Environmental News

MPR News is your source for environment news from Minnesota and across the country.

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

Getting to Green is an MPR News series that shares stories about Minnesota’s clean energy transition, including what needs to be done to get there.

Submit a question or story for Getting to Green here.

Climate Cast

Listen to Climate Cast, the MPR News podcast all about our changing climate and its impact in Minnesota and worldwide.

A guide to converting your lawn into a wildlife friendly garden 
Turning your grass into a garden isn't as complicated as you think, but it will take time and effort. This step-by-step guide breaks down the process, from killing your lawn to picking plants to grow.
Pup-date from Ridglan beagle foster mom ahead of dog's adoption day
Tristan Keene has been caring for a beagle she calls Theo and says she’s surprised with how well he’s adjusting to his own firsts: touching grass, being on a bed and playing with a toy.
Leave it to beavers! How these rodents damn wildfires
Man-made firebreaks, like dozer lines created by heavy machinery and hand lines dug by firefighters, help stop flames from spreading — but so do natural barriers like beaver ponds.
Who gives a honk? As Rochester works to curb geese population, some residents push back
Rochester has a goose problem: There are way too many of them. The city is working to reduce the goose population, but the effort is getting some pushback, as many in Rochester see the waterfowl as a core part of the city’s identity.
Beagles rescued from Wisconsin breeder set to find new homes in Minnesota
These are dogs that have never been outside, seen grass or had extensive human contact, Liv Hagen, welfare director for Animal Humane Society, told the MPR News Morning Edition show Thursday.
Bison Festival celebrates release of herd that helps prairie habitat thrive
Every spring, a herd of bison stampede onto prairieland in the St. Croix River Valley. This Saturday, the Bison Festival at the Belwin Conservancy in Afton will draw hundreds of people to watch the release of the animals.
Weathering the Storm: Climate Change and Mental Health
Real world stories of how people cope with a rapidly changing environment. This Call to Mind special looks at the mental health consequences of climate change. We’ll hear from experts who say climate-related anxiety, depression, and grief are urgent mental health issues.