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North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live is a daily, five-minute newscast that shines a spotlight on the stories and perspectives of Minnesota’s diverse communities, including Black, Latine, Asian American, East African individuals, people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ residents, laborers, veterans, and those from Greater Minnesota.
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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: Today, an endangered species is spreading its wings again in northern Minnesota. Then, take the repellent out; mosquito season is upon us. And big news for Minnesota Frost fans!
I'm Chantel SinGs.
Seven eggs of the once-endangered peregrine falcons have hatched and the fledglings are ready to leave their nests in Duluth.
Volunteers from the nonprofit the Raptor Resource Project, recently fitted each of the baby chicks with two leg bands. These bands will track the birds' migration patterns, social behavior, and long-term trends after they leave the nest.
The falcons have nest sites at two Minnesota Power energy facilities, another company essential to the species' recovery. All of this will help ensure the safety and stability of the peregrine falcons which nearly went extinct in the 1970s.
Up next: Minnesota has experienced a tame spring mosquito season. But this summer we can expect to see an increase in the population. Mik Finnegan brings us what we need to expect and how to prepare.
Mik Finnegan: The nights in Minnesota have started to feel more like what we're used to, warm, humid and buggy. Unlike previous years, we did not experience a surge in mosquito populations this spring, but warmer temperatures and peak mosquito season are upon us.
Alex Carlson: So we're anticipating that we're going to start seeing them, and some areas are already starting to see fair numbers, especially further away you get from the heart of Minneapolis and St Paul.
Mik Finnegan: Metropolitan Mosquito Control District has traps all over the seven counties. They serve to study disease carrying-insects and report on the mosquito numbers in the area. They reported less than a third of average numbers of mosquitoes. Public Affairs Manager Alex Carlson tells us more about what they are seeing this year.
Alex Carlson: Until late June, we've had a very slow start, which has been unusual. The past couple of years, we've seen big spring surges in the past couple of years, a lot of times. That's because the rivers are overflowing and things like that. But low water levels really helped kind of get things slow. Plus it's been cooler.
Mik Finnegan: Alex says that reports from around the state show the same population trajectory as the Twin Cities.
Alex Carlson: Statewide, we kind of follow the similar patterns, because our water is the same wherever you go.
Mik Finnegan: Although we've experienced low mosquito numbers this spring, Minnesotans will continue to see the population increase in July during peak mosquito season.
Alex Carlson: If you look at the 10 year average, it's about that first week in July is when we see the peak activity. We don't expect that to be different this year, because the cattail mosquitoes are going to be out because of last year's rain.
Mik Finnegan: Cattail mosquitoes lay their eggs in the water and the larva overwinter under the ice. They start hatching in the spring, but we see the highest population hatching in early July.
Alex Carlson: Because last year was very rainy, we're anticipating we're going to see a big hatch of those this year.
Mik Finnegan: Alex says that although we do not know how bad they will get, the cattail mosquito population is already surpassing metrics from 2024.
Alex Carlson: Yeah, about an inch of rain is what's required for what we call a brood, for a new generation of mosquitoes to hatch.
Mik Finnegan: After a mostly dry spring, we can expect to see more mosquitoes with the increase in rainfall. Experts recommend protecting yourself by wearing bug spray and covering up even when the mosquito populations are lower.
Alex Carlson: Typically, things start to slow down in the end of the summer. But the end of the summer is when those disease-carrying mosquitoes tend to flourish.
Mik Finnegan: While Metropolitan Mosquito Control District provides many preventative services to control dangerous mosquitoes, they cannot be in everyone's backyard. An easy, impactful way to protect yourself and your neighbors is to alleviate any standing water on your property.
Alex Carlson: So anytime people leave something out, they get stagnant and murky, then mosquitoes will fly in and lay their eggs, and it becomes more mosquito habitat, especially some of the more dangerous mosquitoes.
Mik Finnegan: Check your yard after each rain, empty tires, kiddie pools and planters.
Alex Carlson: If you live in the Twin Cities and you're noticing a lot of mosquitoes, give us a call, because we like that information. We do a lot of surveillance and trapping and stuff, but we're not everywhere. So we always, you know, take customer calls seriously, and we encourage people to call us and let us know if they're seeing a lot more than usual, because then we might be able to go out and do something to help.
Mik Finnegan: For North Star Stories, I'm Mick Finnegan.
You are listening to North Star Stories.
Goaltender Maddie Rooney has signed a three-year contract to remain with the Minnesota Frost through the 2027-28 Professional Women's Hockey League season.
Rooney has led the league in shutouts and ranks among the nation's top goaltenders.
The Andover native is a former University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog and 2018 Olympic gold medalist. She joins nine other players already signed for the 2025-26 season, including her goaltending partner.
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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.