Nongame Wildlife

Please note: we are limiting volunteer participation during our pilot year (2026). We are seeking volunteers experienced in butterfly ID and research for the pilot year.

Background: The regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia) is a native Minnesota butterfly species whose presence indicates prairie health. It is one of only a few prairie endemic species remaining in Minnesota and is facing population decline. In 2024 the regal fritillary was proposed by the USFWS for federal listing as an endangered species. It is state listed in Minnesota as a species of special concern but will likely gain a more imperiled status when the list is revised in 2025.  

To learn more about regal fritillaries, check out the DNR's rare species guide page.

To read more about the program, check out the regal quest page here: Regal Quest Webpage

Purpose: The Regal Quest project is designed to monitor regal fritillary (an at-risk butterfly) distribution across their MN habitats by monitoring prairie sites in the field using a standardized protocol.

Desired outcomes: Volunteer participants learn how to collect data according to a standardized protocol and identify regal fritillaries in the field, thereby informing geographical distribution data for regal fritillaries in MN.

Impact: Data collected through this project documents:

1. Where regal fritillaries are distributed throughout Minnesota
2. Regal fritillary populations in Minnesota
3. A baseline for focused research and population monitoring

Responsibilities:

1. Apply to become a Minnesota DNR Volunteer and complete all required forms
2. Sign up for Regal Quest 2026 (this activity)
3. Attend an online training or view recorded training video
4. Survey your site during the summer as described in the protocol
5. Collect and submit data according to the survey protocol including: 

• Use a mobile or online data collection application (Survey123) on a phone or tablet, or use alternate approved methods for data collection 

5. Keep track of the hours you spend on the project and report them by the end of the season 
6. Contact the Regal Quest program supervisor if you have problems or questions 

Restricted work: All surveys must be conducted on public land or private land with permission. Some parks and other areas may have restricted hours that are incompatible with the timing of the survey. Always get permission before surveying on private land or in a public park outside of open hours.

Qualifications needed:

• Able to learn how to use Survey123
• Able to learn how to identify regal fritillary and monarch butterflies
• Ability to hike or travel over uneven terrain to observe butterflies in a prairie
• Able to collect data by written or electronic means

Training and preparation: Online orientation sessions are available and will be recorded for participants who cannot attend. Online training and reference resources are available through the volunteer webpage and through My Impact. Volunteers are responsible for developing the skills necessary to complete their survey and submit data. 

Minimum Time Commitment:

Time required for surveys depends on how far volunteers travel to their survey site and how long it takes to complete a survey (surveys take at least one hour). Multiple surveys of a site are encouraged, or survey until a female regal fritillary is observed (sites may be surveyed up to six times to determine regal fritillary presence).

Data collection will occur in primarily June and July.

DNR Contact Person: Mags Edwards

Division: EWR Nongame

The Nongame Wildlife Program strives to maintain and enhance the state’s diversity of wildlife. We help restore native wildlife populations and support Minnesota’s Species in Greatest Conservation Need. We protect and manage crucial habitats, conduct scientific research to better understand Minnesota’s wildlife species and the ecosystems in which they live, and we forge connections between Minnesotans and native wildlife through engagement and education.