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Carrol Henderson realized he loved wildlife conservation growing up on his parents’ farm in Iowa. 

“I was just so fascinated by birds and animals that I just grew up headed in that direction,” he said. His studies in zoology at Iowa State put him on a path that eventually led to him taking a course on tropical ecology in Costa Rica. 

“And that just exploded my brain into the whole new dimension,” Henderson said. He joined Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources in the 1970s, and was there for the creation of the Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Fund, which was a game-changer.

“My entire budget for nongame wildlife in all of the state was about $30,000 per year, and half of that was my salary,” Henderson recalled. “And the next year, with tax donations, my budget increased to a half a million dollars per year.”

With those funds at his disposal, Henderson became a driving force behind restoring Minnesota’s bald eagle and 

 populations. Henderson is retired now. His new book summarizes his 50 years of dedication to conservation and includes 50 years of his his wildlife photos. 

“If you approach your job with a positive, enthusiastic attitude. It spreads to your friends around you,” Henderson said. “They want to be part of the action, and they want to be part of the success.”

“A National Legacy: Fifty Years of Nongame Wildlife Conservation in Minnesota”

 will be available starting on Wednesday. Listen to Henderson’s conversation with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer by clicking the player above.

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A new book by a DNR legend recounts 50 years of conservation work in Minnesota. 

New book chronicles one man's dedication to decades of Minnesota wildlife conservation

New book chronicles one man’s dedication to Minnesota wildlife conservation

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