Outdoors | KSTP.com

Lisa submitted this file photo of fall color

State's 'fall color finder' map returns for 2020; DNR recommends 5 state forest color drives

Some Minn. state parks breaking attendance records during pandemic

Get Growing: Bird Planting

Aitkin County horse death linked to disease spread by mosquitoes

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health said on Thursday that a 7-year-old crossbred gelding horse in Aitkin County died and was confirmed to have eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) last week...

DNR: High pheasant numbers this year following drier spring, summer

The DNR said its annual roadside pheasant survey showed a 42% increase in the state pheasant index from 2019 and a 37% increase over the 10-year average ...

Residents advised to be cautious outdoors after cougar spotted near Dodge Center

A resident in the area said the cougar was walking along the treeline near the resident's property. The resident said the cougar seemed to know it was being watched and didn't seem scared of the resident's presence but that the cougar didn't seem interested in approaching either...

Judge mostly OKs regulators' handling of mine water permit

A judge says the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency did not deviate from most of its procedures when it issued a key water quality permit for the proposed PolyMet mine project. The ruling by Chief Ramsey County District Court Judge John Guthmann is a victory for supporters of the state's first copper-nickel mine and the agency ...

US wildlife agency seeks to carve out areas from protections

the proposal indicates that exemptions from habitat protections would be considered for a much broader array of developments, including at the request of private companies that lease federal lands or have permits to use them ...

Wildlife biologist/crocodile specialist Michael Lloret releases baby crocodiles back into the wild along the cooling canals next to the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station after having measured and tagged them with microchips to observe their development in the future, Friday, July 19, 2019, in Homestead, Fla. The 168-miles of man-made canals serve as the home to several hundred crocodiles, where a team of specialists working for Florida Power and Light (FPL) monitors and protects the American crocodiles.

DNR stresses boating safety ahead of Labor Day weekend; 2020 the deadliest season since 2011

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is advising those who plan to hit the lakes this upcoming Labor Day weekend to use caution while boating...

US wildlife officials aim to remove wolf protections in 2020

The Trump administration plans to lift endangered species protections for gray wolves across most of the nation by the end of the year. The director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday that a final decision on the predators' legal status in the Lower 48 states is "very imminent." ...

A gray wolf is seen at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minn

Drilling, mines, other projects hastened by Trump order

The Trump administration is seeking to fast track environmental reviews of dozens of major energy and infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, including oil and gas drilling, hazardous fuel pipelines, wind farms and highway projects in multiple states, according to documents provided to The Associated Press...

In this Sept. 19, 2016, file photo, officials from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission visit St., George, Utah, to examine the route of the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline. The project is one of dozens that the Trump administration has targeted for fast-tracked environmental review during the COVID-19 emergency.

DNR asks Minnesotans to be on lookout for jumping worms in soil, mulch

Jumping worms are so named because they "wiggle intensely when disturbed and sometimes appear to be jumping," the DNR stated...

DNR to change CWD sampling process during deer season due to COVID-19

During the hunting season, CWD sampling will be voluntary. Hunters will be asked to submit samples from their deer at unstaffed stations ...

DNR to hold auctions on confiscated hunting, fishing equipment

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold two scheduled public auctions of confiscated fishing, hunting and trapping equipment this fall...

High algal toxin levels in Lake Cornelia, public advised to stay away

The city said it will evaluate samples from Lake Cornelia to determine the type and number of blue-green algae ...

DNR: Natural food shortage causing bears to seek food in populated areas

“We’re asking people to remove food sources that could attract bears from their properties or campsites,” said Andrew Tri, a bear biologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “It’s important that folks be extra vigilant in keeping trash and birdseed away from bears to ensure they don’t get an easy meal from what people leave out." ...

A bear seen walking in Downtown St. Paul earlier this summer.

US approves oil, gas leasing plan for Alaska Wildlife refuge

Congress approved the program in 2017, and the Interior's Bureau of Land Management in December 2018 concluded drilling could be conducted within the coastal plain area without harming wildlife ...

FILE - In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an airplane flies over caribou from the Porcupine Caribou Herd on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska.The Department of the Interior has approved an oil and gas leasing program within Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is home to polar bears, caribou and other wildlife. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed the Record of Decision, which will determine where oil and gas leasing will take place in the refuge’s coastal plain.

