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Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time, including during the growing season, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

MN Included in Wetland Restoration Funding

Funding priorities under the federal Inflation Reduction Act continue to roll out, including a new effort for Minnesota and some surrounding states …

Conservation experts say the monarch butterfly's western population is at greatest risk of extinction, having declined by an estimated 99.9%. (Adobe Stock)

Monarch Butterfly Moves Into Endangered Status

An insect commonly seen flying through gardens is now closer to extinction. The migratory monarch butterfly has landed on an endangered species list…

A grizzly bear roams inside Alaska's Denali National Park. (Adobe Stock)

No Selfies with Bears! National Park Advocates Offer Visitor Tips

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. -- With COVID-19 restrictions behind them, many Americans are jumping into the wilderness with both feet. National park …

A new study says harmful algal blooms are another threat to freshwater lakes, as they see declining oxygen levels brought on by rising temperatures. (Adobe Stock)

Study: MN Lakes Gasping for Air

MINNEAPOLIS -- Just as humans need clean air to breathe, lakes need healthy oxygen levels to provide habitat for fish species. But a new study said …

Funding for Minnesota state parks and aquatic invasive-species management have been catapulted into the debate over tougher auto-emission standards. (Adobe Stock)

Political Fight Poses Threat to Environmental Funding in MN

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- As Minnesota lawmakers hammer out differences over the state budget, a major wrinkle has surfaced, which environmental groups said …

The spiny softshell is among the three turtle species allowed to be commercially harvested in Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

MN Plan Aims to End Commercial Harvest of Turtles

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Efforts to protect popular species in Minnesota, such as walleye, have resulted in plenty of debates and policy action. But …

Starry stonewort, first detected in Minnesota in 2015, is among the aquatic invasive species the state is trying to contain. (Adobe Stock)

Proposals Floated in MN to Help with Aquatic Invasive Species

ST. PAUL, Minn. - As efforts continue to protect Minnesota's vast network of lakes and rivers from invasive species, some proposals to build on the …

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the gray wolf population has recovered enough to remove it from the endangered species list. But critics say the move is premature and could wipe out gains made in recent decades. (Adobe Stock)

Gray Wolf Protection Removal Likely to See Court Challenge

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Last week's announcement by the Trump administration to end federal endangered species protections for gray wolves was met with …

Pollinator-friendly plants, like these growing under a Minnesota solar array owned by Enel Green Power, are increasingly being used to restore bee habitats. (Fresh Energy)

Solar Panels Shine a Light on Bee Habitats in MN

MINNEAPOLIS -- September is National Honey Month, and while there's still concern over struggling bee populations, a Minnesota project has helped …

Researchers say by not adding mines around the Boundary Waters, the region could add more than 4,000 tourism and outdoor recreation jobs over a 20-year period. (Adobe Stock)

Report Urges Protecting Boundary Waters from Mining

ELY, Minn. -- The Boundary Waters are among the sites featured in a new report that says they should be shielded from mining for certain minerals …

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota has warmed 1 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit in the last century. Scientists and clean water advocates say that's having a ripple effect on lakes and rivers, in part through more intense rainstorms. (Adobe Stock)

As Rising Temps Hurt MN Lakes, Pilot Project Seen as a Solution

WALKER, Minn. -- Minnesota is coming off a streak of extremely hot weather. But year-round, the state is warmer than it used to be, and concerns …

A leading conservation group says Minnesota has a number of landscapes that could help plant and animal species thrive despite the threat of climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Protection Urged for MN's Climate-Resilient Landscapes

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Scientists are sounding the alarm over how climate change is affecting certain habitats, but some Minnesota landscapes could serve …

Audubon Minnesota wants more people to monitor bird species like the loon as they try to protect them from the possibility of extinction. (National Park Service)

Education, Monitoring Key Steps in Protecting MN Birds

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The group responsible for annual bird counts in Minnesota hopes more volunteers will take part and fan out across the state …

The rusty patched bumblebee, Minnesota's new official state bee, has lost 90% of its historical range and experienced a dramatic population decline. (Paloma Ayala/Adobe Stock)

Summer Bees are Buzzing, But For How Long?

ST. PAUL, Minn. – One out of every three bites of food you eat is dependent on pollinators doing their jobs – and threats to those …

In Minnesota, solar sites double as pollinator habitat with native plants feeding hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. (audubon.org)

Creating New Habitat for Threatened Birds

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A new study from the Audubon Society shows the welfare of birds is closely linked to the quality of food and shelter found in …

Cherries are among the fruits that grow thanks to the work of pollinators. (Marti/Flickr)

Wildlife Groups: Help Pollinators, Help the Food System

ST. PAUL, Minn. – As Minnesotans enjoy blueberries, cherries and other fruits of summer, wildlife experts are asking that they give back to the …

Public comments are being solicited through May 31 on a draft conservation plan to reverse the decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population. (Pixabay)

Saving the Monarch Butterfly for Future Generations

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Wildlife officials say the king of butterflies could go the way of the passenger pigeon unless people step in and plant more …

A study says more than 50,000 Americans die prematurely each year because of air pollution, and recommends more solar power as a way to reduce that figure. (elpc.org)

