Minnesota Wildlife

Watch prairie chickens dancing?

The Minnesota DNR Window on Wildlife features a live view of a greater prairie chicken lek on the Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area near Glyndon in northwestern Minnesota, which is owned by The Nature Conservancy.

Don?t miss this show! The best viewing time is in the morning when the birds are most active. Birds arrive in the pre-dawn hour and some activity may occur through 9 a.m. Birds also may appear in the evening after 6 p.m. You can also scroll back to watch footage from the last 12 hours, or check out past clips.

Share pheasant and turkey observations

Minnesotans will be able to report observations of ring-necked pheasants and wild turkeys in a citizen science effort by the Minnesota DNR that kicks off this May.

People will be able to report any pheasant and turkeys they see in the wild from May through September, and information from the reports will help the Minnesota DNR monitor pheasant and turkey population trends, evaluate conservation efforts and make decisions about harvest regulations. People can report pheasants and turkeys of all ages.

Using a mobile device or desktop computer, people will be able to enter information on the Minnesota DNR website. The page also includes ways you can report sightings and photos of other species.?

Photo courtesy of Mike Black

Pheasant and duck plans to be refreshed

We?re asking for feedback on pheasant and duck management which will inform updates to the state?s duck and pheasant action plans for 2025-2030.

You can share your thoughts in an online questionnaire available on the Engage with DNR webpage. This is the scoping phase of the update process and there will be additional input opportunities once we have adjustments to propose for these plans.

More information about Minnesota DNR habitat work, activities and accomplishments related to the action plans, as well as the plans themselves, are available on the DNR waterfowl webpage and pheasant webpage.

Prevent conflicts with bears this spring by being BearWise

Homeowners, please remove birdfeeders now and check your property for food sources that could attract bears.

As bears emerge from hibernation, their metabolism gradually ramps up as they transition from nibbling on plants to more substantial meals. Food and food odors attract bears, and they can pick up a scent from over a mile away.

Home and cabin owners can prevent bear conflicts now by using the BearWise checklist and following these BearWise basics:

• Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
• Secure food, garbage and recycling.
• Never feed or approach a bear.
• Never leave pet food outdoors.
• Clean and store grills and smokers.
• Alert neighbors to bear activity.

People should be cautious around bears and give them space. If bear problems persist after cleaning up food sources, contact a Minnesota DNR area wildlife office for advice.

Bear hunt lottery applications available

Prospective bear hunters have until Friday, May 3 to apply for a bear hunting license from the Minnesota DNR.

A total of 4,030 licenses are available in 15 quota areas where licenses are limited for the 2024 season, which opens Sunday, Sept. 1, and closes Sunday, Oct. 13. Lottery winners will be notified by Saturday, June 1. The deadline to purchase bear hunting licenses awarded by lottery is Thursday, Aug. 1. Any remaining unpurchased licenses will be available over the counter starting at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

An unlimited number of bear licenses also will be sold over-the-counter for the no-quota area that includes east-central and far northwestern Minnesota. No-quota licenses are valid only in the no-quota area.

Hunters with either a quota or no-quota license who are interested in taking a problem bear should contact the DNR wildlife manager for their area(s) of interest to be added to the hunter contact list for any opportunities that might arise.

Complete instructions about how to apply for a bear hunting license, maps of permit areas and a listing of permit availability for each area are available on the Minnesota DNR website.

Pheasants Forever, DNR join forces to get new hunters into fields and forests

With spring turkey season starting April 17, the Minnesota DNR and Pheasants Forever are inviting Minnesota hunters to join the Hunter Mentor Challenge and take someone hunting who has never hunted or hasn?t hunted for a few years.

Minnesota hunters and those they mentor will qualify for a discount code for ALPS OutdoorZ brand gear; and, after their hunt, they have the chance to win a custom, limited-edition Pheasants Forever hunting backpack from ALPS OutdoorZ.

The program is open to all spring wild turkey and light goose hunters. Experienced hunters can invite a new hunter of any age if the new hunter has the proper license/tag necessary and either the mentee hunter?s safety or apprentice hunter validation.

Participation is simple: hunters visit the Minnesota DNR page on the Pheasants Forever website and take the pledge. After taking the pledge, hunters are asked to bring a novice or returning hunter on a hunt during the season and snap a picture or short video during the hunting trip. The last step is to submit contact information, a hunt recap and a photo or video on the submission page to be entered for prize giveaways. All online entries must be received by June 30.

The Minnesota DNR has helpful information for new hunters and experienced hunters who would like to share their skills with new hunters. To learn more, visit the Minnesota DNR take a friend hunting webpage.

?Dad?s first turkey!? photo courtesy of Dan Phelps

Check out the turkey and bear hunting webinar recordings

Want to know more about bear biology, where and when to hunt, regulations, how to handle the bear meat and more?

How about turkey hunting tips, especially about turkey calling, and the turkey reintroduction in Minnesota???

Check out our skills webinars! They?re available, along with a wide variety of other topics, on an easily searchable archive page on the Minnesota DNR website.

Photo courtesy of Mo Vang

Wildlife highlight: pileated woodpecker

Spring is filled with the sounds of buzzing insects, running water and ... drumming?

Minnesota is home to nine woodpecker species ranging from the small downy woodpecker to the large pileated woodpecker.

Spring marks the start of the breeding season for these overwintering birds. One reason woodpeckers drum is to communicate with other woodpeckers.

Drumming has multiple purposes. Woodpeckers may drum to claim a territory and attract a mate, dig out a nest or roosting hole, feed on insects burrowing through the wood, or to store food for later consumption.

While woodpeckers may be a nuisance to homeowners with wood siding, they can also be an indicator of a larger problem. Inspect your siding for insect damage, as woodpeckers may be after an infestation you?re unaware of.

If woodpeckers are using your house or the trees in your yard simply to ?mark? their territory with sound (drumming), you can encourage them to drum elsewhere through many nonlethal methods. Check out our website for ideas and also check out that page for a list of Minnesota?s woodpecker species.?

Pileated woodpecker courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service