Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

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Bloomington, MN
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome

This is an official page of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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To learn more about our social media efforts, and to find a list of official USFWS social media sites, please visit our social media hub:http://www.fws.gov/home/socialmedia/

Our agency is known for our scientific excellence, our stewardship of lands and natural resources, and our dedicated conservation and wildlife professionals. While we hope that this page will help you stay connected to our wo

rk, we also hope that it will keep us connected to you and the issues you care about. Your participation on this page is vital and all feedback is welcome--both good and bad. Your perspective is welcomed and we hope that conversations about the Service can be productive, fun, and engaging.

06/13/2026

Meet a monarch caterpillar! 🐛

This little visitor is feeding on milkweed, the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat. In a few weeks, it will begin an incredible transformation into a monarch butterfly. Nature's life cycle is truly fascinating!

Photo by Vicki Sherry/USFWS

06/11/2026

Our newest visitor seemed very determined to get inside! 😄

Join us this weekend to explore the visitor center, discover the trails, and see what wildlife you might encounter along the way.

Video by Alaina Larkin/USFWS

06/09/2026

Please welcome Elliot Diaz, the new Visitor Services and Outreach Apprentice with the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge!

Born and raised in Eagan, Minnesota, Elliot has volunteered with the refuge over the past year and is excited to begin his professional development. Elliot is looking forward to experiencing how the environment inspires and impacts people - whether through art, stories, or the hobbies people choose to engage in.

Photo by Grace Ducosin/USFWS

06/08/2026

🚧 LIMITED TRAIL ACCESS 🚧 Heads up! The Middle Road Trailhead within the Louisville Swamp Unit will have limited parking June 8-12 due to infrastructure improvements. Crews will be on-site operating heavy machinery to create a new visitor parking lot.

We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and thanks for your patience as we work to improve access to our trails!

📷USDA Forest Service photo by Heather Griffin.

06/06/2026

Happy National Trails Day!

Do you like hiking and exploring the outdoors? Become a Trail Ranger today! Help keep our trails beautiful and welcoming by volunteering as the Refuge’s eyes and ears. Walk the trails at your own pace while picking up litter, reporting maintenance needs, and sharing flora and fauna discoveries.

Trail Rangers explore Refuge trails on their own schedule while reporting trail conditions, maintenance needs, visitor use, and wildlife sightings. A one-hour training is provided before you get started🌿

Go to www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota-valley/get-involved to learn more and get involved. Happy Trails!

Photo by by Eliza Foli/USFWS

06/04/2026

Oh, the places you can go! With 50+ miles of trail to be explored on the refuge this summer, do you think you can hike them all? Stay tuned this month to learn about some of our staff's favorite trailheads!

Photo by Eslie King/USFWS

05/30/2026

Sun's out, snakes out😎 Our legless residents, like this watersnake, can be caught soaking up the rays throughout the refuge to regulate their body temperature. Don't worry, they are nonvenomous and tend to be pretty shy!

Photo by Theresa Garrison/USFWS

05/28/2026

Outdoor classroom, endless curiosity! 🌱🔬 Nothing beats exploring nature with our students, teachers, staff, and volunteers. Thank you all for making this spring Environmental Education season unforgettable!

📷Kara Zwickey/USFWS

05/26/2026

Ahh the marsh...or is it a bog? A swamp? A fen?

There are many types of wetlands - differentiated by location, plants that grow there and the water- but no matter the difference, wetlands are vital parts of our ecosystems! Why are they so important?
💧They are Nature's water filter
💧Help control flooding by acting as a big sponge
💧More than one-third of America’s threatened and endangered species live only in wetlands.

What better time to thank a wetland than during American Wetland Month?

Blue Wetland courtesy of Tina Shaw/USFWS

05/24/2026

"I bet I can jump higher than you!"

(What we assume prompted this dispute between Lesser yellow legs captured on the refuge)

Photo by Ted Narveson/USFWS

Address

3815 American Boulevard E
Bloomington, MN
55425

Telephone

+19528545900

Website

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota-valley

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