Celebrating Minnesota's Natural Heritage through Stewardship and Education
Minnesota has long been committed to preserving its natural heritage.
In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Minnesota and other conservation organizations, the Minnesota Zoo plays a significant role in these preservation efforts by addressing pressing wildlife conservation issues important to our State.
Legacy funds allow the Minnesota Zoo to expand our field conservation and educational programs with a focus on animals and habitats closely aligned with Minnesota’s cultural identity.
Bison Reintroduction Program
Bison are among the most iconic animals associated with the central plains. Where millions once roamed vast portions of Minnesota, few bison genetically free of cattle genes remain today. Having exhibited descendants of these plains bison for years, the Minnesota Zoo is now cooperatively breeding and managing a bison herd with the DNR for reintroduction into state parks.
Minnesota Species Field Conservation
Minnesota’s natural heritage is rich and has played a big role. From the prairie to the big woods to the Boundary Waters, the landscape shaped the life of people who call Minnesota home. While today, nature and outdoor pursuits are iconic elements of the Minnesotan identity, many species dependent on Minnesota’s ecosystems have been declining for a variety of reasons. Some of these species, like freshwater mussels and prairie butterflies, can be a bellwether species, indicating habitat health or decline. Our conservation staff have used Legacy funds to augment other sources of funding (including private donors and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund) for field conservation projects addressing threats and recovery options for:
Zoo Education Programs
The Minnesota Zoo’s education department has expanded programs to enhance participants’ knowledge and appreciation of Minnesota’s natural heritage. These programs and experiences are designed to “connect” participants to the natural world, fostering a lifelong conservation ethic for the wild life and wild places of our State.
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Subd. 7. Minnesota Zoo |
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1,550,000 |
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1,950,000 |
These amounts are appropriated to the Minnesota Zoological Board for programs and development of the Minnesota Zoological Garden and to provide access and education related to programs on the cultural heritage of Minnesota.
- The Zoo will successfully introduce Dakota skippers to a prairie in Southwestern Minnesota
- The Zoo will head-start and release wood turtles and track wood turtles to identify nesting sites.
- The Minnesota Zoo will successfully conduct DNA testing on 2017 born calves at Blue Mounds State Park and work with the MN DNR to make recommendations for future breeding or animal transfers based upon genetic management.
- The Minnesota Zoo will successfully transport three yearling bison to be introduced into Blue Mounds State Park in the fall of 2017 for the future enjoyment of state park visitors.
- The Minnesota Zoo will successfully transport one yearling Yellowstone bull to Blue Mounds State Park in the fall of 2017. This bull will become the new breeding bull for this herd.
- The Minnesota Zoo will continue to produce bison calves in the spring of 2018 for the future transfer and release into Minnesota state parks for the education and enjoyment of zoo and state park visitors.
- The Zoo will offer summer camps focused on Minnesota's natural heritage
- Prairie Butterflies
- Completing the second year of reintroductions for threatened Dakota skippers to a prairie in southwestern Minnesota from which they recently vanished.
- Conducting research to improve husbandry and rearing practices for Dakota skippers, allowing the creation and growth of an insurance population at the Zoo.
- Collecting novel data to evaluate threats to prairie skipper butterflies to help understand how our actions can mitigate these threats.
- Freshwater Turtles
- Rearing and releasing 5 head-started wood turtles to help them through the most vulnerable period in their life and survive to breeding age.
- Tracking 13 wood turtles (8 adults and 5 juveniles) with radio and GPS transmitters to document habitat use and identify nesting sites, which will help managers develop protective measures for vulnerable nests.
- Collecting preliminary, baseline data quantifying mortality of turtles and other wildlife on Minnesota’s roadways, which can help us understand where we can take actions to increase both animal and human safety.
- Native Mussels
- Expanding capacity for rearing native mussels on the Zoo campus to improve our research power.
- Transferring primary husbandry operations to a lake with better water quality, yielding significant improvements in mussel growth and survival.
- Developing plans for a new mussel rearing and research facility, as well as associated husbandry systems.
