Updates and Articles

Spotting rare, native ladybugs

Lady beetles (also called ladybugs) are one of the most common insects we encounter in summer. They may be the first insects toddlers can identify, easily recognizable because of their bright red color and contrasting black spots. But almost all of the ladybugs you're likely to see aren't native. What happened to our 50 native species?  >>

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River Sustainers are foundational to the health of the river

Fred Bertschinger provides "perpetual support" to FMR as a River Sustainer. Ongoing, recurring monthly contributions make up the crucial foundation of support we rely on in our work to protect the health of the Mississippi River. Here's how.  >>

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Aerial view of the Mississippi River and its watershed in summer, Fred Bertschinger, and Ole Olson prairie
The tail of the prairie skink: A story of loss and restoration

The prairie skink can lose and regrow its tail. Through our restoration work, we're hoping to create a story of regrowth for its favorite habitat: prairies near streams.  >>

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FMR welcomes Nou Yang to its board of directors

Meet Nou Yang of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. We're excited that her wealth of experience building and sustaining youth programs can help shape ours. She loves Minnehaha Falls, often runs by the river, and wants to protect it for future generations.  >>

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Nou Yang
Upper Harbor Terminal project draws media attention

Recent news articles in MinnPost and the Star Tribune highlight several concerns being raised about the city of Minneapolis' Upper Harbor Terminal project, including state funding controversy, a rushed planning process, and violations of open meeting law. FMR board member Paul Bauknight and staff member Colleen O'Connor Toberman are interviewed. >>

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Seen any foxes?

A few months ago, we asked if you'd seen a coyote or fox (or their tracks!) in your Twin Cities metro backyard. Thanks to your responses, we've been able to pass along helpful info to the Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project for their research. We’re now putting out an additional call specifically for foxes.  >>

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Ford Area C (video)

In this video, we take you to Ford Area C, Ford's toxic riverfront dumpsite in St. Paul. You’ll see the Mississippi lapping at the dumpsite’s edge. What pollution remains there? How much is leaching into our river? We still don’t know enough. >>

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Who ate the sardines? A wildlife camera mystery

Ever wonder what goes on in the woods at night? One of our wildlife cameras recently gave us some clues. But we will need some more detective work to determine exactly who ate our sardine bait.  >>

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State names cities to be protected by Groundwater Protection Rule

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has reached a major milestone by identifying which communities are eligible for protection under the state’s new Groundwater Protection Rule.  >>

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You say potato, I say fiasco

Here's what one farmer's fight tells us about agriculture, public health and our state's exasperating approach to balancing priorities.  >>

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