AniMap FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
*click on the question to reveal the answer
What is AniMap?
AniMap is a quick way to see what common animals have been documented by the Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS). You can see where a particular species has been found or get a list of the species recorded from a particular area.
AniMap summarizes MCBS data on mammals, breeding-season birds, reptiles, and amphibians that are NOT considered rare in the state.
How do I use AniMap?
Locating common animal species
Through homepage search:
From the home page select common name or scientific name. Then click on the first letter of the animal you are interested in. Select the animal from the pulldown list and select "Go". Remember that several common names start with descriptors like "American" or "Northern" (e.g. American Robin).
Through interactive map: To get to the interactive map, select the map of the animal group you would like to map from the home page. Then select an animal to map from the drop down menu. Select a unit to map the data by and then hit the refresh tool to refresh the map.
AniMap does not document an animal species in my township that I know lives here. Why?
Absence of a species in AniMap does not necessarily mean that the species does not occur in the area. For historical and statewide records refer to the following:
- Hazard, E.B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 285 pp.
- Janssen, R. J. 1987. Birds in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 352 pp.
- Oldfield, B. and J.J. Moriarty. 1994. Amphibians and Reptiles Native to Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 237pp.
What is a "common animal"?
Common animals are those whose populations are considered secure in the state.
Why are many areas surveyed in some counties, but not others?
The primary goal of MCBS animal surveys is to document new locations of rare animals. This means that we focus on habitats that likely support rare species. When counties contain little suitable habitat, we conduct fewer surveys there.
In some situations, we have cooperated with other programs and agencies to conduct more extensive surveys on their lands.
Why are animal lists longer for some areas than others?
The information provided in AniMap is collected using many survey techniques. Different techniques lead to different numbers of animals observed. For example, when a turtle is recorded basking on a river bank, there will only be one species listed at that location. In contrast, when all the birds singing at one spot in a forest are recorded, there may be 20 or more species listed at that location.
Why are MCBS animal surveys conducted?
MCBS animal surveys are conducted to:
- document new locations of rare animals and animal aggregations.
- document new county and state records for rare and common animals.
- better understand the current distribution and abundance of rare and common animals in the state.
What web browser do I need to use AniMap?
AniMap should work with most modern browsers if javascript is enabled.
On a Windows PC it has been tested, and is known to work well, with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5+, Netscape 7.0+, Mozilla Firefox and Opera 7.2+.
On a Mac (OS X 10.3) it has been tested, and is known to work well, with Mozilla Firefox and Safari.
When I change the species to map or the map units, the AniMap display does not change.
When you make any change in how the data will be displayed, you must use the refresh data tool.
When I click on the area I am interested in getting an animal list for, my list is blank.
This means that there were no surveys conducted and/or no animals found for the area you are querying.
When I use the "Get List" tool, no list is created.
After you create the first animal list, no new browser window will open. You must return to the window the previous list was created in to view your new list.