BISMARCK – North Dakota’s snowmobile official season will open Dec. 1, but several conditions must be met before the state’s 2,800 miles of snowmobile trails are open, groomed and ready for travel, the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department said in a news release.

Adequate snow cover of 4 packed inches must be on the ground to allow for trail grooming. Signs must be put in place, and to travel across wetland areas, the ice must be thick enough to support the weight of trail groomers.

The public is encouraged to prepare now in order to be ready to ride when the trails have sufficient snowpack by completing this checklist:

• Obtain proper snowmobile registration from the North Dakota Department of Transportation and carry proof of registration while riding. 
• Ensure snowmobiles are in good operating condition. 
• Out-of-state riders can purchase a trail access pass from North Dakota Parks and Recreation’s reservation system at reserveNDparks.com. 
• Obtain helmets and appropriate winter gear. 
• Familiarize themselves with trail maps and signage, respecting private property. 
• Check ice conditions before riding over frozen bodies of water. 

“Snowmobiling is a great way to connect to the outdoors during our winter season,” said Tony Hillig, recreation chief for North Dakota Parks and Recreation. “People can support local communities, enjoy time with family, and explore many areas of our state they may not have visited before.”

The public can view updates and trail conditions through the free Snowmobile North Dakota mobile app. The app also tracks trips, current location on a trail using GPS, and offers locations of nearby amenities while allowing users to save and load itineraries. More features are available by upgrading to the pro version.

In addition to the app, online trail maps and current trail conditions can be found online at snowmobileND.org.

“North Dakota’s snowmobile trails offer something for everyone, from thrilling rides through open fields to scenic routes through forested areas,” said Todd Thronson, SnowmobileND

executive director. “Riders are encouraged to ride responsibly, stay on designated trails, and most importantly, have fun.”

North Dakota law requires youth ages 10 and older who do not have a valid driver’s license or permit to take a safety certification class. The safety certification class can be taken online at any time. More information can be found on the

Parks and Recreation Department website

at parkrec.nd.gov.

BISMARCK — A coalition of organizations called “Together for School Meals,” formed by Prairie Action ND, is advocating for a School Meals For All Program in North Dakota.

Made up of professionals in fields ranging from food security organizations and family advocacy groups to teachers and administrators, the coalition is looking for additional support ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

The group was created to “focus on achieving permanent, statewide policy to provide free school meals for all students,” according to the Prairie Action ND release. Organizations that want to get involved can find more information

here

and or fill out a

sign-on letter.

One in three

children in North Dakota relied on food from the Great Plains Food Bank, according to a 2023 Great Plains Food Bank report.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

By: Jeff Beach

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – A dig at a site believed to have mammoth bones shows it is worthy of further excavation, according to the North Dakota Geological Survey. 

Mammoth bones were first discovered at the site in northwest North Dakota in 1988 during the construction of a garage. The North Dakota Geological Survey and state Historical Society returned to this site in September to confirm that mammoth bones are there. 

Senior Paleontologist Clint Boyd said the fossil dig near the garage aligns with what construction workers reported and that there are likely more bones beneath the garage. 

A dig below the garage would require money from the Legislature to move a portion of the garage, dig beneath and then restore the garage.

Boyd said there has been “great collaboration” with the property owner, who is not the same owner that built the garage. 

Boyd reviewed the mammoth dig site and other archaeological explorations Tuesday with the North Dakota Industrial Commission, which oversees the agency. 

Boyd said the woolly mammoth was likely not yet an adult and is about 13,500 years old, right about the time that evidence shows the first humans living in North America. He said no evidence of human activity has been found at the site.