Wildlife

Burnsville's Wild SideTree Frog Tummy

While city environments do not usually provide ideal wildlife habitat, there are some wild animals that can adapt to living close to humans. Natural areas within our City parks also provide islands of natural habit within a suburban sea. If you enjoy nature, there are several ways that you can make your yard wildlife-friendly.

  • Grow Native Plants. Native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife. Most standard ornamental plants offer little in the way of habitat. Learn more in our native plant section.
  • Feed the Birds. To attract the greatest variety of birds, offer black oil sunflower seeds in a tube or tray feeder. Hang a basket of suet to lure in woodpeckers and nuthatches, or try a thistle feeder full of Niger seeds to draw in finches and pine siskins. Avoid inexpensive seed mixes that have a high percentage of less appealing filler seeds such as milo and oats. Also, make sure that feeders are at least 5 feet high above the ground to avoid feeding deer, which is prohibited.
  • Keep Your Cat Indoors. Your pet kitty may be sweet, but it's a natural born hunter that can kill songbirds, chipmunks, voles, and other small wild animals. A life indoors is also much safer for your cat. Learn more at the American Bird Conservancy website.

Monarch Butterfly on Flowers

Learn more about living with wildlife from the Minnesota DNR.

Wildlife Management

The City Natural Resources staff manage several natural areas within city parks, which provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. In addition, the City actively manages its deer and goose populations. Learn more about these programs using the links on the left.