5410156
Rainbow arch over blue sky, green and brown wetland grasses with white sign in foreground that reads national wildlife refuge, unauthorized entry prohibited, U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service
Photo Contest

We are hosting a photography contest! The contest celebrates the wildlife 
we all love and the people who appreciate the natural world around them. Photos for the contest will be 
accepted through November 20, 2026 at noon.
Photos must meet the following requirements to be entered in the contest:
  • Photos must be taken on the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in the year 2026
  • Photos cannot depict other people's faces
  • Photos cannot be edited or use artificial intelligence
  • Photos must be 8 by 10 inches
  • Only one photo submission is allowed per person
  • Photographers must sign a photo release form, which will be provided upon submission
There will be four age categories for this contest:
  • 12 years old and under
  • 13 to 19 years old
  • 19 to 39 years old
  • 40 years old and over
The winning photographer, and their photo will be displayed at the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge 
visitor center.
To submit your photos, there are a few options. Email them to bigstone@fws.gov with a subject line: Big 
Stone National Wildlife Refuge photography contest. Or come to the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge 
headquarters near Odessa Minnesota to submit your photo in person. We are open Monday to Friday 8:00 
a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

5390806
Three river otters peeking their heads above water
Restoring the Upper Minnesota River

Work has started on a years-in-the-making project to restore the Whetstone and Minnesota Rivers around Ortonville, MN, just north of the Refuge. Learn more about this project, its many contributors, its implications for fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage , and how Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge fits into the big picture.

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge was originally purchased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on May 21, 1975. The refuge currently includes 11,586 acres in Big Stone and Lac qui Parle Counties, in Minnesota.

Visit Us

The Auto Tour Route is open the first Monday in April to the first Monday in December unless otherwise noted in the alerts on our Home Page.  

Connect with your natural heritage as you experience wildlife, diverse habitats and magnificent granite outcrops at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Location and Contact Information

      A refuge volunteer helps repair a boardwalk
      Seeking Volunteers!

      We are seeking volunteers to help with seasonal activities on the Refuge. These include regular maintenance tasks, mowing, trail improvements, invasive species invasive species
      An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

      Learn more about invasive species       treatment, and more. Come join us out on the prairie!

      Our Organization

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
      Program
      Washington,DC