2020 governor's pheasant hunting opener canceled

The event was supposed to be in Fairmont and will instead be held there in 2021 ...

MPRB to reduce lifeguards at park beaches

Originally, MPRB staffed lifeguards at five beaches. Now, only the Bde Maka Ska Thomas beach, Lake Nokomis main beach and Wirth Lake beach will be staffed ...

Walleye fishing, use of live bait to return to Mille Lacs on Aug. 1

A walleye fishing closure and restriction on live bait was put into place on the lake in July after a record ice fishing season led to the harvest of almost 30,000 pounds of walleye, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ...

Minnesota residents say they're receiving 'mystery seeds' from China

Similar reports have come from other states, according to MDA ...

Zebra mussels confirmed in Becker County lake

In addition to Long Lake, other waters closely connected to it may also be added to the infested waters list, the DNR said ...

Trump looks to scale back environmental reviews for projects

President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new federal rule to speed up the environmental review process for proposed highways, gas pipelines and other major infrastructure, a move that critics are describing as the dismantling of a 50-year-old environmental protection law...

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Washington.

State's 'fall color finder' map returns for 2020; DNR recommends 5 state forest color drives

Some Minn. state parks breaking attendance records during pandemic

Get Growing: Bird Planting

Aitkin County horse death linked to disease spread by mosquitoes

DNR: High pheasant numbers this year following drier spring, summer

Residents advised to be cautious outdoors after cougar spotted near Dodge Center

Judge mostly OKs regulators' handling of mine water permit

US wildlife agency seeks to carve out areas from protections

DNR stresses boating safety ahead of Labor Day weekend; 2020 the deadliest season since 2011

US wildlife officials aim to remove wolf protections in 2020

Drilling, mines, other projects hastened by Trump order

DNR asks Minnesotans to be on lookout for jumping worms in soil, mulch

DNR to change CWD sampling process during deer season due to COVID-19

DNR to hold auctions on confiscated hunting, fishing equipment

High algal toxin levels in Lake Cornelia, public advised to stay away

DNR: Natural food shortage causing bears to seek food in populated areas

US approves oil, gas leasing plan for Alaska Wildlife refuge

2020 governor's pheasant hunting opener canceled

MPRB to reduce lifeguards at park beaches

Walleye fishing, use of live bait to return to Mille Lacs on Aug. 1

Minnesota residents say they're receiving 'mystery seeds' from China

Zebra mussels confirmed in Becker County lake

Trump looks to scale back environmental reviews for projects

Most Read Stories

MDH: 14 new COVID-19 deaths, 2,268 new cases

Animal Humane Society to pause operations during first week of November

Authorities seek public's help in locating missing 80-year-old woman

State Trooper acquitted on one sex crime charge, jury hung on second charge

Arlo Guthrie, citing health, says he's retired from touring

Photo Galleries

SNOW PHOTOS: First major snowfall hits the state

PHOTOS: Waseca Police Officer Arik Matson returns home

Digital Extras

Senate Republicans review committee report on unrest

DEED starts new campaign to connect people with jobs

U of M developing new treatments to reverse effects of opioid exposure

FULL NIGHTCAST: Thursday, Oct. 15

FULL SPORTSCAST: Thursday, Oct. 15

Most Read Stories

SNOW PHOTOS: First major snowfall hits the state execCheckDiffShort("10/20/2020 03:21 PM","minutes",0,5900524);

PHOTOS: Waseca Police Officer Arik Matson returns home execCheckDiffShort("10/19/2020 03:25 PM","minutes",0,5899513);

Senate Republicans review committee report on unrest execCheckDiffShort("10/22/2020 06:40 PM","minutes",3818,5903027);

DEED starts new campaign to connect people with jobs execCheckDiffShort("10/22/2020 05:39 PM","minutes",3818,5902985);

U of M developing new treatments to reverse effects of opioid exposure execCheckDiffShort("10/22/2020 03:12 PM","minutes",3818,5902840);

FULL NIGHTCAST: Thursday, Oct. 15 execCheckDiffShort("10/16/2020 07:39 AM","minutes",3818,5896902);