Wild harvest guide

Mint to Make a Difference

A field guide to the two mints worth gathering in the marsh, why mint patches matter to the Massasauga rattlesnake, four simple habits that keep you and the snakes out of each other's way, how to turn your harvest into menthol crystals, and the tiny mites threatening honey bees.

Meet the mints ↓ How to collect safely
What mint we want

Two mints worth gathering

We're after two species: American Wild Mint and Common Mountain Mint. Their leaves and flowers make them easy to tell apart once you know what to look for.

Flowers along the stem

American Wild Mint

Mentha canadensis

American Wild Mint has jagged, egg-shaped leaves and stacks its pinkish flower whorls along the stem. It's best known for its very high menthol content, which gives it a classic, sweet, cooling punch.

  • LeavesJagged, egg-shaped
  • FlowersPinkish whorls stacked along the stem
  • Known forVery high menthol: sweet and cooling
Flowers at the tips

Common Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Common Mountain Mint has smooth, narrow, needle-like leaves, with flat clusters of white flowers at the very tips of its branches.

  • LeavesSmooth, narrow, needle-like
  • FlowersFlat white clusters
  • WhereAt the very tips of the branches

Quick ID: tell them apart

American Wild MintCommon Mountain Mint
Leaf shapeEgg-shapedNarrow, needle-like
Leaf edgeJaggedSmooth
Flower colorPinkishWhite
Flower spotWhorls stacked along the stemFlat clusters at branch tips
How it helps the Massasauga snake

A mint patch is a hideout

Inside dense mint patches, the thick canopy creates its own small micro-climate. The broad, overlapping leaves trap moisture at ground level and block direct sunlight, which gives the Massasauga rattlesnake almost everything it needs.

Diagram: a mint canopy blocks the sun and hides a Massasauga from a hawk, while keeping the ground damp for slugs, beetles and frogs Sun blocked Hawk can't spot it Damp, shaded soil Massasauga · motionless Prey seeking shade
The canopy traps moisture and shade at ground level, hides the snake from above, and draws in the prey it eats.

  • Cool, moist shelter

    For a small, cold-blooded snake, the moist, shaded ground under the mint prevents dehydration on hot Wisconsin days.

  • A camouflage screen

    The dense leaves break up the snake's outline, so it can sit completely still and stay invisible to sharp-eyed predators circling overhead.

  • A sit-and-wait ambush spot

    Hidden at ground level where the soil stays damp, the snake relies entirely on ambush. It stays perfectly still until prey comes within striking distance.

How the ambush works

  1. Canopy formsOverlapping mint leaves block the sun and trap ground moisture.
  2. Snake hidesThe Massasauga settles in at ground level, cool and out of sight.
  3. Prey arrivesMoisture-loving slugs, beetles and frogs look for refuge in the same damp shade.
  4. StrikeWhen prey stumbles within striking distance, the waiting snake strikes.

This is why the patchwork method leaves wide strips of uncut mint: they keep this cover in place while you harvest.

How to safely collect mint

Four steps for harvesting in snake country

Marsh mint grows right where Massasauga rattlesnakes live. Follow these four steps every time you go into the marsh.

Massasaugas blend in perfectly with dead cattails and mud. They're shy and would rather leave than strike. Your job is to give them warning, cover and space.

01
Step 1 · The walk-through

Sound the alarm

Before you bring any tools or bags into a section of the marsh, take your long stick or trekking pole and walk through the area. Stomp your feet and gently thrash the tops of the mint plants.

Why it works: Massasaugas are very sensitive to ground vibrations. The noise gives them a non-threatening warning to slither off into nearby high brush before you start cutting.
02
Step 2 · Cut in patches

Apply the patchwork method

Pick a dense zone of mint and harvest a section with shears or a hand scythe, cutting the stalks 4 to 6 inches above the mud. Stop after a few yards, leave a wide buffer of thick, uncut mint completely intact, then move to a new spot.

Why it works: The snakes always have continuous canopy cover to hide from predatory hawks while you work.
Harvested patchUncut buffer (snake cover)
03
Step 3 · Stay alert

Keep your eyes grounded

When you're cutting and bagging big armfuls of mint, it's easy to get distracted. Always look straight at the mud and roots before you step or reach down.

