For over 40 years, the Nongame Wildlife Program has worked to protect and preserve Minnesota’s wildlife. We’ve already successfully restored many wildlife populations, but our work isn’t done! There are still many species that need our help and our past efforts have shown that we can make a difference.
Current Projects
Our nongame wildlife staff at Camp Ripley are hard at work studying the migration and habitat use of golden eagles. We’re actively tracking three golden eagles and are providing aid to other organizations that are tracking golden eagle populations. All of this data will help us learn more about this species and understand how we can conserve and manage the population.
For the past two field seasons, staff from the Minnesota Biological Survey and Nongame Regions 1 and 3 have been studying Richardson’s ground squirrels. We’ve been searching for new colony locations, visiting historic records, and testing protocols to monitor this species. Some colonies, like the one at Mentor Prairie WMA, are thriving, while others have disappeared. We’re going to continue our searches and refine our surveys in the upcoming field seasons.
Wood turtles are a threatened species in Minnesota. That’s why we’ve been conducting surveys,identifying threats, monitoring the population, and experimenting with conservation actions to help this important species. A Minnesota Wood Turtle Conservation Plan is currently being developed by our Wood Turtle Planning Team and will identify priorities for wood turtle conservation over the next 10 years.
Statewide Projects
- Minnesota's Important Bird Areas
- Colonial Waterbird Survey
- Trumpeter Swan Restoration Project
- Get the Lead Out Project
- Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program
- Volunteer Loon Watcher Survey
- Golden Eagle Project
Regional Projects
Northwest
Northwest Region staff are monitoring rare species such as the red-shouldered hawk, northern goshawk, Blanding’s turtle and Richardson’s ground squirrel. We are monitoring piping plover and common tern populations. We’re also involved in monitoring more common nongame species such as the common loon and trumpeter swan. Staff are conducting surveys for the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee and assisting with other pollinator survey efforts.
Northeast
Staff in the Northeast Region are hard at work studying rare species like the northern goshawk, four-toed salamander, red-shouldered hawk and Blanding's turtle. We’re restoring habitat of threatened species like the common tern and wood turtle, as well as protecting their nests from predators. We are also monitoring common loons.
Central
In the Central Region, staff are conducting surveys on many wildlife species, including timber rattlesnakes, cricket frogs, and wood turtles. We’re working to restore and maintain peregrine falcon and karner blue butterfly populations. This region is also where the eagle nest in our EagleCam is located!
South
Staff in the South Region are studying and managing species like bullsnakes, softshell turtles, Richardson’s ground squirrels, and Blanding’s turtles. We’re also focusing on grassland bird and pollinator monitoring, as well as continuing our conservation work in the Prairie Coteau Conservation Focus Area. Staff have partnered with the Minnesota Biological Survey and other agencies in the Minnesota River Reptile Project. Field work has completed and we’re translating our data into technical guidance.