The Bell Museum of Natural History is organizing volunteers for its annual BioBlitz, a 24-hour race to count and study creatures in woodlands, prairies and streams near suburban Rosemount.

Each year hundreds of amateur and professional scientists from around the state use sonar detectors, nets, bug lights, binoculars and laptops to count and chronicle an area's plants and animal life — from red foxes to tiger beetles to morels and mollusks.

Public volunteers (families are welcome) work alongside biologists to collect plants and insects and to live-trap animals, which are identified before being released back into the wild.

In addition to educating people about the natural world, the annual event provides an environmental benchmark for natural resource managers. It is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Minnesota BioBlitz 2010 is to focus on the historic woodlands, streams and restored prairies of the Vermillion Highlands Research, Recreation and Wildlife Management Area. It is of particular interest right now because in 2006 the Minnesota Legislature set aside that land to be a natural area for public access in perpetuity. The University of Minnesota is to deed the property to the state in 2032.

Here's a sampling of scheduled events for BioBlitz 2010:

Friday, June 11
5 p.m. — Kick-off and survey site set-up

8:30 p.m. — Nocturnal animal survey

9:30 p.m. — Night insect collecting

Saturday, June 12
6 a.m. — Bird hike

8 a.m. — Bird banding

8 a.m. — Mammal survey

Noon — Insect netting

1 p.m. — Mushroom walk  

You can learn about more activities here.

The event is free and open to the public. For a complete schedule, check here. For information and scientific volunteer opportunities, contact Jennifer Menken at menke004@umn.edu.