Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program

Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program Love animals? So do we! Come learn about the amazing animals that call Minnesota home. We help protect and preserve thousands of Minnesota's wildlife species.

Run by the Nongame Wildlife Program, which helps Minnesota’s rare and vulnerable wildlife species. Our program supports species that are not hunted or fished, including wood turtles, Leonard's skipper butterflies, rusty patch bumble bees, and other Species in Greatest Conservation Need. We conduct scientific research, restore wildlife habitats, engage in outreach and education programs, and run th

e EagleCam and FalconCam. In our 40+ year history, we have also successfully restored wildlife species like the bald eagle, trumpeter swan, and river otter. And we couldn't do it without your support! We are the tax checkoff on Minnesota tax forms. Your donations help fund our crucial work and ensure that future generations of Minnesotans can enjoy our wildlife. You can learn more about the work we do over on our website: mndnr.gov/nongame. All visitors must follow our Terms of Use for Social Media Channels: mndnr.gov/site_tools/terms_of_service.html

06/03/2026

In May, Nongame Wildlife Proram staff and partners banded the EagleCam eaglets. Each chick recieved a uniquely numbered band from the United States Geological Service. When reencountered, the band allows researchers to track the birds’ movements throughout their lives, which adds to the growing knowledge of bald eagle biology and behavior.

We share this video of the banding in honor of Lori Naumann, who attended this happy occasion and is dearly missed. Lori was instrumental in bringing the EagleCam to life. Her legacy and dedication to wildlife will last for generations.

Our FalconCam pair are officially parents ❤️ 🐣One of the five eggs in the FalconCam nest hatched over the weekend and a ...
06/02/2026

Our FalconCam pair are officially parents ❤️ 🐣

One of the five eggs in the FalconCam nest hatched over the weekend and a second hatched early this morning. A clutch of peregrine falcon eggs typically hatches within 24-48 hours, so we anticipate more chicks arriving this week. It is unlikely all five eggs will hatch-- three or four chicks is most typical--but we await with excitement to see what happens!

We also thank you for your patience while we worked to troubleshoot some technical difficulties with our camera stream. It’s back up and running and we are hopeful for smoother sailing going forward.

Watch the falcon family grow at mndnr.gov/falconcam.

🗣️Calling all loon lovers, we need your help researching loons! 🗣️ The Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program (MLMP) needs mo...
05/30/2026

🗣️Calling all loon lovers, we need your help researching loons! 🗣️

The Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program (MLMP) needs more volunteers for this summer, especially at lakes in the following counties: Otter Tail, Kandiyohi, Becker, Cook and Lake .

If you live in one of these counties or visit them frequently, please consider volunteering.

This is a low commitment volunteer project that's great for groups and appropriate for all ages. Join us and contribute to a project with over 30 years of continuous loon research!

Visit our website to sign up: mndnr.gov/eco/nongame/projects/mlmp_state.html.

05/28/2026

Birds aren’t the only ones building a nest 🪹🐝

While honey bees (which are not native to the U.S.) and bumble bees live in social groups, most of Minnesota’s native species are solitary. In these species, each adult female independently starts a nest and provides pollen for her young.

About 70% of solitary bees nest underground in tunnels, while others seek out cavities inside plant stems, rock cracks, or holes in wood. A prime example of these cavity-nesters are the leafcutter bees.
True to their name, leafcutter females use their large, sharp-toothed jaws like scissors to cut plant leaves into circular shapes. They use these pieces to line and partition individual brood cells within a cavity or underground nest. Once the nest is complete, circular-shaped pieces are used to create a sturdy cap at the entrance.

While they usually prefer leaves, it is not unusual for them to use flower petals to line their homes, like this leafcutter seen on a cactus flower.

To learn more about the nesting strategies of different bees, visit the Minnesota Native Bees website https://www.beesmn.org/nests.

