NDAWN weather station destroyed by shotgun, careless hunter believed responsible

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (KVRR) – A weather station operated by the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network was destroyed by a shotgun blast.

State Climatologist Daryl Ritchison says he believes a careless hunter is responsible. He says it appears the weather station “was hit by a poorly aimed shotgun with the solar panel taking the most damage.”

A surveillance camera captured video of the incident, which happened last week, but wasn’t discovered until Thursday afternoon.

The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office will be asked to investigate.  The weather station is located along a county highway.

Damages are estimated at around $3,000.