The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may classify species as prohibited invasive species, regulated invasive species, or unregulated nonnative species. Most nonnative species that are not classified in one of those categories are unlisted nonnative species. Visit the invasive species regulations page to learn more about the regulations associated with each category.
About invasive species classification
The DNR evaluates nonnative species for how likely they are to be introduced to the state and survive, spread, and their potential impacts to Minnesota’s natural resources and human health. These evaluations are called classification summaries and support decisions about whether and how to regulate a particular species as an invasive species under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 84D. Natural resource management agencies and researchers commonly use similar decision support tools to evaluate potentially invasive species.
You can view a template for the DNR invasive species classification summary (Word document, last updated February 2020).
Invasive species classification summaries
The following section contains classification summaries for species that the DNR proposed for classifying as prohibited invasive species. That 2022 Rulemaking effort is now complete.
- Aquatic plants
- common reed – nonnative subspecies (Phragmites australis ssp. australis, not including Phragmites australis ssp. americanus)
- yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata)
- Fish
- Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)
- Nile perch (Lates niloticus)
- snakehead fish (Channidae family)
- tench (Tinca tinca)
- tubenose gobies (any fish belonging to the genus Proterorhinus)
- walking catfish (Clariidae family)
- Invertebrates
- golden clam (Corbicula fluminea)
- golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei)
- jumping worms (Amynthas and Metaphire spp.)
- marbled crayfish (marmorkrebs) (Procambarus virginalis or Procambarus fallax forma virginalis)
- mitten crabs (Eriocheir spp.)
Questions?
Adam Doll
Invasive Species Prevention Consultant,
651-259-5056