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In late August to early September, there is a special plant that has been growing over the past few months to fill the stomachs of migratory waterfowl as they fuel and rest up before their journey south: wild rice.
Background
Thriving in northern Minnesotan lakes, marshes and streams, wild rice (Zizania palustris) is an aquatic, annual grass, and the only cereal grain native to North America that is primarily wind pollinated from the staminate (male) flowers to the pistillate (female) flowers.
Wild rice grows to be about one to three meters, or about six feet, above the water surface, typically with roots submerged in soft, muddy water bottoms. Wild rice thrives in shallow water between depths of six inches to three feet. Their stalks grow in close proximity to each other, forming green clusters in the wetland landscape. Rice grains are typically yellow or red in color.
You might be wondering, why is wild rice black at the store if it's lighter on the stalk? The intensive drying process changes the color of the grain to the distinctive black appearance.
While we think of wild rice up north, it can be found all throughout the state of Minnesota, with more southern varieties reaching up to 14 feet tall! If you're interested in learning more about where in Minnesota wild rice is located, the University of Minnesota has created a map showing locations in Minnesota with wild rice.
In the 1990s, wild rice was considered an endangered food in Minnesota due to the plant's sensitivity to changes in water levels, 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 , pollution and unsustainable harvesting practices. However, through restoration efforts and community involvement, the population has improved.
Minnesota currently recognizes wild rice as its official state grain due to its documentation in 52% of Minnesota's counties. However, through restoration efforts and community involvement, the population has improved.
Ecological Importance
Wild rice serves as a valuable source of protein, fiber and other essential minerals to a variety of Minnesotan wildlife, from the tiny rice weevils all the way up to most Minnesotans themselves! Deer, squirrels, rabbits and rodents are herbivores that can often be found on the edges of wild rice habitat chewing on the stalks they can reach.
Can you guess the main consumer of wild rice? Waterfowl! This nutritional plant source provides vital nutrition for geese, ducks, swans and other migratory birds.
Besides wild rice's nutritional value, there are many other ways that animals use wild rice habitat. The tall stalks of grass provide ample shading, roosting and protection for waterfowl. The bendable and thick stalks are just the right building materials that mammals, such as muskrats and beavers, need to make their next shelter. And don't forget about pollinators! The delicate, colorful flowers attract all sorts of critters, such as bees and butterflies, that assist with boosting seed production.
Wild rice acts as a magnet for all kinds of wildlife. Providing ample shelter and food to many indicates its strong association with increased biodiversity. Wild rice is considered a keystone species, meaning that other species in the ecosystem heavily rely on its presence, and, if it were removed, there would be drastic negative impacts.
Challenges
Wild rice requires a set of specific environmental conditions to grow, such as shallow water depth and slightly acidic to neutral pH, making it vulnerable to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change and other environmental factors, such as fertilizers and aquatic invasive species. Due to wild rice’s sensitivity to environmental conditions, its presence serves as an indicator for healthy water quality and wetland habitat.
Working with indigenous communities, conservation organizations and lake associations can help protect the continuation of wild rice production and traditions that have been going on for thousands of years. Involvement in projects such as habitat restoration projects focusing on wild rice lakes, advocating for sustainable harvesting, supporting water level management and sulfate monitoring projects help protect wild rice habitat so that it can grow for many years to come.
More Information
National parks and national wildlife refuges are closed to wild rice harvesting, except when authorized by special permits. Harvest is allowed on some state wildlife management areas, except where specifically closed by posting or rule. Harvesting is prohibited to preserve the integrity of the habitat for other species, such as waterfowl, that require it as a food, shelter and overall resource for survival. To harvest wild rice elsewhere in Minnesota, residents and nonresidents need to purchase a license from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Tribal bands with a valid tribal identification card from a federally recognized tribe located in Minnesota do not need to purchase a license to harvest. Funds received from wild rice licenses support the management of wild rice lakes, maintaining outlets and habitats. Learn more about Minnesota's regulations on the state's wild rice regulations page.
To learn more about wild rice and its history and cultural significance to Native Americans, consider attending the Wild Rice Festival! This celebration will feature wild rice and apple cider demonstrations, crafts, activities, food, educational tables, wild rice taste testing and more! This event is typically on a Saturday in late September at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville, MN.
To see the relationship between wild rice and wildlife for yourself, consider checking out a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge with wild rice. Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge in McGregor, MN has a wild rice producing lake and is also a protected habitat for migratory birds. It has been designated as a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy due to the importance of Rice Lake and its wild rice as a food source to migrating waterfowl, especially ring-necked ducks. Many visitors stop by every year to marvel at the incredible wildlife sanctuary created there - and you can too! Stop by between August to September to view wild rice and waterfowl.
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