Outdoors

Sign of spring: Lake Minnetonka declared open water for 2026
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol and the conservation nonprofit Freshwater declared open water on the Twin Cities’ largest lake.
There are gaps in Minnesota's flood forecast network. Could AI help? 
A new model developed by a U of M researcher that blends artificial intelligence with more traditional forecasting techniques could bring flood forecasts to many parts of the state that lack them.
As winters warm, Minnesotans grapple with climate grief
Winters in Minnesota are warming faster than any other season. That’s jeopardizing seasonal traditions in the state — and mental health experts say that takes a toll on mental health.
Minnesota moose population holds steady despite warming winters, other threats
The most recent population survey by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and tribal partners found there are an estimated 4,470 moose in the state, which continues a long stabilizing trend after the moose population crashed about 15 years ago.
Tapping into the science of maple syrup
What makes sap start running in late winter? And how do you tap a tree without harming it? MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the science behind maple syrup.
Itasca State Park welcomes the future through potential change
Itasca State Park is looking at two amendments to its current management plan. And the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants to hear visitors’ thoughts about the potential changes.
The ice man cometh to Lake Itasca
On the north end of frozen Lake Itasca, just a couple hundred yards from the Mississippi River headwaters, the nonprofit Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers revealed how old-time ice harvests were done in the past.
Fish house removal deadlines loom as ice melts
With spring fast approaching, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants anglers to  prepare to remove their fish houses from off the ice to meet statutory deadlines.