Climate change in Minnesota is already here
Die-off at Big Woods State Park, washed-out roads and bridges tell the story of a warmer, wetter state. 5:30 am, Apr. 14, 2021 ×
Trees in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park stand dying. Department of Natural Resources, using climate data determined 12 acres of trees in the park were likely dying due to climate change. (John Molseed / jmolseed@postbulletin.com)
NERSTRAND – The tree canopy at Big Woods State Park was starting to thin.
It was 2018. Aerial photos of the park confirmed to the naturalists there that red oak, white oak, burr oak and basswood trees covering about 12% of the forested land in the park were dying.