Download a photo of Carrol Henderson with a trumpeter swan he released in 2011.
GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Carrol Henderson, Minnesota DNR’s first nongame wildlife supervisor who led restoration of the trumpeter swan, peregrine falcon and other species will be featured, along with deer antler scoring, on Prairie Sportsman. “Carrol’s Wild Life” will air on Pioneer PBS Sunday, April 26, 7:30 p.m.; WDSE Saturday, May 2, 4 p.m.; tptLife Saturday, May 9, 12:30 p.m.; Lakeland PBS Saturday, May 30, 2:30 p.m.; and KSMQ Thursday, June 18, 7:30 p.m. It will also be broadcast on the Minnesota Channel, which airs on all Minnesota PBS stations, Thursday, May 14 at midnight, 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.
Trumpeter swans, peregrine falcons, bluebirds and river otters that were once endangered or extinct are common in Minnesota today, largely because of restoration efforts led by Carrol Henderson, the DNR’s first Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor. He led the program for more than 40 years and set the standard for other states to follow. Restoring these species was made possible by funds from a Minnesota tax checkoff that allows filers to contribute to the nongame program. When the “chickadee checkoff” legislation championed by then State Senator Collin Peterson passed in 1980, Carrol’s nongame budget went from $25,000 to more than $500,000 within a year. Previous to serving as nongame supervisor, Carrol was the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Refuge assistant manager.
In the next segment, the nonprofit Minnesota Official Measurers offers free deer antler scoring at the Outdoor News Deer and Turkey Classic. Trained and certified volunteers measure and score deer racks for hunters; record scores may be entered in the nonprofit’s “Big Game Records of Minnesota.”
About Prairie Sportsman
Prairie Sportsman celebrates our love of the outdoors – to hunt, fish and enjoy recreation provided by our vast resources of lakes, rivers, trails and grasslands – while promoting environmental stewardship.
Prairie Sportsman’s team includes Cindy Dorn, producer/writer; Bret Amundson, host/editor; Dylan Curfman, editor/videographer and Max Grabow, assistant videographer/editor. The 2020 season is made possible by funding from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, SafeBasements of Minnesota, GrandStay Hospitality, Diamond Willow, Live Wide Open and Western Minnesota Prairie Waters.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit www.pioneer.org.
