Medford Wildlife Management Area

Stunning grassland habitats and floodplain forests line the Straight River in southern Minnesota. This area is popular for hunting, hiking, and bird watching, but as growing cities like Rochester or Faribault continue to boom in population, more recreational space is needed to fit community needs. Currently, less than 5% of the land in southern Minnesota is publicly accessible. Most of it is privately owned and not protected in a meaningful way. But thanks to our partners at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), we’re helping protect land so more Minnesotans to connect to the benefits of the outdoors.

Trust for Public land protected 153 acres of land as an addition to the Medford Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This property provides recreational opportunities like fishing, hunting, and hiking for visitors, as well as protects critical habitat of the threatened wood turtles. With our friends at Great River Greening, the land will be restored to its native landscape for generations of visitors to enjoy, forever.

Funding for this project was provided from the Outdoor Heritage Fund as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.