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Events
2021 Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger Hunt – Buffalo River

Scavenger Hunt – Buffalo River

Thank you for participating in Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota’s All-Ages Scavenger Hunt!

You are tasked with finding as many of the specific “items” listed below as you can, which are grouped into these categories:
◎ Birds ◎ Mammals ◎ Wildflowers ◎ Trees ◎ Humans

RULES AND PRIZE DRAWINGS

Submit this form to be entered in our weekly drawing for a $20 gift card to Minnesota State Parks.

Anyone from age 1-100+ may participate, but for participants age 12 and under, a parent/guardian will need to submit the form.

Entrants are limited to one hunt per park or trail during the event season. But feel free to do them all!

POINTS = ENTRIES IN WEEKLY DRAWING

20 pts – For submitting this form
1 pt (19 max) – For each “item” you find
20 pts – For sharing an Instagram photo of your adventure
5 pts (10 max) – For each child age 12 and under who participates with you

“The real source of inner joy is to remain truthful and honest.”

Good luck and happy hunting!

American Goldfinch

#1. Bird - AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

Common at feeders. Males are brilliant yellow while females are more dull.

Common at feeders. Males are brilliant yellow while females are more dull.

Nice job finding a goldfinch! While fairly common, they are a treat anytime you see them.

blue jay

#2. Bird - BLUE JAY

Unmistakable bold blue and white feathers with crest on its head. Male and female look alike. Often heard making loud shrieks.

Unmistakable bold blue and white feathers with crest on its head. Male and female look alike. Often heard making loud shrieks.

Woohoo! You found a blue jay!

small bird with black head

#3. Bird - BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

Friendly bird found throughout MN shows curiosity for humans as it flits around looking for seeds to eat. Male and female look alike.

Friendly bird found throughout MN shows curiosity for humans as it flits around looking for seeds to eat. Male and female look alike.

Woohoo! You found a chickadee!

Meadowlark

#4. Birds - MEADOWLARK

A proud bird often seen perched on posts singing loudly. Yellow underside with a bold black necklace. Males and females look alike.

A proud bird often seen perched on posts singing loudly. Yellow underside with a bold black necklace. Males and females look alike.

Yippee! Aren’t these birds fun to see?

Mammal - Gray Squirrel on limb

#5. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

Found across Minnesota from woods to urban yards. Build leaf nests in summer.

Found across Minnesota from woods to urban yards. Build leaf nests in summer.

Nice job! Did you know squirrels sometimes pretend to bury a nut to throw off potential thieves.

Mammal - Raccoon

#6. Mammal - RACCOON

Notorious as evening visitor to campsites where it will help itself to any food that's left out.

Notorious as evening visitor to campsites where it will help itself to any food that's left out.

Great job!

Mammal - Red Fox in grassy field

#7. Mammal - RED FOX

Usually red-orange in color, some yellow or black. Tend to hide from humans, so only the lucky will spot one.

Usually red-orange in color, some yellow or black. Tend to hide from humans, so only the lucky will spot one.

Amazing that you found such an elusive creature!

Male deer with antlers and females deer with fawn

#8. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

One of the largest mammals in MN yet camoflagued and stealthy. Sleeps in different spot each night. Only males grow antlers.

One of the largest mammals in MN yet camoflagued and stealthy. Sleeps in different spot each night. Only males grow antlers.

Nice job! Isn’t it amazing how quiet they can be.

flower with big green leaves and pink petals

#9. Wildflower - COMMON MILKWEED

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows along shores and wood edges. Pink or white flowers. Monarch butterflies rely on milkweek to lay their tiny eggs, then the caterpillar eat the leaves.

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows along shores and wood edges. Pink or white flowers. Monarch butterflies rely on milkweek to lay their tiny eggs, then the caterpillar eat the leaves.

Wonderful! Now, look closely for the green and yellow caterpillars of the monarch.

Flower - Giant Sunflower

#10. Wildflower - GIANT SUNFLOWER

Blooms Jul-Sep | Grows in sunny wet woods and marshes. Truly a giant flower that can reach 10 feet tall. MN has 9 types of native sunflowers.

Blooms Jul-Sep | Grows in sunny wet woods and marshes. Truly a giant flower that can reach 10 feet tall. MN has 9 types of native sunflowers.

Wonderful job finding this sunflower!

Flower - Goldenrod

#11. Wildflower - GOLDENROD

Blooms Jul-Sep l Grows in the sunny areas. Plant grows 1-6 feet tall. MN has 17 types of goldenrod that look similar with small yellow flowers.

Blooms Jul-Sep l Grows in the sunny areas. Plant grows 1-6 feet tall. MN has 17 types of goldenrod that look similar with small yellow flowers.

Yes! This is a very common flower that’s important for pollinators.

Flower - Purple Cone

#12. Wildflower - PURPLE CONEFLOWER

Blooms Jun-Oct | Grows in sunny fields. A tall flower with 15-20 pinkish-purple petals swirling around a reddish-brown center.

Blooms Jun-Oct | Grows in sunny fields. A tall flower with 15-20 pinkish-purple petals swirling around a reddish-brown center.

Spectacular job finding this pretty flower!

Tree - Basswood

#13. Tree - BASSWOOD

Leaf is heart-shaped with jagged teeth. Bees love to make honey from basswood flowers.

Leaf is heart-shaped with jagged teeth. Bees love to make honey from basswood flowers.

Wonderful job finding this basswood!

Tree - Eastern Cottonwood

#14. Tree - EASTERN COTTONWOOD

This large tree produces fluffy, cotton-like seeds that blow around in wind. Its bark changes from light gray to dark gray and rough as it ages. Leaves are triangular shaped with edges that are toothed or wavy. Underside of leaf is covered with soft white hairs.

This large tree produces fluffy, cotton-like seeds that blow around in wind. Its bark changes from light gray to dark gray and rough as it ages. Leaves are triangular shaped with edges that are toothed or wavy. Underside of leaf is covered with soft white hairs.

Great job!

Tree - Green Ash

#15. Tree - GREEN ASH

Between 7-9 leaflets are attached to each stem. An invasive insect known as the emerald ash borer is spreading across the state and killing off many ash trees.

Between 7-9 leaflets are attached to each stem. An invasive insect known as the emerald ash borer is spreading across the state and killing off many ash trees.

Nice job! Look for evidence of the Emerald Ash Borer, which leaves “S” shaped etchings in the bark. Let’s hope you don’t see any!

Tree - Quaking Aspen

#16. Tree - QUAKING ASPEN

Leaf is rounded with saw-tooth edge and flattened leafstalk that helps with tremble in breeze.

Leaf is rounded with saw-tooth edge and flattened leafstalk that helps with tremble in breeze.

Great job!

People - Angler

#17. Humans - ANGLER

Someone fishing

Someone fishing

Does it look like their catching anything?

Person sitting on ground with dog

#18. Humans - DOG WALKING

Someone walking their dog

Someone walking their dog

Woof!

Humans - Swim

#19. Humans - SWIMMER

Someone swimming

Someone swimming

finish

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St. Paul MN 55101-1626
651-726-2457 or 800-944-0707

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