Land Conservation

Spring Lake regional park master plan open house Oct. 14

by Irene Jones

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October 9, 2019

What's next for this special place (and FMR restoration site) on our great river? You can help decide. >>

'Land conservation key to bringing back Minnesota bird population'

by sue rich

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October 8, 2019

We didn't pay MPR to write that headline, but it's exactly the message we want people to understand. >>

Collect them all: Invasive species identification cards

by Ellie Rogers

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October 8, 2019

Download four invasive species plant ID guides. They feature all the specifics you need to identify the plant in the field, plus tips on how to stop its spread in your own yard. Read more

Candid camera at Spring Lake Islands

by Ellie Rogers

update

September 20, 2019

We've trained a wildlife camera's eye on our turtle nest protection area in the Spring Lake Islands Wildlife Management Area near Rosemount. The camera's shots will help us find out if the nest enclosure is working to protect hatchlings. But as we dig through our footage, we're turning up some fun shots of more than just turtles. >>

Check out our conservation blog!

article

September 9, 2019

Endangered species, fishers, fields of monarchs — FMR ecologists encounter them all at our 37 habitat restoration sites.

On our new conservation blog, learn more about what our ecologists see in the field, the special places we're working to protect and how we restore habitat. >>

The rusty patched bumblebee: What’s all the buzz about?

by Karen Schik

update

September 9, 2019

A lone male rusty patched bumblebee found in August at an FMR-restored savanna represents 0.2 percent of the known population worldwide. Necessary not only for native wildflower reproduction, but also for creating seeds and fruits that feed wildlife as diverse as songbirds and bears, our state bee could use your help. >>

It's monarch migration season!

by Ellie Rogers

update

September 6, 2019

Fall brings chances to spot monarch roosts — dozens of butterflies gathering together on their migration south. FMR ecologist Karen Schik found hundreds earlier this week and sent these videos back from a visit to our prairie restoration at Pine Bend Bluffs in Inver Grove Heights. >>