Minnesota's breeding duck population takes a dive

Minnesota's duck population has taken a dive.

The Department of Natural Resources says the state's breeding duck population has dropped to an estimated 507,000 birds. That's down 31 percent from last year and 19 percent below the long-term average of 626,000.

Dennis Simon is the DNR's wildlife chief. He says the goal is to build a breeding population of 1 million birds.

The key is more and better wetlands and grasslands. The DNR's Duck Recovery Plan says 2 million acres of additional habitat need to be restored to achieve the 1-million-bird breeding population goal.

This year's estimate of 285,000 Canada geese remains similar to last year's estimate of 289,000, and remains above the DNR's goal.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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