Four not-particularly-well-known Minnesota wildlife species will studied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine if they should be put on the endangered species list.
They’re looking at the northern bog lemming, wood turtle, rusty-patched bumble bee and regal fritillary, a butterfly.
Those four, which are found in Minnesota and other parts of the Midwest, will be studied in-depth to see if they qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Here’s what the Fish and Wildlife Service says about them:
- The northern bog lemming is found in sphagnum bogs, wet subalpine meadows and mossy forests in northern states.
- Wood turtles inhabit streams, woodland bogs and marshy pastures.
- The rusty-patched bumble bee is a pollinator that needs a supply of flowers that bloom from April to September.
- A large orange and black butterfly, the regal fritillary is sometimes mistaken for a monarch butterfly if seen from a distance. It is found in grasslands and prairies, and as a caterpillar, eats only violets.
