie pothole wetlands and their surrounding grasslands are important to you.

For additional detail, see this video by Chasing Green, and articles by Sportsmen's Foundation and Ducks Unlimited -
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02nImFHhyyU
- https://sportsmensalliance.org/news/fws-drain-tile-setbacks-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-comment
- https://www.ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory



Thank you!

07/25/2026

07/18/2026

07/15/2026

07/06/2026

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July to all!
The MINNESOTA SHARP-TAILED GROUSE SOCIETY is honored to celebrate 250 years.

06/27/2026

🔥How Prescribed Fire Supports Bees and Wasps🐝
New research shows that prescribed fire can play an important role in supporting pollinators, especially ground-nesting bees and wasps.

Researchers found that recently burned areas (1–2 years post-fire) supported more bee species and higher bee abundance nesting in the soil compared to areas burned less often or not burned at all. Wasps also responded positively, with greater diversity and abundance in all burned areas versus unburned sites.

When it came to foraging on flowers, bee activity was highest in areas burned at intermediate intervals (every 2–4 years) during early spring. This suggests that while frequent fire supports nesting habitat, a mix of fire timing helps ensure strong plant-pollinator interactions.

Researcher note, “ground-nesting pollinators prefer burned areas for nesting,” and bees appear to be “especially sensitive to fire frequency.”

Overall, the study suggests that a patchwork approach to fire management, with areas burned every 1, 2, and 4 years, may provide the best balance of nesting sites and floral resources for both bees and wasps.

📄 Source:
Fulton, L.J.G., Ulyshen, M.D. & Mallinger, R.E. Frequent Fire Supports Ground-Nesting Bees and Wasps in Florida Longleaf Pine Flatwoods (2026)