❗ Watch out for loons this Memorial Day weekend❗ The most dangerous weekends for our state bird are Memorial Day weekend...
05/24/2026

❗ Watch out for loons this Memorial Day weekend❗

The most dangerous weekends for our state bird are Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July, when our lakes are at their busiest.

Boats, boat motors and fishing line are all very dangerous for loons. Pay attention while you recreate this weekend and stay at least a hundred feet from any loons you see.

Photo by Jenna Martin, shared with the DNR at mndnr.gov/sharephotos

🐢 Today’s a day to shell-ebrate: it’s World Turtle Day! 🐢 Minnesota is home to nine native turtle species. They live thr...
05/23/2026

🐢 Today’s a day to shell-ebrate: it’s World Turtle Day! 🐢

Minnesota is home to nine native turtle species. They live throughout Minnesota in muddy ponds, flowing streams and even in our woods.

🛣️Help turtles this month by keeping an eye on the road. If you see a turtle crossing, it’s best to let them cross the road on their own. If they’re in danger and it’s safe for you to assist them, pick them up along their shell edge near the mid-point of their body and move them off the road in the direction they were heading.

🔗 mndnr.gov/reptiles_amphibians/helping-turtles-roads.html

Remembering Lori Naumann: A champion for Minnesota’s wildlife Lori Naumann, a devoted wildlife conservationist and long-...
05/22/2026

Remembering Lori Naumann: A champion for Minnesota’s wildlife

Lori Naumann, a devoted wildlife conservationist and long-time employee of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, recently passed unexpectedly. As an invaluable team member of the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program, Lori was most known for her creation and passionate leadership of the DNR EagleCam. Lori also partnered on the DNR FalconCam, led the Nongame Wildlife Program’s tax-time donation campaigns, partnered on many critical habitat license plate designs, was an ambassador and hands-on field technician with the Minnesota Loon Restoration Project, and helped establish the nongame permitting process.

Lori was a public servant with the state for 39 years. She spent 35 of those with the DNR, admirably building lasting relationships throughout the department, with our partners and the public. Her contributions to conservation leave a legacy that will be remembered, and her knowledge, dedication and spirited determination will be dearly missed.

🥚FalconCam update 🥚 Incubation continues on the FalconCam as the peregrines take care of their record-breaking five egg ...
05/22/2026

🥚FalconCam update 🥚

Incubation continues on the FalconCam as the peregrines take care of their record-breaking five egg clutch. It’s been 3 weeks since incubation began, which means we could see an egg begin hatching as early as next week!

It’s unlikely all five eggs will hatch, but we have our talons crossed.

🔗 mndnr.gov/falconcam

🐝Happy World Bee Day! 🐝 There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide and 4,000 are native to the United States. Did you ...
05/20/2026

🐝Happy World Bee Day! 🐝

There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide and 4,000 are native to the United States. Did you know that Minnesota is home to more than 500 species of native bees? Minnesota’s diverse bees range in size, shape and color: blue orchard bees, green sweat bees, big fuzzy black and gold bumble bees just to name a few.

While native bees provide many services for us as humans, their innate beauty is more than enough reason for us to appreciate and care for these little critters! As you meander through your garden or local park today, be sure to say hello to any bees you see along the way.

Photo is of a White-clothed Longhorn Bee (Xenoglossa albata) coming in for a landing. The flower is a Dalea.

Spring bird migration is in full swing! Help our migrating birds by turning off outdoor lights at night 🌃Most migrating ...
05/19/2026

Spring bird migration is in full swing! Help our migrating birds by turning off outdoor lights at night 🌃

Most migrating birds travel during the night. As they pass through cities, they can become disorientated by light pollution. This causes the birds to fly in circles, leaving them exhausted and vulnerable to collisions with buildings and other urban hazards.

Help birds stay safely en route by turning off your unnecessary lights this month, especially your exterior lights! 💡

Photo: A female summer tanager. Photo taken by Jasmine Bauers and shared with MN DNR at mndnr.gov/sharephotos.

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