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Events
2021 Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger Hunt – Fort Ridgely

Scavenger Hunt – Fort Ridgely

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!

small blue bird

#1. Birds - INDIGO BUNTING

Male is vibrant blue, while the female is all brown. Mostly seen along woodland edges eating bugs.

Male is vibrant blue, while the female is all brown. Mostly seen along woodland edges eating bugs.

Amazing! This are truly a remarkable find!

cardinal

#2. Birds - NORTHERN CARDINAL

Male is vibrant red, female brown with reddish highlights. Both have distinct crest on head. They sing loudly their sweet songs all year.

Male is vibrant red, female brown with reddish highlights. Both have distinct crest on head. They sing loudly their sweet songs all year.

Lovely–cardinals are fun to see!

White-breasted Nuthatch

#3. Birds - WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH

Hops headfirst down tree trunks. Small gray bird with white belly. Males have black cap/neck, females have gray cap/neck.

Hops headfirst down tree trunks. Small gray bird with white belly. Males have black cap/neck, females have gray cap/neck.

Great! Hopefully you got to see it hopping down a tree!

yellow bird

#4. Birds - YELLOW WARBLER

This yellow bird is found in shrubby areas near water. Males make a sweet whistle song from perches.

This yellow bird is found in shrubby areas near water. Males make a sweet whistle song from perches.

Excellent job!

Mammal - Beaver grooming its tail

#5. Mammal - BEAVER

Spends most of its time in water near its lodge, which they build from sticks and mud and enter from underwater.

Spends most of its time in water near its lodge, which they build from sticks and mud and enter from underwater.

Woohoo, you found a creature that plays an important role in Minnesota’s wetland ecosystem.

Mammal - Gray Squirrel on limb

#6. 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 - 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.

pink flowers

#9. Wildflower - BLAZING STAR

Blooms: Jul-Sep | Found in prairies, open woods, along roads. Feathery pink flowers with grasslike leaves grow in clumps in prairies.

Blooms: Jul-Sep | Found in prairies, open woods, along roads. Feathery pink flowers with grasslike leaves grow in clumps in prairies.

Wonderful! Lovely flowers

Flower - Butterfly Milkweed

#10. Wildflower - BUTTERFLY WEED

Blooms June-Sep l Grows in the sun, dry fields, and prairies. Flat-topped clusters with up to 25 orange flowers. Important for butterflies.

Blooms June-Sep l Grows in the sun, dry fields, and prairies. Flat-topped clusters with up to 25 orange flowers. Important for butterflies.

Excellent eye!

red delicate flower

#11. Wildflower - COLUMBINE

Blooms May-Jul | Grows on cliffs and forest edges. A dainty flower with an interesting shape. Hummingbirds drink nectar from this flower.

Blooms May-Jul | Grows on cliffs and forest edges. A dainty flower with an interesting shape. Hummingbirds drink nectar from this flower.

Great! Look closely to see the fine details on this flower.

Flower - Lead Plant

#12. Wildflower - LEAD PLANT

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny, sandy fields. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Technically a shrub with woody stems to last through winter.

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny, sandy fields. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Technically a shrub with woody stems to last through winter.

Wonderful! Aren’t those leaves interesting

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 - Hackberry

#16. Tree - HACKBERRY

Leaf is skinny and pointed with jagged teeth. The tree has corky bark and berry-like fruit that birds love.

Leaf is skinny and pointed with jagged teeth. The tree has corky bark and berry-like fruit that birds love.

Lovely! You found a hackberry!

three people with binoculars

#17. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

Someone with binoculars

Someone with binoculars

Wonder what they see?

Person sitting on ground with dog

#18. Humans - DOG WALKING

Someone walking their dog

Someone walking their dog

Woof!

horseback riders on trail

#19. Humans - HORSEBACK RIDER

Someone riding a horse

Someone riding a horse

Great job!

finish

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651-726-2457 or 800-944-0707

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