Welcome
This is an official page of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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
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
05/21/2026
Get ready to make a splash for this weekend's Movies at the Refuge! We'll be hosting a FREE showing of the movie Flow from 11am-1pm and 3pm-5pm this Saturday. 🌊🐈⬛
More details here! https://www.fws.gov/event/nature-movies-refuge-flow
Photos by Virginia Radtke/USFWS
05/20/2026
Did you know that more than 1/3 of the world's crops rely on bees for production?
Without bees, we wouldn't have such easy access to our favorite foods like berries, almonds, pumpkins, cucumbers, and so much more! Let's give a round of applause for these un-bee-lievably hard workers 🐝👏
Honeybee on Clover by Andy Murray/CC
05/19/2026
They're baaaaack! 🐐 Our beloved goat crew has returned to the Bloomington Education and Visitor Center, ready to tackle invasive plants like buckthorn and help restore our native habitat.
If you spot our hardworking goats, please enjoy watching them from the trail—remember to stay outside the fence and avoid feeding or petting them so they can focus on their important job.
We’d love to see your best goat photos or videos! Share your moments with us in the comments or tag us in your posts. 📸
Curious about how goats help us fight invasive species? Learn more: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota-valley/what-we-do -species
05/18/2026
What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh! Our lakes and rivers at Minnesota Valley are open for spring fishing, with fishing so good it'll have you reeling. 🎣
A valid Minnesota State fishing license is required for those 16 and older. For more information, visit the MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/index.html
Youth Fishing courtesy of Thia Xiong/USFWS
05/15/2026
It's the best time of the year: baby animal season! 🐣
As baby animals emerge into the world, one of the ways they stay safe is to use camouflage. Fawns, for example, have about 300 white spots on their back to mimic the spots of sunlight on the forest floor. The cuteness factor is just a bonus 🥰
Fawn with Mother by USFWS