A Bonus Solar Benefit: Lives Would be Saved

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Thousands of Americans die prematurely from air pollution-related diseases associated with burning coal, and a new study from …

Lawmakers are hearing this week from residents who say they want clean water. (cleanwateraction.org)

Water Action Day is Wednesday in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Wednesday is Water Action Day in Minnesota, and a rally is being held at the state Capitol. It includes workshops to help …

Minnesota ranks fourth in ethanol production in the U.S. (mn.us)

Study: Ethanol Production Destroying Habitat

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Wildlife habitat near corn-ethanol refineries has been destroyed at a fast pace since a federal law was passed to produce …

A new report says major food retailers need to do more to protect bees and other pollinators, in part by increasing their organic produce offerings. (fws.gov)

Report: Big Stores Failing at Protecting Pollinators

MINNEAPOLIS – Bees and other pollinators are responsible for one of every three bites of food we eat, but 40 percent of all pollinating species …

Minnesota has taken the lead in protecting pollinating insects from harmful pesticides, which environmentalists say will benefit the country's agriculture system. (iStockphoto)

Minnesota Takes Lead in Protecting Pollinators

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota is being called a leader when it comes to restricting the use of pesticides that environmentalists say hurt bees…

Study Finds More MN Retailers Adopt "Bee-Friendly" Policies

MINNEAPOLIS -- New tests found significant decreases in the use of bee-killing pesticides on "bee-friendly" plants. That’s good news for bees…

Conservationists and businesses want the presidential candidates to support Great Lakes cleanup efforts, including a project at Minnesota's Duluth�Superior Harbor. (iStockphoto)

Presidential Hopefuls Asked to Support Great Lakes Restoration

ST. PAUL, Minn. - As the presidential candidates continue along the campaign trail, a coalition of business and conservation leaders is asking them …

Taxpayers can help protect non-game species, including Minnesota's state bird, the common loon, by making a donation on their state income-tax forms. (iStockphoto)

Using Tax Time to Help Minnesota Wildlife

ST. PAUL, Minn. - As many of us are preparing our income taxes, one state agency is reminding Minnesotans there's an easy way to help protect …

Conservationists say the EPA's new biofuel rules could lead to more croplands encroaching on wildlife habitats. (Sgarton/Morguefile.com)

Conservationists: EPA Ethanol "Loophole" Threatening Wildlife Lands

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Some new federal renewable fuel guidelines could be putting some wildlife habitats at risk, especially in the Midwest…

Minnesota's dwindling population of the Karner Blue butterfly soon could be gone, according to a new report. Credit: Endangered Species Coalition

Butterfly Tops List of Threatened Species in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A species of butterfly that calls Minnesota home is perilously close to becoming extinct. The Karner Blue butterfly is on a list of …

The rusty patched bumble bee used to be common in parts of the state, but has seen its population plummet in recent years. Courtesy: Rich Hatfield/The Xerces Society

Meet Rusty Patched Bumble Bee – While It's Still Around

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Protections could be on the way for a bumblebee that used to be commonly found in parts of Minnesota and across the Upper …

The Animal Rights Coalition wants an end to big-game hunts after the killing of a lion in Africa by a Minnesota big-game hunter. Credit: Matt MacGillivray/Flickr.

MN Dentist Under Fire for Zimbabwe Lion Hunt

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Protests are planned today at the office of a Minnesota dentist who has come under fire for hunting down a lion in Zimbabwe…

A new poll finds the latest protections of the Clean Water Act are supported by a majority of anglers and hunters in Minnesota. Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest/Flickr.

Clean Water Rule Nets Wide Support from Minnesota Anglers, Hunters

ST. PAUL, Minn. – When it comes to protecting smaller streams and wetlands in Minnesota, among those casting wide support for the latest rule …

The Simon Lake BioBlitz in west-central Minnesota has volunteers helping to identify plant and animal species to provide guidance on conservation efforts. Credit: Land Stewardship Project.

BioBlitz: A Biological Scavenger Hunt on the Minnesota Prairie

GLENWOOD, Minn. – Dozens of people are gathering this weekend in west-central Minnesota to learn which plants and animals are living in one of …

PHOTO: A final rule to clarify which water bodies fall under regulations of the Clean Water Act has been released by the Environmental Protection Agency. Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Midwest/Flickr.

Protecting MN Waters: Final Rule from EPA on Clean Water Act

ST. PAUL, Minn. - There are again protections for some vulnerable waters and wetlands in Minnesota and across the country, with the release of a …

PHOTO: With a deadly fungal disease called white-nose syndrome decimating its numbers, the northern long-eared bat today officially becomes listed as a threatened species in Minnesota and across the country. Photo credit: University of Illinois/Steve Taylor/Flickr.

Northern Long-Eared Bats in MN Now on Threatened List

ST. PAUL, Minn. – New protections are now in place for the northern long-earned bat, which officially becomes listed as a threatened species in …

PHOTO: The EPA is being taken to court over its approval of an herbicide for use on genetically engineered soybean and corn crops in Minnesota and 14 other states. The plaintiffs say Enlist Duo poses a threat to human health and endangered species. Photo credit: davef3138/Flickr.

