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Minnesota

We hope this page serves as a landing pad for learning about amphibians, reptiles, and their conservation. The resources featured were compiled by members of the MW PARC Advisory Board with input from other professionals working in amphibian and reptile conservation and management.
If links or information are out of date, please let us know!

State species

Minnesota has a proposed state amphibian, the Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens), and a proposed state reptile, the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Both were initially put forward in the late 1990s

NorthernLeopardFrog2_Youngquist.JPG

Field guides and species accounts

Amphibians and Reptiles in Minnesota. Written by John Moriarty and Carol Hall. (Available for purchase)

Snakes and Lizards of Minnesota. Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources. (PDF)

Turtles of Minnesota (Poster). Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources. (PDF)

Conservation and management

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources State Wildlife Action Plan. This is a partnership-based conservation plan that seeks to address the main causes of decline in species of native wildlife. 

Natural Heritage and Non-game Research Program. This program collects, organizes, and, when permitted, shares observation information regarding native non-game animals and plants. Observations of rare animals an plants can be submitted for inclusion in the National Heritage Information System.

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources Threatened and Rare Species Information. Information about Minnesota's Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species, and species labeled as rare, can be found here. A handfull of amphibians and reptiles are included in these groups. 

Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) Conservation Plan for Minnesota. 

Regulations

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources regulations regarding:

Permits related to amphibian and reptile research. Research involving these species in Minnesota requires state issued permits. A non-game species permit is needed, and additional permits may be required depending on where you plan to conduct fieldwork. 

Community science and local organizations

Minnesota Frog and Toad Calling Survey. This is a volunteer based program sponsored by the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources. Surveyors listen for calling frogs and toads and share those data with the MN DNR.

Minnesota Cricket Frog Survey. This project uses HerpMapper to allow members of the community to participate in surveys for the state endangered Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi).

Minnesota Turtle Crossing Tally and Count. This project uses HerpMapper to engage the community in monitoring turtle crossing and mortality hotspots. 

Amphibian and Reptile Survey of Minnesota. The objectives of this organization include increasing the participation of the public in data collection about amphibians and reptiles, and to make data available to conservation and research organizations. 

Minnesota Herpetological Society. This is a non-profit organization open to anyone with interest in amphibians and reptiles. They maintain a regular newsletter.

Technical literature

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources. Research reports about reptiles are available online.

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources. Research reports about amphibians are available online

Museum collections

Bell Museum Amphibian and Reptile Collection. The collections at the Bell include species from the Upper Midwest as well as specimens from Mexico, the south Pacific Islands, and the southwestern USA. It cindlues at least 40 families of amphibians and reptiles. 

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