The abundant prairie: A William H. Houlton Conservation Area wildlife update
In just its second year, the restoration project at Houlton is yielding impressive wildlife gains: from 16 bumblebees in the first year to 575 now, from 15 kinds of butterflies to 25. These results show progress toward the thriving habitat we hoped to create. >>
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? >>
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. >>
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. >>
Conservation insights from intern Phuong Nguyen
Phuong Nguyen, an international student from Vietnam, was FMR's fall/winter 2019 intern. She offers perspectives about conservation from her experience with us. >>
My internship highlight: Planting hundreds of native trees on a tiny metro river island
In this piece by fall-winter 2019 intern Phuong Nguyen, she describes her favorite FMR experience: Canoeing to a small metro Mississippi island to plant 350 native trees. >>
Thank you, River Stewards!
In 2019, volunteers of all ages got their hands dirty with FMR at community volunteer events. Together over 1,400 individuals gave a combined 4,916 hours of service to help protect, enhance and restore the health of the river and our local communities. We're so grateful to our amazing River Stewards! >>
KARE11 covers coyote research after attack
FMR ecologist and frequent conservation blog contributor Alex Roth was recently featured by KARE11 in a piece on our metro fox and coyote populations.
Although triggered by a coyote attack on an Inver Grove Heights family's beloved dog, Moose, the story referenced the Twin Cities Fox and Coyote Research Project. FMR is a proud partner for the LCCMR-funded project — and we are so glad that Moose is expected to make a full recovery! Watch the video >>
FMR ecologist makes the cover of Science for earthworm research
FMR ecologist Alex Roth's earthworm research made it on the cover of the highly regarded professional journal Science at the end of October, the same journal that published the human genome for the first time. >>
Volunteers create piles for habitat in the Minneapolis river gorge
Facing a steep climb up tall stairs, FMR staff and River Gorge Stewards opted for a creative way to dispose of invasive buckthorn at a recent volunteer event along the river: create habitat piles. >>