- Establishing transfer and quarantine protocols for acquisition of mussels from partners to ensure survival of any mussels removed from native habitat.
- Initiation of social media campaign to raise awareness of the conservation of mussels and water.
- Moose
- Publishing one peer-reviewed article on moose conservation in the scientific literature to help share knowledge gained from a completed Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund project.
- Education Programs
- More than 1,500 children participated in summer Zoo Camps focused on Minnesota Natural Heritage.
- 214 children and adults participated in nature play programs designed to encourage families to safely experience and explore the wonders of Minnesota’s nature together.
- Minnesota’s Natural Heritage Tour and Bare Necessities class are offered throughout the school year as additions to field trips:
- Five groups, totaling 110 participants, went on Minnesota’s Natural Heritage Tour.
- 2500 participants took the Bare Necessities class (this program is partially funded through underwriting by Target).
- 22 adults participated in Minnesota-based Travel Edventures, including two wolf-tracking expeditions to Ely.
|
Subd. 7. Minnesota Zoo |
|
1,550,000 |
|
1,950,000 |
These amounts are appropriated to the Minnesota Zoological Board for programs and development of the Minnesota Zoological Garden and to provide access and education related to programs on the cultural heritage of Minnesota.
Prairie Butterflies
- Dakota skipper butterflies are reintroduced to a prairie in Minnesota as part of a pilot program
- Poweshiek skipperlings are released back to the locations from which they were collected
- Overall survivorship of Dakota skipper larvae within our captive insurance population has increased to 50%
- Data needed to evaluate the extent to which commonly used agricultural pesticides impact prairie skipper butterflies has been summarized
Moose
- At least two research articles submitted and/or published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Research findings are distributed and/or presented to appropriate scientists and managers
Bison
- The Minnesota Zoo will successfully conduct DNA testing on 2016 born calves at Blue Mounds State Park and work with the MN DNR to make recommendations for future breeding or animal transfers based upon genetic management.
- The Minnesota Zoo will successfully transport three yearling bison to be introduced into Blue Mounds State Park in the fall of 2016 for the future enjoyment of state park visitors.
- The Minnesota Zoo will successfully attempt the embryo transfers of Yellowstone bison into four bison cows at the zoo. Ultrasounds will done to determine successful implantation.
- The Minnesota Zoo will successfully acquire, transfer, and quarantine two yearling bulls from Teddy Roosevelt National Park. The bulls will be transferred to Minnesota State Parks after being cleared of all health tests.
- The Minnesota Zoo will continue to produce bison calves in the spring of 2017 for the future transfer and release into Minnesota state parks for the education and enjoyment of zoo and state park visitors.
Prairie Butterflies
- Reintroducing threatened Dakota skippers to a prairie in southwestern Minnesota from which they recently vanished.
- Increasing the insurance population of Dakota skippers at the Zoo.
- Producing a long-term strategy for returning Dakota skippers and Poweshiek skipperlings to the wild.
- Collecting data to evaluate threats to prairie skipper butterflies.
Moose
- Publication of one peer-reviewed scientific article.
- Presentation of research at two scientific conferences.
- Completion of data analyses for another manuscript currently in preparation.
Bison
- Hosting the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd annual meeting.
- Sending two calves born at the Zoo to join the herd at Blue Mounds State Park.
- Two more calves were born at the Zoo.
- Bringing in a male bison that is the offspring of Yellowstone National Park bison produced using assisted reproductive techniques at the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Lab at Colorado State University.
Education
- More than 750 children participated in summer Zoo Camps focused on Minnesota Natural Heritage.
- 215 children and adults participated in nature play programs designed to encourage families to safely experience and explore the wonders of Minnesota’s nature together.
- Minnesota’s Natural Heritage Tour offered year-round to school groups.
- Zoo staff-led four Minnesota-based Travel Edventures, including a bird banding expedition to Hawk Ridge near Duluth, two wolf-tracking expeditions to Ely, and a visit to Mystery Cave in southeastern Minnesota to explore the importance of bats in Minnesota’s ecological systems.
- 30 volunteers recruited and trained to engage with guests visiting the Wells Fargo Family Farm during summer 2017.