Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Minneapolis, MN is a place of interest for many of us that love the outdoors and wildlife. It is one of the few urban wildlife refuges that are still left today. Located in Bloomington, it gives people the chance to see exotic and natural habitat and still stay within the city limits instead of traveling far into the country or wooded areas. Some of the habitats you can see are seeps, oak savannas, riverine wetlands, fens, forest and native prairie and floodplain forests.
It's located with the suburban and urban sections of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The refuge consists of 14,000 acres broken into fourteen individual linear units, along 99 miles of the Minnesota River. The refuge lands right in the middle of a marsh, which is surrounded by highways, office buildings, residential areas and grain terminals all around them like a border. The hours for the refuge are Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In 2004, the refuge put together a program called the Comprehensive Conservation Plan, whose goal was to promote natural process and native species as often as possible. Wherever and whenever it's possible, the staff of the refuge try to reestablish native species and replicate natural processes by means of flooding, using an occasional fire or with water draw-downs.
The highpoint of the refuge, which is the visitor center, consists of 8000 square feet of exhibit space of which includes a bookstore, a 125-seat auditorium, an art gallery, observation deck and two classrooms. Any and all educations regarding the refuge as well as any interpretations are held in the visitor center. Park rangers and volunteers also give many programs on the refuge units.
Cross-country skiing, hunting, hiking and fishing are some of the other recreational activities that take place at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. There are also some bird-watching spots that are excellent for seeing unique and rare birds. At the end of the tours, many groups decide to stay and picnic on the picnic grounds that are part of the refuge grounds. Also assisting this refuge is a non-profit organization called Refuge Friends group.
