The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources selected Jeanine Vorland, a veteran wildlife manager, as the area wildlife supervisor for six counties in south-central Minnesota.

Vorland will oversee efforts to manage, preserve and conserve wildlife habitat and populations on public and private lands throughout Mower, Dodge, Freeborn, Rice, Steele and Waseca counties. She will work closely with landowners, elected officials, stakeholder groups, state and federal agencies, watershed districts, and the public.

Her office will be at Myre-Big Island State Park just east of Albert Lea.

“Jeanine’s 30 years of experience with the DNR section of wildlife will serve her well in this position,” said Ken Varland, DNR regional wildlife manager, in a press release. “Her interest in wetlands and shallow lakes will be particularly valuable in these counties.”

Vorland previously served as DNR wildlife area manager at Red Lake Wildlife Management Area in northern Minnesota and as Owatonna area wildlife manager, based out of Rice Lake State Park near Owatonna. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Luther College and has completed numerous graduate courses in wildlife biology at the University of Minnesota.