
Photo by: Bruce Ellingson
Refuge News

UPDATE to the Update :)
The |Wildlife Drive is open as of late Thursday afternoon. Mind the weather, of course.
UPDATE
The Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive and Oak Savanna learning Center trails are still closed to ensure fire crew and public safety during and after prescribed burns in the area. They are expected to reopen to visitors on Friday 4/18/2025.
--------
Refuge staff are performing a prescribed burn on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 near the Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive and Oak Savanna Learning Center. The Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive and the Oak Savanna Learning Center trails will be closed beginning on 4/14/2025 at 4:30 pm and reopening on 4/16/2025 to ensure fire crew and public safety during prescribed burns.
Wildlife Drive Open!
With nice weather on the way, refuge staff have decided to open the Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive to vehicle access! The Drive will be closed occasionally this spring to ensure fire crew and public safety during prescribed burns.
Some things to keep in mind:
🚗 Open from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. The Drive will be closed periodically this spring to ensure fire crew and public safety during prescribed burns.
🔥 There were recently prescribed burns around the Wildlife Drive. After a burn, you may see smoldering logs which are a part of the prescribed burn process. These areas are closely monitored by refuge staff, and we ask that you stay on roads and trails for your safety.
🐢 Share the drive with wildlife, other vehicles, hikers, and bicyclists. Speed limit is 20 miles per hour.
⚠️ Horses, ATVs, UTVs or other off-highway vehicles are not permitted on the wildlife drive or refuge lands.
Please continue to check our Facebook page and the refuge website for updates and Wildlife Drive closures.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne
“New!! Ever want to tell your Senator or Congressperson to better support the refuge? Our new “Take Action” page and make that easy – check out the Take Action page.”
The Eagle's Nest Nature Store opens March 6. You can also order merchandise online. When we reopen, we can use more volunteers to sell and stock merchandise as well as to answer visitor questions. We always have a pair of volunteers during store hours so you'd never be all on your own.
See Upcoming Events for a schedule of on-site activities.
For event updates, please consult the following resources:
-
Refuge website: fws.gov/refuge/Sherburne/
-
This website on the Upcoming Events page
-
Friends Facebook page: facebook.com/sherburnerefugefans
-
Friends’ Prairie Insider E-News: To subscribe, enter email address as requested at bottom of this page

Photo by: Bruce Ellingson
"On any given visit, nature surprises and delights me."
- Dean Kleinhans, volunteer

Sign up for Prairie Insider - Friends' e-newsletter!
Photo by: Bruce Ellingson