Much of the landscape has been pressed into a suburban habitat. Fortunately, as a result of progressive open space planning the Twin Cities and surrounding counties maintain one of the largest urban county and regional park systems in the country. The metro area's estimated 50,000 acres of wildlife habitat include regional parks and park reserves, wildlife management area, a national wildlife refuge that extends for 34 miles, a national wild and scenic riverway, three state parks and one state-owned wildlife management area covering 23,000 acres.
Wildlife remains remarkably diverse.
Species once lost from the area, such as peregrine falcons, sandhill cranes, coyotes, bald eagles, river otters and trumpeter swans, now have reoccupied the remaining habitat. Nongame services include a film lending library for educators, resource information for citizens, and technical expertise and participation in community activities and services. Projects are done by the Nongame staff, focusing on habitat restoration and improvement for nongame species such as placement of loon and osprey platforms, and prescribed burning. Survey efforts include monitoring of endangered species, and tracking the more common nongame species such as bluebird and common loon. Also, included are rehabilitation of injured wildlife and administration of falconry activities.