Endangered Animals in Minnesota: What They Are and How the Law Protects Them

Minnesota was once described by early European explorers as a land teeming with extraordinary wildlife diversity — but that picture has changed significantly over the centuries. Today, Minnesota still has a rich natural heritage, but some of the species seen by those early explorers no longer exist in the state, or they survive only in small, fragmented populations.

If you live, work, or spend time outdoors in the state, understanding which animals are endangered — and what the law says about them — is more important than you might think. Whether you’re a landowner, a hiker, a developer, or simply a curious resident, the rules surrounding endangered animals apply to you. This guide breaks down Minnesota’s endangered species framework, the animals most at risk, and exactly what you can and cannot do under state and federal law.

Key Insight: Minnesota’s endangered species protections operate on two separate tracks — state law and federal law — and both can apply to the same animal at the same time.

How Endangered Species Are Listed and Protected in Minnesota

Minnesota’s endangered species framework is rooted in a law that dates back more than five decades. In an effort to prevent further losses, the state Legislature passed Minnesota’s Endangered and Threatened Species law in 1971, which directs the DNR to identify those species that are at greatest risk of disappearing from the state.

Minnesota’s Endangered Species Statute (Minnesota Statutes, Section 84.0895) requires the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to adopt rules designating species meeting the statutory definitions of endangered, threatened, or special concern. The resulting List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species is codified as Minnesota Rules, Chapter 6134.

The statute establishes three tiers of concern, each with its own definition:

• Endangered: A species is endangered if it is threatened with extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
• Threatened: A species is considered threatened if it is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range within Minnesota.
• Special Concern: A species is considered a species of special concern if, although the species is not endangered or threatened, it is extremely uncommon in Minnesota, or has unique or highly specific habitat requirements and deserves careful monitoring of its status.

It’s important to note that species of special concern are not protected by Minnesota’s Endangered Species Statute or the associated Rules. Only species formally designated as endangered or threatened carry full legal protections under state law.

The commissioner is required to reevaluate the designated species list every three years after it is first adopted and make appropriate changes. This means the list is not static — species can be added, upgraded, downgraded, or removed based on new data.

Pro Tip: You can browse all 590 species profiles — searchable by county, habitat, and taxonomic group — through the Minnesota DNR’s Rare Species Guide.

Federally Listed vs. State-Listed Endangered Animals in Minnesota

One of the most important distinctions to understand is that Minnesota’s state endangered species list and the federal list are entirely separate systems. A species can appear on one, both, or neither — and each list carries its own set of legal obligations.

The federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 provides for the identification, listing, and protection of both threatened and endangered species and their habitats. At the federal level, ESA administration and enforcement are the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Minnesota is home to 12 federally threatened and endangered species, including the Canada lynx, northern long-eared bat, Topeka shiner, Dakota skipper, winged mapleleaf (mussel), rusty patched bumble bee, and Minnesota dwarf trout lily.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of how the two systems differ:

The federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 USC 1531–1544), requires the U.S. Department of the Interior to identify species as endangered or threatened according to a separate set of definitions, and imposes a separate set of restrictions pertaining to those species. This means if an animal is federally listed, you must comply with federal rules regardless of what state law says — and vice versa.

Important Note: If a species is listed under both state and federal law, the stricter set of rules applies. Always check both lists before undertaking any activity that could affect wildlife habitat.

Notable Endangered Animals Found in Minnesota

Minnesota’s varied landscapes — from boreal forests in the north to prairies in the southwest and river systems throughout — support a wide range of species, some of which are now critically at risk. Here are some of the most significant endangered animals found in the state.

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

The rusty patched bumble bee holds the distinction of being the first bumble bee species listed as federally endangered in the contiguous United States. Once widely distributed in Minnesota’s prairies, this butterfly — and similarly, the bee — has not been seen in several years. The cause of this precipitous decline is not known, but the species may be gone from the state. Its status was recently changed from special concern to endangered. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and disease are among the leading threats to pollinators like this one. You can learn more about animals facing similar threats by exploring extinct animals to understand what full extinction looks like.

Canada Lynx

The Canada lynx is one of Minnesota’s most recognized federally protected mammals. The lynx is a medium-sized cat with long legs, large, well-furred paws, long tufts on the ears, and a short, black-tipped tail. The winter pelage of the lynx is dense and has a grizzled appearance with grayish-brown mixed with buff or pale brown fur on the back. It is listed as threatened at the federal level and is primarily found in Minnesota’s northern boreal forests.

Northern Long-Eared Bat

The northern long-eared bat has experienced dramatic population declines due to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has devastated bat colonies across North America. It is federally listed as endangered and is found across much of Minnesota, particularly in forested regions where it roosts in trees and caves.

Higgins Eye Pearly Mussel

The Higgins eye is a freshwater mussel of larger rivers where it is usually found in areas with deep water and moderate currents. Its range includes the upper Mississippi River, the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin, and the lower Rock River. It is federally listed as endangered and faces threats from habitat degradation and the invasive zebra mussel.

