Friends of Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas

26/12/2025

Good news! Of the 16,000 acres recently acquired by MN DNR, one area will be for protection as an SNA. That is the McKinnley barrens, consisting of 880 acres of jack pine barrens in Cass County.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently made history by acquiring one of its largest land holdings.

02/12/2025

Our comments submitted to the Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force can be read on our website.

https://www.snafriends.org/sustanable-foraging

17/11/2025

Nearing the end of 2025 and we are over half way to our goal of $10,000 to be matched to a total of $60,000 for SNA management. Please share the link with your personal contacts and friends on social media. Click on the link for details: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-unlock-reinvest-in-minnesota-rim-funds-for-scientific-and-natural-areas

13/11/2025

Dear FMSNA friends,

The Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force has been meeting since August of this year and a report is due to the Commissioner of DNR and the legislature in February 2026 as to the findings and recommendations, Before this happens you have time to give your thoughts on foraging on specific state lands, all state lands, and whether to keep the law as it is currently, prohibiting harvesting on Scientific and Natural Areas unless specified exceptions exist (see FMSNA position https://www.snafriends.org/sustanable-foraging).

Questions for comment include whether permits should be required of all harvesters or just those that harvest for commercial purposes. Discussion of “what is a reasonable amount for personal use for berries, mushrooms and nuts,” has come up at several sessions. Members of the public may speak on any topic they choose; oral comments are accepted from the public after each task force meeting, testimony may be limited to 3-minutes, and / or submitted in writing.

Sign up for email notification of all Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force meetings and announcements, https://www.lcc.mn.gov/foraging/meetings.html

The next Sustainable Task Force meeting will be held, Nov. 18th at 10:00 AM, Capitol Room G23 with a listening session to be held beginning at 1:00-2:30 PM Capitol Room G23, if you are going to speak you are to notify Nick Nigro, Research Analyst, 651-296-6033 or [email protected], before Nov. 17, 2025.

The next listening sessions will be held remotely, the first session is Nov. 19th beginning at 8:30 – 10 AM and the focus will be on the northern part of the state, The session will be remote zoom, to speak give 3 days’ notice in advance, to Nick Nigro, Research Analyst, 651-296-6033 or [email protected].

The second session is Nov. 20th 3:00-4:30 PM focusing on the southern part of the state. The session will be remote zoom, to speak give 3 days’ notice in advance, to Nick Nigro, Research Analyst, 651-296-6033 or [email protected].

The third session will be remote zoom Tuesday, December 2nd 11:30 – 1:00 PM requiring 3 days’ notice in advance to Nick Nigro, Research Analyst, 651-296-6033 or [email protected].

16/10/2025

If you think you have a strong back here's an opportunity to test it.

Want to enjoy the fall foliage while enhancing habitat this weekend?🍂 Join SNA staff for a buckthorn removal event on Saturday, October 18 from 10am-2pm at Avon Hills Forest SNA! ✨

Staff and volunteers will pull young buckthorn before it gets too large to remove by hand. Tools, instructions, and good camaraderie will be provided. Bring water, snacks, and dress for working in the weather. Footwear appropriate for outdoor work/hiking is recommended. If you have your own gloves you'd like to use, please bring those as well. There are no maintained trails, public restrooms nor access to drinking water on this site. 🥾

For registration details and additional information, check the event webpage: mndnr.gov/events/event.html?id=82357

Photo: Fall colors shine in the sun at Avon Hills Forest SNA.

10/10/2025

Some of nature seen while scouting for putty-root at Mary Schmidt Crawford Woods SNA, a 120 acre remnant of the 3,000 square miles of sugar maple "big woods" that European colonizers cut down in order to farm the land.

04/08/2025

Our field trip to Helen Allison Savanna SNA Sunday morning was led by volunteer site steward Bruce Anderson, who shared a wealth of knowledge.

26/07/2025

Field Trip to Helen Allison Savanna SNA
The Friends of the Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas is sponsoring a field trip at 9 am on August 3, 2025 to walk the 80-acre Helen Allison Savanna SNA. The site is primarily owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy with the MN DNR serving as a partner. In 1975 Helen Allison Savanna was designated a National Natural Landmark.
Site description: The site's primary features are sandy ground with some dunes, and gnarled bur oaks. Details are available at the following link; https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/detail.html?id=sna00962
The following link is a 20-minute video by Regina Flanagan of the area’s history as well as the landscape and plants at the site. https://vimeo.com/797418688/2538cfb4cb?ts=0
Getting there
From MN Hwy 65 in Bethel 1 mile E on Co Hwy 24 (237th Ave N), then 3.5 miles S and E on Co Hwy 26 (229th Ave N), then 0.25 miles south on Co Rd 15. Park in pull-off or along road.
Lat/Lon: 45.381235, -93.163319 - map it
You may also walk the flat ground on the Northwest Corner of the property, especially if you arrive early or stay late. Park along the road.

Experimental documentary film by artist Regina M Flanagan © 2022 about a rare oak savanna in Minnesota, USA that she has photographed for over 30 years. Available…

01/07/2025

July 27 Bio-blitz at Chamberlain Woods SNA along the Minnesota River

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/2025/06/26/help-document-wild-species-chamberlain-woods-event-le-sueur-county

23/06/2025

FAMEFLOWER FIELD TRIP CANCELLED!!!!!!!!!
See comment for detailed reason why.

Join us to see Fameflowers at Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA Weaver Dunes Unit

Thursday, July 17th 4-7 PM. in case of rain it will be held on the 24th 4-7 PM

We will be looking for the Rough-Seeded Fameflower (not the Small-flowered Fameflower) which blooms from 4 – 7 PM on sunny days. Sometimes there are flowers blooming close to the parking area without having to hike. The majority are found further into the prairie requiring hiking the sand dunes and hills and through tall grass. Long pants, socks, and shoes are advised. In case of rain or cloud cover we will meet the following Thursday, July 24th.

Directions: Wabasha County Road 84 to 598th Street turn left onto 124th Street and follow it to the end.

P.S. Nancy Falkum will be the trip leader and requests people register with her at [email protected]

23/06/2025

An orchid walk this coming Sunday at 3 PM at a northern SNA sounds like fun. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/events/event.html?id=80885

04/06/2025

This letter to the editor was printed in the Star Tribune May 20.

Foraging, Done Wrong

The Star Tribune article “A mushroom hunting novice hunts for the elusive morel” (May 20) mentions foraging groups’ laudable goal “to create a task force to outline clearer rules for harvesting on state properties.” Unfortunately, a bill (SF 2077) that would appropriate $327,000 to establish a “Sustainable Foraging Task Force” contains four fundamental flaws:
It allows unsustainable foraging — until the data says otherwise. Instead, the Legislature should adopt the precautionary principle: to allow foraging activities only when supported by the data.
It hamstrings the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources from adopting any rule pertaining to foraging until July 1, 2027.
It does not exempt Minnesota’s 170 Scientific and Natural Areas, within which foraging is presently illegal per Minnesota statutes.
As stated by the DNR, “The Foraging Task Force language in the bill gives a majority voice to consumptive users of public lands while excluding the voices of those who use public lands for non-consumptive purposes.”

Thomas E. Casey, Mound