Minnesota is divided into three main life zones: the wooded lake regions of the north and east, the prairie lands of the west and southwest, and a transition zone in between. The wooded region consists mainly of oak, maple, elm, birch, pine, ash, and poplar. Common shrubs including thimbleberry, sweetfern, and several varieties of honeysuckle are also found. Among some 1,500 native flowering plants found in Minnesota are puccoon, prairie phlox, and blazing star; the pink and white (showy) lady slipper is the state flower. Three plant species were listed as threatened in 2003, including Leedy's roseroot, prairie bush-clover, and western prairie fringed orchid were listed as endangered in 2003.  
Among Minnesota's common mammals are the opossum, eastern and starnose moles, raccoon, mink, badger, river otter, little brown bat, striped and spotted skunks, red fox, bobcat, 13-lined ground squirrel, beaver, porcupine, eastern cottontail, moose, and white-tailed deer. The common loon (the state bird), western meadowlark, Carolina wren, Brewer's blackbird, and Louisiana water thrush are among some 240 resident bird species.

Among rare species noted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are the white pelican, short-eared owl, rock vole, pine marten, American elk, woodland caribou, lake sturgeon, and paddlefish.  Eight species were listed as threatened or endangered in 2003 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, including the gray wolf, bald eagle, piping plover, Topeka shiner, and Higgins' eye pearlymussel.