Wildlife watching is big business in Minnesota

Bird watchers and other wildlife viewers contribute more than half a billion dollars per year to Minnesota’s tourist economy.

More money is spent in Minnesota for wildlife watching activities than the amount spent on hunting. According to a recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey, wildlife watchers spent $531 million in 2000 for wildlife viewing, nature photography and bird feeding, compared with $480 million for hunting.

Carrol Henderson, Department of Natural Resources, (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor, gave a presentation recently in Grand Rapids on wildlife tourism and how local communities can attract national attention for wildlife viewing.

His presentation was part of a one-day workshop titled, “Making the Most of Mother Nature, a how-to guide for wildlife tourism.” More than 50 resort and motel owners, tourism developers, wildlife biologists, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, representatives of the Mille Lac Indian Band and others attended the workshop.

The DNR Nongame Wildlife Program, the Explore Minnesota Office of Tourism and the University of Minnesota Tourism Center sponsored the workshop.

Many resorts and lodging establishments have plenty of business during the fishing season and summer months, but are always looking for new ways to attract tourists during the early fall, winter and spring, when there is less tourism activity, said Henderson.

The recent owl invasion experienced in northern Minnesota generated an estimated $800,000 to $1 million for the area’s tourism industry this past winter, according to Henderson. This boom to the tourist industry during their slow season brought awareness of the tremendous wealth of wildlife in the area, and the possibilities for creating memorable wildlife viewing experiences, Henderson said.

The abundance of public lands in northern Minnesota provides wonderful opportunities that can be beneficial as well as sustainable for area resort and lodging businesses. This is in addition to the economic benefit already provided by hunting and fishing activities.

“Simple services can be offered and promoted to attract wildlife watchers, such as web-sites, birding trails, interpretive field trips, and wildlife viewing boat rides,” Henderson said. “This can provide income for local communities and businesses by capturing a few more months of tourist activity.”

More information on wildlife watching is available in the book, “Traveler’s Guide to Wildlife in Minnesota” authored by Henderson, naturalist Andrea Lee Lambrecht, and the DNR’s regional nongame wildlife biologists.

This traveler’s guide was published by the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program and is available for sale at Minnesota’s Bookstore by calling toll free 1-800-657-3757 or in the Twin Cities area (651) 297-3000.