Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends

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Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends

Formerly known as Refuge Friends Inc, Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends is the official citizen support

08/30/2026

It might feel like the end of summer, but there is still a lot of birdwatching to do on the Refuge. Thanks to refuge volunteer, Friends Board Member, and awesome birding photographer Michael Kurtz, for sharing this beautiful image caught on a recent refuge hike.

Green Heron are one of the smaller heron species that inhabit the State and the Minnesota River Valley. They are secretive and almost round-oval shaped when they want to be hidden but can stretch out their elongated neck when looking around or to strike their prey below. A majority of the time they are in small ponds, marshes, wetlands and can be in shallow water of lake edges. "This green heron was surprisingly on the edge of the great Minnesota River! I have never seen one on such a powerful river but this heron was successful in catching some small minnows. You never know when nature will surprise you!"

08/26/2026

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest news, stunning wildlife photography, and behind-the-scenes peeks into our conservation efforts? You can follow us on Instagram to see more from the Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends, where we're dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural beauty of the refuge! 🌳📸

08/17/2026

💛Small tags, big impact! Monarch tagging starts tomorrow, August 17 at 10:00 am at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Additional dates are scheduled throughout the month so don't miss your chance to give it a try.

Stop by the Bloomington Visitor Center pop-up tent, catch and tag migrating monarchs, and contribute to vital research tracking their flight south.

📌Free & open to all ages! For more details 🦋 ✨ go to https://www.fws.gov/event/monarch-tagging-15

08/15/2026

For World Honey Bee Day we wanted to take some time to highlight our native bees and raise awareness for the challenges that honey bees pose to them (as much as we may enjoy the taste of honey.)

Honey bees originate in Europe as domesticated animals that were brought over in the 1600’s. While their colonies are traditionally managed in an apiary, foragers can roam miles away in search of nectar. With a high level of coordination. honey bees may be directly competing for resources with other local pollinators, especially native bees. The fewer flowers there are, the less resources there are to go around. Additionally, sharing food sources can cause cross contamination and spread diseases between species. With habitat loss and degradation, these issues are only exacerbated.

In the United States there are nearly 4000 species of native bees with about 1/10th of those living in Minnesota. This incredible biological diversity is put at risk by invasive species like the honey bee. 5 out of 23 species of native bumblebees in Minnesota, for example, are considered vulnerable or endangered such as the American Bumble Bee, Yellow-Branded Bumble Bee, and Golden Northern Bumble Bee. In particular, the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee is considered at risk federally. Other endangered native bees include the N**e Yellow Loosestrife Bee, Mining bees, Longhorn bees, Leafcutter bees, Sunflower bees, and Short-faced bees.

By planting native plants and wildflowers, you can help ensure that native bees have a reliable source of food and habitat. Check out partner organizations such as Altlawns and Metro Blooms for resources on planting pollinator friendly gardens. Different species of bees have different preferences so learning what helps each species can promote a buzzing garden of biodiversity!

08/12/2026

When do ducks lack feathers? When they are part of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge D.U.C.K.S Youth Intern crew! In honor of International Youth Day, Refuge Friends would like to thank this 12-member crew, their supervisors and supporting refuge staff for their hardwork and committment to (D)iscovery, (U)nity, (C)onservation, (K)nowledge and (S)ervice.

DUCKS spend their summer practicing team-work. They learn and then use conservation techniques to benefit the refuge and the community. They have an opportunity to try out new types of outdoor recreation. And they do all this while earning a competitive hourly salary.

Refuge staff have always worked with summer college interns but recognized a need for pre-college intern opportunities in the field of conservation. Thanks to support from the Minnesota Valley Trust, grants from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, and the Refuge Friends, the D.U.C.K.S. youth internship program was formed.

08/10/2026

50th Anniversary Mugs are now on sale at the Blufftop Nature Store and are the featured product for August. This special edition is not expected to stay in stock for very long so don't wait to get yours. Long-standing Blufftop Nature Store volunteer Pat especially likes the taller size and the mottled colors of the glaze. This mug features a Great Blue Heron and is made locally by Deen Pottery. A wonderful holiday gift for the cold season, your purchase also supports refuge education programming.

The Blufftop Nature Store is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. But if you prefer to make an online purchase, visit: https://shop.mvrfriends.org/

08/07/2026

Registration is now open for the Minnesota Valley Alumni Event on Saturday, September 26. Former refuge interns, staff, volunteers as well as Refuge Friends staff and board members are invited for a light breakfast and a variety of activities. If you've been away awhile, discover the exciting changes and future plans for this unique urban oasis.

Reserve your spot at http://bit.ly/MNRefugeRSVP

This event coincides with the Refuge 50th Birthday Bash 🥳that includes fun for the whole family!

07/26/2026

Calling all artistic nature lovers! Don't miss the "Find Your Wild" nature art contest being put on by the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in honor of the Refuge's 50th birthday. Entries are open to artists of all ages - with categories ranging from Kindergarten to adult. Entries must be submitted electronically by Monday, September 7.

For more details, visit https://www.fws.gov/story/minnesota-valley-national-wildlife-refuge-50th-anniversary

07/21/2026

In the heat of July, let's cool off with a photo of some of our favorite Featured Friends: Doris & Pat! 🌿

What started off as a retirement activity quickly turned into a decade of dedication, laughter, and community at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Meet Doris and Pat, two of our incredible volunteers.

Since joining the Friends (Doris in 2013 and Pat in 2016), they’ve done it all:
* The Front Desk & Nature Store: Greeting you with a smile every Thursday.
* Environmental Education: Helping 4th and 5th graders discover the magic of nature through a pair of binoculars.
* Trail Ranger: Keeping our paths beautiful (and even picking up trash at the Bass Ponds with helpful visitors!).
* The Blue Goose: Doris has braved the heat in the mascot suit to connect with kids, relying on her old softball catcher skills to get down to their eye level! ⚾️
* Leadership: Pat has served on our Board for three years as Secretary, helping guide the future of the Friends.

Why do they do it? Whether it’s running into Refuge staff while on vacation in Florida or hearing a student at Old Cedar Bridge say, "I just want to live here!" the connections made here are lifelong. As they put it: "It’s nice to know we can do things to keep nature, nature."
Doris and Pat, thank you for making our community brighter and busier than ever!

07/20/2026

Did you know that Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge turns 50 this year? If you are a former refuge staff, refuge intern or refuge friends board member you are invited to celebrate, reminisce, and explore what's new.

Address

3815 American Boulevard E
Bloomington, MN
55425

Telephone

+19528580737

Website

https://MVRFriends.org/

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