Spectaclecase Mussel

In Minnesota, this mussel is restricted to patches of boulders found in only a few portions of the St. Croix River. The Rare Species Guide is a dynamic, interactive resource for information on Minnesota’s endangered, threatened, and special concern species. Like all freshwater mussels, the larvae of the Spectaclecase must attach to a fish host to transform into an adult. However, scientists have yet to discover the fish host for this species. Its status was recently changed from threatened to endangered.

Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily

While technically a plant rather than an animal, the Minnesota dwarf trout lily illustrates just how narrow the margin of survival can be for some species. The Minnesota dwarf trout lily is a forest wildflower found in Rice and Goodhue Counties, Minnesota. Because it is known only from this small area, the dwarf trout lily is considered a Minnesota “endemic” — a species that grows in Minnesota and nowhere else on earth.

Whooping Crane

The whooping crane occurs only in North America and is North America’s tallest bird, with males approaching 1.5 m (5 ft) when standing erect. It passes through Minnesota during migration and is one of the rarest birds on the continent. It is federally listed as endangered. Curious about other remarkable birds and animals? Check out some of the most colorful animals in the world for a broader look at wildlife diversity.

Pro Tip: Minnesota’s bald eagle was once near extinction due to DDT poisoning. Following the banning of DDT, it has been the subject of an intensive restoration program in Minnesota, and its population is now expanding throughout the state. It’s a reminder that recovery is possible with the right protections in place.

What You Cannot Do Around Endangered Animals in Minnesota

Understanding the legal restrictions around endangered animals is not just for scientists or developers — it applies to everyday residents, hikers, farmers, and anyone who spends time in Minnesota’s natural spaces.

Under Minnesota’s Endangered Species Statute, the rules are broad and clear. A person may not take, import, transport, release, or sell any portion of an endangered or threatened species of wild animal or plant, or sell or possess with intent to sell an article made with any part of the skin, hide, or parts of an endangered or threatened species of wild animal or plant.

The federal ESA defines “take” even more broadly. The Endangered Species Act makes the taking of an animal on the endangered or threatened species list illegal. According to the act, to take is to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or attempt to engage in any such conduct.”

Here is a breakdown of specific prohibited actions:

• Hunting or trapping any state or federally listed endangered animal
• Collecting specimens, feathers, shells, or other parts from endangered species
• Transporting or selling any part of a listed animal, alive or dead
• Harassing or disturbing a protected animal in ways that disrupt its normal behavior
• Destroying critical habitat that a listed species depends on for survival
• Possessing a listed animal without a valid permit

In addition to taking a species, delivering, receiving, selling, purchasing, or transporting a threatened or endangered animal species is prohibited without a permit, whether the species is alive or dead. Permits are also required for individual or group activities that involve interfering with a species’ habitat.

Common Mistake: Many people assume that simply observing or photographing an endangered animal is always fine. While passive observation is generally permitted, any action that causes the animal to alter its behavior — such as flushing a nesting bird from its nest — can be considered harassment under the ESA.

There is one narrow exception under state law: a person may capture or destroy a member of an endangered species, without permit, to avoid an immediate and demonstrable threat to human life or property. This is a narrow emergency provision and does not apply to general inconveniences or minor property concerns.

Pesticide use near endangered species also carries specific responsibilities. Avoiding damage to non-target plants and animals is always the responsibility of pesticide applicators, but that responsibility is all the more critical when endangered or threatened species are concerned. If you want to understand how some animals have developed natural defenses, see our look at animals immune to snake venom for context on wildlife resilience.

Endangered Species on Private Land in Minnesota

One of the most common misconceptions about endangered species law is that it only applies to public lands. In reality, both state and federal protections follow the species — not the property line. If a protected animal lives on, nests on, or regularly uses your private land, the law applies to you.

Under the federal ESA, individuals engaging in activities that might result in the taking of a protected species must abide by a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), which includes information on how to mitigate or minimize any impacts to the species or its habitat.

An incidental take permit is required if an activity may result in the taking of a threatened or endangered species. Those who apply for this permit must submit a habitat conservation plan to the proper federal or state authority ensuring that the effects of taking the species will be minimized and mitigated.

Minnesota’s state permit system mirrors this framework. The intent of Minnesota’s Endangered Species Law is to retain or restore healthy populations of the state’s endangered, threatened, and special concern plants and animals. A permit is required to take, pursue, capture, kill, dig up, dispose, destroy, purchase, import, possess, transport, or sell live or dead endangered or threatened plants or animals, including their parts or seeds.

There are some limited agricultural exemptions. These acts may be allowed by permit issued by the DNR; plants on certain agricultural lands and plants destroyed in consequence of certain agricultural practices are exempt; and the accidental, unknowing destruction of designated plants is exempt. However, animal species carry no equivalent agricultural exemption — the restrictions apply regardless of land use.

If you are a landowner planning any construction, land clearing, drainage, or development project, you should proactively check whether any listed species are present. Before applying pesticides, check with landowners to learn if a protected species lives on the property being treated or on adjoining land. Check with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at 888-646-6367 if landowners are uncertain about the presence of protected species.

