Adopt a grid cell
Volunteers: Thanks for joining us! If you have not adopted a grid cell yet, please do so by following the instructions beneath the map. We encourage you to adopt a cell within one of the purple priority areas. Please note that the red patches on the map are currently known endangered rusty patched bumble bee zones. Green grid cells that are predominately covered by currently known endangered rusty patched bumble bee zones are not open to adoption by those not covered by a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. If your activities are covered by a USFWS permit and you are interested in adopting one of these cells, please adopt these grids. We will contact you to discuss special instructions.
Volunteers without a permit may adopt a purple grid cell that contains a red patch, but must conduct their surveys outside of the land covered rusty patched bumble bee zones. Collection in these areas requires special care, so volunteers adopting those grid cells must commit to attending a brief training session on May 15. If unable to attend, contact us for alternatives. Please see the Events page for more details.
2022 Survey priorities
Where we need your help: Our goal for 2022 is to conduct surveys in grid cells that were not surveyed in 2021. These priority regions include biologically unique landscapes or ecoregions that are relatively under surveyed. Surveys in northern Minnesota are particlarly relevant for examining populations of the yellow banded bumble bee, a species has experienced severe decline but can still be common in some areas. Surveys in southwestern Minnesota could help document populations of the American bumble bee and the southern plains bumble bee. Many parts of the northwestern part of Minnesota have never been surveyed!
Bright purple: High priority. No recent atlas surveys
Green: Requires FWS permit to adopt grid
Yellow and Red: Requires FWS permit to handle bumble bees
Gray: Adopted in 2021, but still open to additional surveys. If you can, please try for a purple cell.
Step 1: Find your desired grid cell
After reading through the requirements and instructions, use the map above to select the grid cell you'd like to conduct surveys in. You can use the search bar or the Google Map of grid cells to find a specific location. Take note of your desired cell number (ex: MN_68) and then proceed to Step 2.
Use controls in the map to open the legend, zoom in or out, search for specific locations, or change the basemap.
Step 3: Receive Confirmation
Thank you! Within 2-3 days you will receive an email from us confirming the grid cell that you have adopted. If you do not hear from us, or have questions, please feel free to contact us.
Now you can prepare and plan for your surveys!