DNR probes gull deaths
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is investigating the death of about 2,200 young ring-billed gulls around a popular lake near Brainerd.
DNR area wildlife manager Gary Drotts said he got reports late last month of about 400 dead birds on Gooseberry Island in Pelican Lake, a popular beach and resort area.
Drotts and a crew arrived to find many more dead birds than expected. He said there was also a small number of dead herons and cormorants.
DNR scientists are investigating the cause of death. The agency said bird die-offs are not uncommon in summer and are usually caused by botulism or West Nile virus.
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Grand Portage park open daily
Grand Portage State Park in northeastern Minnesota is open daily once again.
The park provides visitors with an opportunity to see the 120-foot High Falls on the Pigeon River, Minnesota's highest waterfall.
The park had been temporarily closed on weekdays to accommodate construction work on a new visitor center.
The visitor center will double as a highway rest area. It's expected to open in June 2010.
It will offer travel information as well as an exhibit hall showcasing the culture and traditions of the Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe.
