Scavenger Hunt – Lake Louise – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - GREAT BLUE HERON

Looking like a cousin to the prehistoric Pterodactyl, this common bird wades along shorelines. Males and females look alike.

Woohoo–you found it, nice job!

#2. Bird - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

The male looks like the masked bandit of the bird world with its black mask on yellow body. Female doesn't have a mask. Cheerful song of "witchity-witchity-witchity-witchity"

Super! You found it!

#3. Bird - EASTERN BLUEBIRD

Male is blue with reddish chest and white belly. Female similar but less bold colors. Fly fast over prairies. Once nearly eliminated from MN, now rebounded as people built nest boxes.

Nice job finding a bluebird!

#4. Birds - WOOD DUCK

MN's most colorful duck. Males have red eye and green crest. Females mostly brown with smaller crest and white ring around eyes. Found in quiet backwaters or ponds.

What a treat to see this bird!

MAMMALS – Many mammals are hiding out there–can you find them?

#5. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

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.

Male deer with antlers and females deer with fawn

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

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.

#7. Mammal - BEAVER (or signs of)

Spends most of its time in water near its lodge, which they build from sticks and mud and enter from underwater. Look for tree stumps that have been chewed by beavers--this counts as finding this mammal.

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

#8. Mammal - RED FOX

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!

WILDFLOWERS — nature’s artwork, these flowers are important part of the ecosystem.

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.

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

#10. Wildflower - JEWELWEED

Blooms Jul-Sep | Grows in thickets, usually along shorelines or wetlands. Green seed pods form in late summer--gently pinch them to see the seeds explode outward!

Nice job! Were you able to see the exploding pods?

#11. Wildflower - JOE-PYE WEED

Blooms Jul-Sep | Grows in sunny spots along shores. Pink to purple flowers. An important nectar source for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Super job finding the Joe-Pye Weed!

#12. Wildflower - NODDING WILD ONION

Blooms Jul-Aug | Grows in moist soil, so look along shorelines or in wet swales. This is a species of special concern in MN.

That is really lucky to find this flower!

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - AMERICAN ELM

This leaf feels slightly rough when rubbed. Leaf is oval-shaped with double-edged teeth.

Great job finding the elm!

#14. Tree - BUR OAK

Leaf has 7-9 rounded lobes that can be notched deeply or shallow. The leaf tip is large and wavy. Produces acorns that feed many wildlife.

Fantastic job finding the bur oak!

#15. 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.

Great job!

#16. Tree - SILVER MAPLE

The tree grows in floodplains and can withstand seasonal floods. Leaf is same shape as all maples (think Canada flag) but very jagged with deep notches.

Super, you found a silver maple!

HUMANS – Yes, we are mammals, but we do very unique activities, don’t we?

#17. Humans - ANGLER

Someone fishing

Does it look like their catching anything?

#18. Humans - BICYCLIST

Someone riding a bicycle

Pedal on!

#19. Humans - HORSEBACK RIDER

Someone riding a horse

Great job!

Scavenger Hunt – Lake Louise

RULES AND PRIZE DRAWINGS

POINTS = ENTRIES IN WEEKLY DRAWING

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - GREAT BLUE HERON

#2. Bird - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

#3. Bird - EASTERN BLUEBIRD

#4. Birds - WOOD DUCK

MAMMALS – Many mammals are hiding out there–can you find them?

#5. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

#7. Mammal - BEAVER (or signs of)

#8. Mammal - RED FOX

WILDFLOWERS — nature’s artwork, these flowers are important part of the ecosystem.

#9. Wildflower - COMMON MILKWEED

#10. Wildflower - JEWELWEED

#11. Wildflower - JOE-PYE WEED

#12. Wildflower - NODDING WILD ONION

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - AMERICAN ELM

#14. Tree - BUR OAK

#15. Tree - EASTERN COTTONWOOD

#16. Tree - SILVER MAPLE

HUMANS – Yes, we are mammals, but we do very unique activities, don’t we?

#17. Humans - ANGLER

#18. Humans - BICYCLIST

#19. Humans - HORSEBACK RIDER

#20. $20 STATE PARKS GIFT CARD
sponsored by Lake Louise State Park Association

Results

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Scavenger Hunt – Lake Louise

RULES AND PRIZE DRAWINGS

POINTS = ENTRIES IN WEEKLY DRAWING

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - GREAT BLUE HERON

#2. Bird - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

#3. Bird - EASTERN BLUEBIRD

#4. Birds - WOOD DUCK

MAMMALS – Many mammals are hiding out there–can you find them?

#5. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

#7. Mammal - BEAVER (or signs of)

#8. Mammal - RED FOX

WILDFLOWERS — nature’s artwork, these flowers are important part of the ecosystem.

#9. Wildflower - COMMON MILKWEED

#10. Wildflower - JEWELWEED

#11. Wildflower - JOE-PYE WEED

#12. Wildflower - NODDING WILD ONION

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - AMERICAN ELM

#14. Tree - BUR OAK

#15. Tree - EASTERN COTTONWOOD

#16. Tree - SILVER MAPLE

HUMANS – Yes, we are mammals, but we do very unique activities, don’t we?

#17. Humans - ANGLER

#18. Humans - BICYCLIST

#19. Humans - HORSEBACK RIDER

#20. $20 STATE PARKS GIFT CARDsponsored by Lake Louise State Park Association

Results

Search

#20. $20 STATE PARKS GIFT CARD
sponsored by Lake Louise State Park Association