The Rise and Demise of Prairie Chickens

By Steve Hoffbeck

September 19, 2022 — Capturing prairie chickens was one of many premiere out of doors actions for hunters from the Eighties via the early 1900s. It was not all the time so, for when the good buffalo herds roamed via Dakota, the buffalo ate an excessive amount of of the grass, and prairie chickens couldn’t thrive. All that modified because the buffalo had been worn out within the 1870s and the final nice herd was killed in 1883.

When farmers got here, they planted wheat and small grains. Prairie chickens adopted shut after, nesting within the remaining grasslands and feeding in adjoining wheat fields. Prairie chickens proliferated as farmers killed foxes, owls and hawks, their pure predators.

“North Dakota is an excellent place for prairie chickens,” mentioned an knowledgeable hunter in 1883, “they dwell within the wheat fields, the place they breed, and No. 1 onerous [wheat] agrees with them.”

As farmers tilled homesteads in western Dakota, prairie chickens prospered in these “newer agricultural” areas. After August wheat harvests, the stubble-fields had been “alive with prairie chickens” and the game-birds had been mentioned to be “as thick as mosquitoes.” In the very best years, a hunter may “go into the fields and shoot his birds as he may do in a farmyard.”

Newspapers referred to the “festive prairie hen,” because the feathered quarry grew to become the “dainty dish” for excellent feasts. Finally, the Sport and Fish Division restricted hunters to 25 birds per day, with a searching season from August twentieth to December 1st.

Sadly, over-harvesting made the birds scarce, and hunters within the Nineties typically wanted a bird-dog to search out them. When cropland changed extra grasslands, the prairie-chicken inhabitants dropped even additional.

On this date, in 1909, the Grand Forks Herald reported that prairie-chicken searching close to Towner was “higher than in another a part of the state,” however chook numbers had been nonetheless very low, and it was clear that North Dakota must present additional safety for the species to keep away from its extinction.

To enhance searching, the state Sport and Fish Division started importing ring-neck pheasants and Hungarian partridges – and people birds largely changed prairie chickens. Looking season for prairie-chickens halted after 1945.

Thus, a small inhabitants survived, and at this time the “festive prairie hen” should still be seen in grassy fringes close to Grand Forks and within the Sheyenne Nationwide Grasslands by Wahpeton.

A North Dakota Nuisance

By Carole Butcher

September 20, 2022 –On this date in 1900, the Griggs Courier warned that boxelder bugs had been on the march.

Over 100 years later, the bugs proceed to make an annual look. An article within the September 2, 2004 Bismarck Tribune introduced that it was time as soon as once more to organize for the invasion. In line with Burleigh County Extension Agent ElRoy Haadem, the bugs are solely a hassle. Haadem mentioned, “They don’t harm crops or houses, carry illness, and so they’re not toxic.”

However the bugs do depart a stain if crushed. If discovered indoors, it’s higher to make use of a vacuum cleaner, or take away them rigorously with a paper towel.

On heat days following chilly nights, the bugs swarm sidewalks, yards and houses. The cleaner a yard is, the less locations there are for boxelders to cover. However as soon as the bugs present up, it is vitally tough to eliminate them. A sprig of cleaning soap and water solely removes the bugs it instantly hits. Pest management corporations can apply chemical substances that depart a residue to kill boxelders, however they’re tough to manage and should very properly present up the very subsequent day.

The boxelder bugs eat the seeds of the boxelder tree, however they’re adaptable and might reproduce in different leafy places. Boxelder adults emerge within the spring and do the very best when a heat spring is adopted by a sizzling, dry summer season. Their inhabitants is likely to be excessive in the summertime, however they’re much less noticeable as a result of they keep within the foliage. Within the fall they arrive out in the hunt for heat locations.

So, in all probability, the little guys will likely be out earlier than you understand it, gravitating to heat areas just like the sunny facet of buildings as they search for a pleasant, cozy place to gap up for the winter.

Ole A. Olson, artist

September 21, 2022 — The title ‘Ole’ could call to mind the fictional character who champions many a Norwegian joke. Nonetheless, one North Dakotan named Ole A. Olson was not fictional, though his celebrated wood-carvings definitely had character.

Olson was born in Drammen Norway, in 1882. As an toddler he got here to the U.S. along with his household who settled on a homestead close to Litchville, North Dakota.

Though involved in woodcarving since childhood, Olson didn’t consider himself an artist, however a farmer. Leaving his farm in 1942 the not too long ago widowed Ole moved to Valley Metropolis the place he centered on his woodcarving. His comical figures had been extremely animated characters impressed by the Norwegian immigrants of his youth. Olson was dubbed, “Ole the Hermit.” Opposite to the epithet, Olson didn’t spend his life in isolation. His expertise as a woodcarver introduced guests from throughout the nation and all over the world to see his workshop.