Why it matters: Massasaugas blend in perfectly with dead cattails and mud.
04
Step 4 · Protect your legs

Check your gear

Never go into the marsh without thick, knee-high rubber boots. Marsh mud is slippery, and heavy-duty leg protection means that even if you accidentally step right on a hidden snake, its short fangs can't get through to your skin.

Pack list

  • Knee-high rubber bootsThick, heavy-duty. Never skip these.
  • Long stick or trekking poleFor the walk-through
  • Shears or hand scytheCut 4–6 in above the mud
  • Harvest bagsBring them in after the walk-through
From mint to menthol

How to make menthol crystals at home

Once the mint is harvested, you can turn it into menthol crystals in three stages: steam it, cool it, freeze it.

Our expert · UW–Green Bay

Dr K Chemistry

Dr K Chemistry explained to us how to safely collect menthol crystals from mint. Here's the process he walked us through.

  1. Stage 1

    Steam the mint

    Steam the mint leaves to pull out their essential oils. It's the same process you use to make tea.

    You get: steam carrying the mint's essential oils
  2. Stage 2 · Distillation

    Cool it down

    Cool the steam so it condenses. This step is called distillation, and it leaves you with the oil.

    You get: menthol oil
  3. Stage 3

    Freeze the oil

    Put the menthol oil in the freezer. As it gets cold, it turns into a solid.

    You get: menthol crystals

Heads up: you need LOTS of mint

Dr K pointed out that it takes a huge amount of mint to make a small amount of crystals. It's still possible to do at home.

Which mint to use

American Wild Mint is known for its very high menthol content, so every armful gets you more of what you're after.

Short on mint?

Buy it yourself

Making crystals takes armfuls of mint for a small amount. If you'd rather skip the harvest, you can buy ready-made menthol crystals: BulkSupplements Menthol Crystals Powder, sold at Target.

  • 250 grams
  • Ready-made crystals
  • Sold at Target
View at Target ↗ Menthol crystals are very strong. Follow the label directions and keep them away from eyes and out of reach of kids.
How the bees are affected

The tiny mite threatening honey bees

Varroa mites are tiny bugs, and they are the biggest danger to honey bees. Here's how they hurt the bees, and how they can wipe out a whole hive step by step.

Diagram: a varroa mite feeding on a honey bee, and a second bee with broken wings caused by germs the mites spread Varroa mite eats the bee's body fat Germs spread by mites Broken wings · can't fly
Varroa mites ride on bees and feed on them, and the germs they pass on leave new bees with wings that can't fly.

  • They eat the bees' body fat

    The mites stick to adult bees and baby bees and eat their body fat, which bees need to stay healthy and strong.

  • They spread germs

    While they eat, the mites also pass dangerous germs to the bees.

  • Bees grow up with broken wings

    The most common germ makes bees grow up with broken wings, so they can't fly.

How a hive falls apart

  1. Mites move inMites latch onto adult and baby bees and start feeding.
    Hive strength
  2. Germs spreadThe mites pass on germs, and new bees come out with broken wings.
    Hive strength
  3. Mites multiplyMore and more mites are born inside the hive.
    Hive strength
  4. The hive breaks downThe bees get too weak to work or clean their home.
    Hive strength

Without a beekeeper's help, the whole family of bees will die out in a year or two. Local groups like the Manitowoc County Beekeepers are a good place to learn more.

Experts & websites

Who helped us, and where to learn more

We talked with two scientists from UW–Green Bay while working on this project. These organizations are good places to keep learning about Wisconsin's wetlands, wildlife and plants.

Biologist · UW–Green Bay

Dr. Abler

Dr. Abler talked with the team about invasive species and why biodiversity matters for so many things. When we told her about our idea, she gave us useful information and pointed us to places where we could learn more.

  • Invasive species
  • Biodiversity
  • Where to learn more
Chemistry · UW–Green Bay

Dr. K

Dr. K told us how to safely collect menthol from mint by steaming, cooling and freezing it. He also warned that it takes a lot of mint to make a small amount of crystals.

Helpful websites

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