For over 45 years, the Nongame Wildlife Program has led conservation of Minnesota’s rare and vulnerable wildlife. We’ve successfully restored many wildlife populations that were experiencing population declines and we continue to help at-risk wildlife with a variety of conservation projects.
Highlighted Project
Bringing Back the Topeka Shiner
Smaller than a pinky finger, the Topeka shiner is a “blink and you miss it” kind of fish. This endangered minnow makes its home in prairie streams, oxbow lakes and even cattle ponds. Prairie restorations appear to be helping their population, but we still have a long way to go.
Learn all about Topeka shiners and other prairie fish in “Prairie Lights”*.
*This is an excerpt from “Stories from the Nongame Wildlife Program”, a book telling the story of seven Nongame Wildlife Program wildlife conservation projects.
- Statewide projects
- Region projects
Northwest
Staff in the Northwest Region are monitoring rare species such as the red-shouldered hawk, northern goshawk, Blanding’s turtles and Richardson’s ground squirrel. They are also monitoring piping plover and common tern populations and more common nongame species like the common loon. 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 American goshawk, four-toed salamander, red-shouldered hawk and Blanding's turtle. They are restoring habitat of threatened species like the common tern and wood turtle, as well as protecting their nests from predators. They’re also monitoring common loons.
Central
Nongame staff in the Central region focus on helping urban areas protect and understand their wildlife resources, connecting Minnesota’s diverse citizens and visitors with the outdoors and protecting our wildlife heritage for generations to come.
Staff also monitor several state-listed species, like the timber rattlesnake, Blanding’s turtle, wood turtle and Leonard’s skippers. On both public and private land, habitat management is a component of the Central region’s work. Activities such as prescribed fire, grazing, invasives control and cedar/brush removal help maintain or enhance bluff prairie, oak savanna and oak woodland habitat for Species in Greatest Conservation Need. This area is also where our EagleCam and FalconCam are located!
South
Protecting and restoring prairie landscapes and its wildlife through diverse partnerships is vital to the South Region. Monitoring and adaptive management are part of their collective conservation efforts under the MN Wildlife Action Plan.
Staff are monitoring grassland birds and pollinators (bumble bees and butterflies) to help assess effectiveness of prairie restorations in collaboration with land managers. They also survey for Richardson’s ground squirrels, Blanchard’s cricket frogs, lined snakes, and other Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Their many years of experience helps to maintain and restore wildlife populations and the habitats they need to survive and thrive.
- Past projects