Minnesota wildlife

Winter insects and spiders

by Karen Schik

January 6, 2020

Warm winter days are a great time to see tiny creatures wandering the top of the snowpack. >>

KARE11 covers coyote research after attack

by sue rich

December 5, 2019

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 >>

Rusty patched bumblebee buzzworthy in the Star Tribune

October 24, 2019

This summer we found the Minnesota state bee at one of our restoration sites. Why is that newsworthy? >>

'Land conservation key to bringing back Minnesota bird population'

by sue rich

October 8, 2019

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

Candid camera at Spring Lake Islands

by Ellie Rogers

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. >>

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

by Karen Schik

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

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 Flint Hills Resources in Inver Grove Heights. >>