Astrid Fjelde, Singer

September 22, 2022 — “Keep in mind this, with a superb will you possibly can accomplish something you want to do–something that’s good.”

These phrases had been spoken by Margaret Fjelde to her chidlren of their childhood on their North Dakota farm. The Fjelde, kids, Paul, Margaret, Katherine, and Astrid; should have taken these phrases to coronary heart, for all of them grew to become achieved adults as artists, students, and lecturers.

The daddy of the Fjelde kids was Jacob, a notable Norwegian sculptor. He and Mrs. Fjelde immigrated to the U.S. from Norway in 1887. Nonetheless, tragically, Jacob died in 1896, leaving Margaret to lift their 4 kids alone. After Jacob’s demise the Fjeldes moved from their house in Minneapolis to a farm exterior Wing, North Dakota. Life on the prairie was not simple for a single mom, however Mrs. Fjelde all the time discovered a manner to offer for her kids and nurture their skills.

Paul’s accomplishments often is the most famous of the Fjelde kids, like his father he grew to become a celebrated sculptor. Nonetheless, the Fjelde daughters additionally had creative items. Mrs. Fjelde had been a musician in her youth in Norway, and handed on this love of music to her daughters. In 1914, after learning music below a number of the European masters, Katherine grew to become an teacher on the Valley Metropolis Regular College and Margaret graduated with honors from Columbia College’s Academics College. The youngest, Astrid, grew to become a singer.

Astrid had all the time loved entertaining, making her debut as a baby of seven singing atop a cleaning soap field to a crowd of farm fingers. Later, Mrs. Fjelde and her daughters moved from the North Dakota farm to New York Metropolis, the place Astrid pursued her life-long dream.

In1925, close to the intense neon glow of Occasions Sq., Manhattan, Astrid Fjelde gave her first efficiency. It was a hit, with reward from many New York critics. Within the following years Astrid would obtain her ambition, changing into a number one soloist for the Nationwide Grand Opera Firm, taking part in “Vavara” in Cesare Sodera’s “Ombre Russe.” She additionally sang for NBC’s Opera Hour, and was featured on NBC’s Saturday night “Cavaclade,” airing in 1929 as one of many earliest musical selection exhibits.

Nonetheless, of Astrid’s many accomplishments, one in all her most celebrated skills was her means to sing powerfully the Norwegian folks songs and lullabies of her youth:

Oh, I bear in mind, so properly that great evening

The place my mom and my father had their house

That stood there so peaceable close to the snow-decked hill

Close to the forest’s whispering sound.

Norway’s Independence

September 23, 2022 — From statehood Norwegian immigrants made up a excessive proportion of North Dakota’s inhabitants; and a powerful Norwegian-American voice could possibly be heard throughout the state. By no means was this extra obvious than in 1905, when after 600 years Norway grew to become an impartial nation.

Since 1814 Norway and Sweden had been united below one king. Norway retained a great deal of independence within the union, having its personal structure and authorities our bodies. Nonetheless, the monarchy and overseas affairs had been nonetheless managed by Sweden. When pursuits in overseas coverage started to diverge, tensions arose between Norway and Sweden. When Norway declared independence in June of 1905, with out request from Sweden, there was anticipation of warfare.

Phrase of the occasion hit the newspapers throughout america. North Dakota’s The Esmond Bee introduced Norway’s declaration. Occasions had been intently watched in North Dakota as articles from overseas appeared every day. At the moment 62 newspapers had been nonetheless written in Norwegian.

In the summertime of 1905 many North Dakotans, whether or not Norwegian or not, gathered to point out assist for Norway. In Satan’s Lake 2,000 people got here collectively in July. The auditorium was packed to capability whereas 600 extra stood exterior the on the grass to take part. Norwegian flags had been flown, Norwegian entertainers amused, and petitions endorsing Norway’s independence had been circulated. Of the various statewide petitions affirming Norway’s resolution, one boasted 4,450 signatures, stating, “To President Roosevelt from the Residents of North Dakota.” This was in hopes that america’ highly effective political voice may assist legitimize Norway’s declaration of independence.

However, diplomatic affairs with Sweden in addition to Norway had been essential to the US, and no motion was taken within the battle. Nonetheless, the unlikely warfare by no means materialized and the state of affairs ended peacefully. In August negotiations for the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden started on the Karlstad Conference. By September, on this present day in 1905, the phrases for dissolution had been concluded.

To this present day a wholesome rivalry stays between neighboring Sweden and Norway. That is obvious within the many good-humored jokes between the 2 nations:

Q: What’s the distinction between Swedes and Norwegians?

A: The Swedes have good neighbors!

“Dakota Datebook” is a radio collection from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historic Society of North Dakota and with funding from Humanities North Dakota. See all of the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org, subscribe to the “Dakota Datebook” podcast, or purchase the Dakota Datebook guide at shopprairiepublic.org.