Approval of New Herbicide Use in Minnesota Challenged

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A legal battle is being mounted against the Environmental Protection Agency over its expanded approval of a new herbicide for use …

PHOTO: A number of environmental groups are questioning a yes vote by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar on a nonbinding budget resolution that could limit the EPA's definition of which U.S. waters should come under protections. Photo credit: Greg Gjerdingen/Flickr.

Clarity from Klobuchar on Clean Water Act

ST. PAUL, Minn. – As the Environmental Protection Agency moves forward with plans to clarify the Clean Water Act to safeguard more waterways in …

PHOTO: Minnesota may increase the penalties for poaching, with a proposal for the most egregious cases to include felony charges and the revocation of hunting and fishing privileges for 10 years. Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr.

Felonious: MN's Plan to Increase Penalties for Poachers

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In the wake of several high-profile cases of illegal poaching in Minnesota, more severe consequences may be coming for those …

PHOTO: Supporters of Gov. Mark Dayton's buffer-strip proposal are calling one of the most significant farmland stewardship initiatives for water quality and wildlife habitat in decades. Photo courtesy of the Governor's Office.

The Minnesota Battle over Buffer Strips

ST. PAUL, Minn. - In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where water quality is key to quality of life, supporters of the buffer-strip proposal from Gov…

PHOTO: The monarch butterfly is one of the species found in Minnesota that are listed in a new report about plants and animals experiencing dramatic population declines. Photo credit: Dendroica cerulea/Flickr.

Ten Species the Next Generation May Never See

ST. PAUL, Minn. – It's a case of the common becoming uncommon in a new report from the wildlife advocacy group Endangered Species Coalition…

PHOTO: It's hoped that the community conservation system implemented in Pope County can be a model for other parts of the state and region where grassland has disappeared due to plowing and invasive species. Photo courtesy Land Stewardship Project.

Saving Simon Lake: It Takes a Village and More

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Across the state and region, grassland habitat is some of the most threatened, but success is being reported in West Central …

PHOTO: Monday is the 100th anniversary of the extinction of the passenger pigeon. The bird once numbered around 5 billion in North America, but now can only be found in museums. Photo credit: Eden, Janine and Jim/Flickr.

The Passing of the Passenger Pigeon: 100 Years Later

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Monday marks the 100th anniversary of the extinction of the passenger pigeon. The commemoration is being used to urge protection of …

PHOTO: A new report finds certain pesky insects and plants are thriving because of the changing climate. Photo credit: Daniel X. O'Neil/Flickr.<br />

Mosquitoes, Ticks and Poison Ivy Thriving with Climate Change

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The outdoor experience in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" and across the nation is changing, and not for the better, as a new report …

PHOTO: Kettle Falls in Voyageurs National Park is a favorite spot of some visitors. Photo credit: jck_photos/Flickr.

Minnesota's National Parks: Canoes Mean Cash

ST. PAUL, Minn. – They are some of the most pristine areas in Minnesota, and a new study shows national parks are not just great places to …

PHOTO: A new proposal to clarify which types of water bodies fall under the Clean Water Act is drawing praise, notably in the environmental and outdoor communities. Photo credit: Courtney Celley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Support Grows for “Clearing the Waters” of Clean Water Act

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A change in federal clean-water rules appears to be popular with some major stakeholders, including hunters and anglers. Two …

PHOTO: Tiny beads of plastic from facial and body cleansers have been collected from water samples in the Great Lakes, and scientists are now working to keep them out of the water system. Photo courtesy 5 Gyres.

Group Takes Aim at Plastic "Microbead" Pollution in Great Lakes

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Tiny plastic beads from facial cleansers and body scrubs have turned up in the Great Lakes at what a scientific advocacy team in a …

PHOTO: A satellite photo from February 14th shows Lake Superior nearly completely covered with ice. Photo credit: NOAA.

Cold Winter Brings Icy Silver Lining for Lake Superior

ST. PAUL, Minn. - It may not soothe the sore backs of shovelers or help cover high heating bills, but this cold and snowy Minnesota winter does have …

PHOTO: A report on how Minnesota could work to stem the die-off of bees in recent years was delivered to the state Capitol on Wednesday. CREDIT: Brian Jeffery Beggerly

Hive Owner: MN Bee Protection Plan is Little More than Buzz

BARRETT, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is moving ahead with a review of a class of pesticides that has been linked to the deaths of …

PHOTO: The Conservation Stewardship Program provides incentives for farmers that take certain steps to help with things such as water quality and soil health. CREDIT: Derek Bakken

Minnesota Leads Nation in Conservation Stewardship

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The annual enrollment for the Conservation Stewardship Program is under way. It's an effort that's finding much success in …

PHOTO: New reports from the National Wildlife Federation encourage producers in Minnesota to think about cover crops for in-between seasons. Photo courtesy NWF.

Reports: Cover Crops on the Rise in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Fallow season in Minnesota could turn into growing season, with benefits for farmers' bottom lines and for rivers. A pair of new …

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MN: Endangered Species & Wildlife