Prairie Wetlands Learning Center
Where People & Wildlife Are Welcome
Talking Trail Audio Story
The Prairie Wetlands Learning Center
Located at the gateway to the Prairie Pothole Region, the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center (PWLC) is the first residential environmental education facility operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Over 325 acres of native and restored prairie and 28 wetlands can be found at the Center, and with nearly four miles of foot trails, there are ample opportunities for environmental education, wildlife observation and relaxation.
The Visitor Center contains interactive exhibits that provide information about the natural history of the Prairie Pothole Region and the USFWS. Established in 1998, the Visitor Center also includes classrooms, a dining hall and kitchen, administrative offices and the Bluestem Store – an educational gift shop operated by the Friends of the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center who support the Center by volunteering and raising funds for special projects.
Preserving and protecting this area is part of the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District, one of five wetland districts overseen by the USFWS in western Minnesota. Established in 1962, it includes Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Wadena and Wilkin counties.
The District emphasizes waterfowl production, and includes more than 43,900 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and 23,500 acres of private wetlands. It is also dedicated to the preservation of habitat for migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, and native wildlife.
In addition, the District provides opportunities for the public to hunt, fish, observe and photograph wildlife, and increases public understanding of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem.
In 2003 the USFWS partnered with the Fergus Falls school district to offer environmental learning to students in fourth and fifth grade. Focusing on exploration and discovery, teachers guide students through core subjects, using the natural environment of the PWLC as their classroom. Observing the world around them, mapping, measuring, journaling and sketching are integrated into this field-based study. This engaging experience increases motivation, fosters a stewardship ethic and an appreciation for nature. Designed to also be character- building, this program is a model for environmental education nationwide. Classrooms and a greenhouse were added to expand learning opportunities on-site.
A Century of Change
Historically, this portion of Minnesota was part of a vast grassland known as the Northern Tallgrass Prairie. Interspersed with an abundance of wetlands, the prairie pothole country was a virtual duck factory, producing Mallards, Blue-winged Teal, Redheads, geese, swans and other waterbirds by the millions.
In the past century, however, 90 percent of these wetlands were drained for agriculture and development, and less than one percent of the original prairie remains unplowed or undeveloped. As a result, nesting waterfowl populations have declined significantly, and other wildlife species have also suffered.
Diversity of Species and Habitats
Waterfowl depend on wetlands for feeding, nesting and raising their young. Equally important are adjacent areas of grassland, the preferred nesting habitat for waterfowl and other ground-nesting birds, such as shorebirds and songbirds.
The variety of habitats in the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District promote a diversity and abundance of wildlife species. More than 293 species of birds have been observed, and approximately 170 species nest in the district, including at least 40 pairs of Bald Eagles and nearly a dozen Ospreys.
Remnant native tallgrass prairies in the western part of the District are home to a diverse assortment of plants and insects, as well as Greater Prairie Chickens, Marbled Godwits and Short-eared Owls.
This avian diversity is complemented by at least 40 species of mammals and 25 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail
The Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail consists of over 45 sites along 200 miles in northwestern Minnesota where a unique collection of habitats provide homes for a tremendous variety of birds. Pine forests, deciduous woodlands, native tallgrass prairie, aspen parkland, sand dunes, calcareous fens, bogs, marshes, large and small lakes and rivers make up the transition zone that offers over 275 species of birds. The birding trail starts in Fergus Falls and heads north to follow State Highway 59 north to Roseau and into Manitoba, Canada.
