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Volunteers collecting seeds in a prairie
Native Seed Collection

Date: Sep 19th, Sep 26th, Oct 3rd

Time: 10am-3pm (26th is 9am-3pm)

Location: TBD

If you’re interested in helping conserve our native prairies, come spend a day outdoors, learn new skills, gain conservation knowledge, and share good conversation with fellow volunteers.

We will also provide a free meal!

Please sign up in advance (Sept 19 and Oct 3 or Sept 26). You can also call Sara Vacek (320) 288-3773 or email sara_vacek@fws.gov to sign up. Signing up helps us have enough food for everyone and lets us update you on location and cancellations.

We provide all the tools and materials you’ll need, so just bring water and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes appropriate for walking in tall grass.

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Three river otters peeking their heads above water
Restoring the Upper Minnesota River

Work has started on a years-in-the-making project to restore the Whetstone and Minnesota Rivers around Ortonville, MN, just north of the Refuge. Learn more about this project, its many contributors, its implications for fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage , and how Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge fits into the big picture.

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A woman stands in the left side of the frame with her cattle dog and a herd of cows can be seen in the background
Grazing Opportunities

TheBig Stone Wetland Management District in Odessa, MN is accepting bids for grazing opportunities in Lincoln county, Minnesota. The 3 grazing units range in size from 140-480 acres and are available for up to 3 years. Producers must follow all federal and state regulations. Applicants must complete and submit a bid sheet and the first page of the special use application from each bid packet. Packets are available at the District Office or by contacting Brandon Semel at (320) 808-9470 or brandon_semel@fws.gov. Packets include maps and all details for each unit. Completed bids must be submitted by noon on Friday, October 16, 2026. Sealed bids may be mailed to: Big Stone WMD, Attn: Brandon Semel, 44843 Co Hwy 19, Odessa, MN 56278, hand delivered, or emailed to brandon_semel@fws.gov. Units will be allocated using a competitive bidding process and the winning bidders will be notified by close of business October 16, 2026. Any additional questions, please contact Brandon Semel.


 

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge was originally purchased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on May 21, 1975. The refuge currently includes 11,586 acres in Big Stone and Lac qui Parle Counties, in Minnesota.

Visit Us

The Auto Tour Route is open the first Monday in April to the first Monday in December unless otherwise noted in the alerts on our Home Page.  

Connect with your natural heritage as you experience wildlife, diverse habitats and magnificent granite outcrops at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Location and Contact Information

      A refuge volunteer helps repair a boardwalk
      Seeking Volunteers!

      We are seeking volunteers to help with seasonal activities on the Refuge. These include regular maintenance tasks, mowing, trail improvements, invasive species invasive species
      An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

      Learn more about invasive species       treatment, and more. Come join us out on the prairie!

      Our Organization

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
      Program
      Washington,DC