Minnesota, the midwestern U.S. state located along the northern shores of Lake Superior, is characterized by vast forests, prairies, and rolling hills. It is aptly named the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ with over 10 acres of the state’s northern region covered in 11,842 lakes. The southern part of Minnesota features fertile agricultural lands. Thousands of wildlife species and plants call this state their home.
The state has 6 national parks, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and Voyageurs National Park, which you can visit in search of the local wildlife. The Sax-Zim Bog is a great place to see birds.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in Minnesota
Mammals
American Black Bear
Bobcat
Coyote
Gray Wolf
Eastern Wolf
Wolverine
Gray Fox
Red Fox
White-tailed Deer
Moose
Canada Lynx
American Marten
American Mink
Northern River Otter
Raccoon
Spotted Skunk
Striped Skunk
American Badger
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
American Beaver
Eastern Chipmunk
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
American Red Squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Mole
Northern Flying Squirrel
Meadow Vole
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
White-footed Mouse
Deer Mouse
Porcupine
Snowshoe Hare
Least Weasel
Long-tailed Weasel
Short-tailed Weasel
Fisher
Little Brown Bat
Big Brown Bat
Though cougars no longer live in Minnesota, they occasionally wander into the state’s borders from surrounding places. Caribous and wolverines used to be found here, but now their population has been extirpated.
Birds
The list includes both native residential and migratory birds.
Common Loon
Wood Duck
American Goldfinch
Northern Cardinal
Common Tern
Great Blue Heron
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-capped Chickadee
Evening Grosbeak
Black-backed Woodpecker
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Reptiles
Common Five-lined Skink
Six-lined Racerunner
Eastern Box Turtle
Painted Turtle
Blanding’s Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Common Garter Snake
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Timber Rattlesnake
Western Hognose Snake
Northern Water Snake
Eastern Fox Snake
Smooth Green Snake
Dekay’s Brown Snake
Northern Red-bellied Snake
Ring-necked Snake
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Eastern Yellowbelly Racer
Eastern Rat Snake
Amphibians
Northern Leopard Frog
Gray Treefrog
Boreal Chorus Frog
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog
American Toad
Blue-spotted Salamander
Spotted Salamander
Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Four-toed Salamander
Fishes
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Rock Bass
White Bass
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout
Walleye
Alligator Gar
American Eel
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Black Crappie
White Crappie
Green Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Perch
Sauger
Bowfin
Shovelnose Sturgeon
Lake Sturgeon
Atlantic Sturgeon
Arctic Char
Bullhead Minnow
Insects and Invertebrates
Monarch Butterfly
Red-spotted Purple
Rusty Patched Bumblebee
Yellowjacket
Paper Wasp
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
American Cockroach
Velvet Ant
Carpenter Ant
Pavement Ant
Silverfish
Weevil
Larder Beetle
Indian Meal Moth
Polyphemus Moth
Mayflies
Praying Mantes
Red Velvet Mite
Dark Fishing Spider
Cellar Spider
Brown Recluse
Ticks
Bed Bugs
State Animals of Minnesota
State Bird
Common Loon
State Fish
Walleye
State Butterfly
Monarch Butterfly
State Bee
Rusty Patched Bumblebee
FAQ
What are the most dangerous animals in Minnesota?
Large predatory animals like black bears, coyotes, and wolves are some of the deadliest animals in the state. Then there are the venomous species of snakes and spiders – eastern Massasauga, timber rattlesnake, black widow, and brown recluse.
What animals in Minnesota are threatened or endangered?
Several animals are considered to be threatened or endangered in the state, including the Canada lynx, moose, slender glass lizard, Blanding’s turtle, wood turtle, and Blanchard’s cricket frog.
What are some common nocturnal animals in Minnesota?
Wolves, bobcats, coyotes, bats, flying squirrels, owls, and raccoons are a few of the animals in Minnesota you will likely encounter at night.
What are some common invasive animals in Minnesota?
There are plenty of invasive insects in Minnesota that are threatening the native ecosystem. These include the Emerald ash borer, Asian-Long horned beetle, and Brown marmorated stink bug. The black carp and tilapia are two invasive fish species, while the mute swan is an invasive bird.
