Pentagon honors conservation efforts at Fort Ripley
The conservation team at Camp Ripley, the National Guard facility near Little Falls, was recently honored by the Secretary of Defense for their environmental efforts on the 53,000-acres military facility, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The DNR, Guard, St. Cloud State University, and others team together at Fort Ripley and have worked on various environmental projects.
A radio telemetry study at the fort has found that gray wolves — two packs live within the sprawling facility — will breed and raise pups relatively close to military activities, said the DNR in a press release.
Black bears are also studied at the fort, with some 20 to 25 bruins living within its borders. Currently, 11 black bears are sporting radio collars.
Camp Ripley has been the protector of the Mississippi River and its ecosystem for many years, the DNR opined.
