Pollinators

Through hands-on events, monitoring, backyard plantings and online advocacy, FMR volunteers, advocates and staff help to protect, plant and restore critical pollinator habitat throughout the Twin Cities metro Mississippi River corridor.

Pollinators

Wild, weird and wonderful: The peculiarities of Minnesota's native bees

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August 13, 2024

From nectar robbers and buzz pollinators, get to know some of the traits and behaviors that make our native bees stand out. Read more

FMR becoming a powerhouse for pollinator protection

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August 1, 2024

Two new FMR initiatives are big wins for pollinator protection and research. With good questions and better data to answer them, we can find out what more we can do to make the best possible habitat for pollinators and wildlife. Read more

Spring ephemerals: 9 Minnesota wildflowers you can find between snow-melt and leaf-out

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May 8, 2024

A whole guild of native woodland plants bloom and fruit before trees turn green and fully shade the ground. Read more

How our ecologists piece together a site’s past and plan for its future

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April 23, 2024

What can the outstretched limbs of a bur oak reveal about the land? Here's how our ecologists find signs underfoot and overhead to understand a place before beginning to restore its habitat. Read more

Can pockets of habitat tip the scales in degraded wetlands?

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January 25, 2024

Invasive reed canary grass forms dense monocultures in many wetlands across the Upper Midwest, but we're experimenting with ways to give native wetland plants a better foothold. Read more

Vermillion River flows through reed canary grass

More than 3,000 pollinators — and other interesting findings from our 2023 monitoring

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January 9, 2024

How much more often did pollinators visit native flowers than non-native flowers? And why are cuckoo bees a good sign? Find out more about our 2023 pollinator surveys, plus new opportunities to get involved in monitoring efforts. Read more

Annika, Julia, a monarch, black and gold bumble bee, red-belted bumble bee

Nectar and ... blood? A surprising source of nutrients for butterflies

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October 2, 2023

Our new pollinator biologist explains the phenomenon of butterfly puddling — sometimes on blood — and how we can make sure these insects get the nutrients and energy they need. Read more