The DNR commissioner will need to approve the Permit to Take Incidental to a Development Project. Once the DNR has reviewed the permit application, a permit will be issued or denied within 150 days. Planning ahead is essential — waiting until construction has already begun is not a viable strategy. For context on other animals facing land-use pressures, see our guide on stray animals and the challenges displaced wildlife face.

Important Note: Federal ESA protections apply to private land without exception for animal species. Even if your property is entirely private, knowingly harming a federally listed endangered animal can result in federal prosecution.

How to Report an Endangered Animal Sighting in Minnesota

Reporting a sighting of an endangered or threatened animal is one of the most valuable contributions you can make to wildlife conservation. The data collected from citizen reports directly informs the DNR’s decisions about listing, habitat protection, and recovery planning.

Here’s how you can report a sighting in Minnesota:

1. Contact the Minnesota DNR directly. You can reach the DNR’s Division of Ecological and Water Resources by phone at 888-646-6367 (statewide) or 651-296-6157 (metro area). Staff can help you identify the species and determine the appropriate next steps.
2. Use the Minnesota DNR’s online tools. The Rare Species Guide provides information on the status, distribution, ecology, conservation, and management of rare animals and plants. You can query 590 species profiles based on name, taxonomic group, status, county, watershed, and habitat. This is a useful tool for confirming whether what you’ve observed may be a listed species before you report.
3. Submit a report through the Natural Heritage Information System. The DNR maintains information on Minnesota’s rare natural resources through its Natural Heritage Information System. Verified sightings submitted through this system become part of the official record used in environmental review and conservation planning.
4. Contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for federally listed species. Some of Minnesota’s endangered or threatened species are also listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act. If species that are federally listed as endangered or threatened may be affected by an activity, contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Minnesota-Wisconsin Ecological Services Field Office is the appropriate regional contact.
5. Use iNaturalist or eBird for birds and wildlife. These citizen science platforms allow you to log observations with photos and GPS coordinates. While not official government channels, data from these platforms is increasingly used by researchers and conservation agencies to track species distribution.

Pro Tip: When reporting a sighting, document as much detail as possible — the date, time, exact location (GPS coordinates if available), a description of the animal’s behavior, and photos if you can take them safely without disturbing the animal. The more specific your report, the more useful it is to wildlife managers.

If you spot what appears to be an injured or deceased endangered animal, do not attempt to move or handle it. Contact the DNR immediately. Possessing any part of a protected species — even accidentally — can create legal complications. You may also find it helpful to review information on endangered animals in Virginia or endangered animals in West Virginia to compare how reporting systems work across states.

Penalties for Harming or Taking an Endangered Animal in Minnesota

The legal consequences for harming, killing, possessing, or trafficking an endangered animal in Minnesota can be severe — and ignorance of a species’ protected status is not a valid legal defense.

State-Level Penalties

Under Minnesota Statutes, Section 84.0895, a violation of this section is a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor in Minnesota can carry penalties including fines and potential jail time of up to 90 days. While this may seem modest compared to federal penalties, it is important to understand that a misdemeanor conviction still creates a criminal record, and courts may impose additional civil penalties or restitution for wildlife harm.

Federal-Level Penalties

Federal penalties under the ESA are substantially more severe. Taking a species generally includes causing any harm to a federally protected animal or plant species. Any individual who knowingly takes a listed species can be fined up to $25,000 by the federal government for each violation or instance. Criminal penalties for intentional violations can include imprisonment.

It is illegal under the Endangered Species Act to kill or harm an endangered or threatened species. It is also illegal to destroy or modify critical habitats they depend on. Habitat destruction penalties are treated as seriously as direct harm to the animal itself.

Additional Consequences

Beyond fines and criminal charges, violators may also face:

• Forfeiture of equipment used in the violation (vehicles, traps, firearms, boats)
• Civil restitution payments to cover the cost of wildlife restoration or rehabilitation
• Loss of hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses in Minnesota
• Federal permit revocations for businesses or developers operating under ESA permits
• Project injunctions halting development activities until compliance is achieved

Common Mistake: Some people assume that if they didn’t intentionally target an endangered species, they cannot be penalized. However, under the ESA, even unintentional “take” — such as destroying known habitat during land clearing — can result in federal enforcement action if proper permits were not obtained in advance.

If you are a developer, contractor, or landowner involved in a project that may affect protected species, the safest course of action is to conduct a pre-project survey and consult with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Minnesota-Wisconsin Field Office and the Minnesota DNR Endangered Species Program before any ground is broken. Be aware of endangered, threatened, and candidate species in the areas you apply pesticides. There is no legal excuse for harming an endangered or threatened species or their crucial habitat with a pesticide.

Minnesota’s endangered species laws exist to preserve the biological diversity that defines the state’s natural identity. Whether you’re curious about the biggest animals in the world or the smallest creatures in your backyard, every species plays a role in a functioning ecosystem. By alerting resource managers and the public to species in jeopardy, actions can be taken to help preserve the diversity of Minnesota’s flora and fauna. Your awareness — and your compliance with the law — is part of that effort.

If you want to explore how other states handle wildlife protection, see our coverage of endangered animals in Washington for a comparison of Pacific Northwest protections, or browse our broader content on animals native to Australia to see how wildlife conservation plays out globally.