Wildlife use of Wild Rice Beds and the Impact of Rice Harvesting on Wildlife in East Central Minnesota

This thesis consists of 3 papers written in the style of the Journal of Wildlife Management. The study was conducted on the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman Mn. from June 1980 to November 1981. The objectives of the study were to: 1) determine the use of wild rice (Zizania aquatica} beds by wildlife, 2) determine the effect of wildlife use on rice beds, and 3) to assess the impacts of rice harvesting on wildlife using rice beds. Material not intended for publication has been included in the appendices.Funding for this project was provided by the U. S. Department of the Interior - U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service contract no. 14-16-0009-80-028