Scavenger Hunt – Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

Male mallard with green head standing next to brown female mallard

#1. Bird - MALLARD

Common ducks of MN. Male has green head, Female is splotchy brown.

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 - DOWNY or HAIRY WOODPECKER

These two woodpeckers are nearly identical with the Downy a little smaller at ~6" and Hairy ~9". The female doesn't have the red mark on head.

Great job finding this one!

#4. Birds - HOODED MERGANSER

Striking water bird. Females have a reddish crest that looks like hair on neck. Males have black and white crest that is sometimes raised, sometimes down.

Lucky ducky!

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

#5. Mammal - RED SQUIRREL

A cute little critter with a loud bark/chatter. The white ring around its eye only adds to the cuteness.

Fabulous! Was it making noises when you saw it?

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 - RIVER OTTER

A semi-aquatic animal that loves to play by bellyflopping in the water and sliding down hills near water.

How great to spot an otter! Did you know that after an absence of more than a century, their range is again extending into southern Minnesota.

#8. Mammal - FISHER

Member of weasel family with dark brown fur. A remarkable predator that hunts in trees.

What a rare find! That is extra special.

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

#9. Wildflower - BLUE FLAG IRIS

Blooms May-Aug l Found in part shade to sun in wet meadows. Flowers are a typical iris shape, 3 to 4 inches across, blue to blue-violet, infrequently red-purple and rarely pale blue.

Yah! Nice job

#10. Wildflower - COLUMBINE

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.

#11. Wildflower - SELF-HEAL

Blooms Jun-Oct | This tiny flower grows in lawns and is considered a weed by some, but is beneficial for bees and butterflies. Bend down to inspect the delicate purple petals.

That is great attention to detail to find this oft-overlooked flower!

#12. Wildflower - THIMBLEBERRY

Blooms Jun-Jul | Grows in wood edges and along streams. Clusters of 2-9 flowers with white petals. Its red fruit is edible, but mushy and bland.

Reward time! If you see any berries you can eat them in the parks–just don’t collect the flower part, that needs to stay.

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - BALSAM FIR

Needles are flat, short and blunt-tipped. They swirl around the twig. Nicely aromatic.

Excellent job spotting this fir!

#14. Tree - TAMARACK

This tree is commonly found in bogs. While this tree has needles, it is actually considered deciduous, which means its needles fall off in the winter and grow anew in spring.

Wonderful job finding a Tamarack!

#15. Tree - WHITE CEDAR

Grows in northern Minnesota, usually in moist, stony places. Leaves are flat and scale-like and have aromatic scent.

Wonderful! Can you smell it?

#16. Tree - WHITE PINE

Needles are 3-5" and bound into clusters of five needles that are wispy. (memory device: 5 needles for the 5 letters in WHITE). A favorite for bald eagles to nest.

Great! Did you count the needles in the bundle?

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 - HIKER

Someone hiking

Great, you saw a hiker!

ADDITIONAL PRIZE
In addition to the weekly drawing for $20 gift card from all parks’ entries, the following prize will be drawn from all entries to this park’s hunt on Sept. 13

Scavenger Hunt – Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - MALLARD

#2. Bird - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

#3. Bird - DOWNY or HAIRY WOODPECKER

#4. Birds - HOODED MERGANSER

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

#5. Mammal - RED SQUIRREL

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

#7. Mammal - RIVER OTTER

#8. Mammal - FISHER

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

#9. Wildflower - BLUE FLAG IRIS

#10. Wildflower - COLUMBINE

#11. Wildflower - SELF-HEAL

#12. Wildflower - THIMBLEBERRY

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - BALSAM FIR

#14. Tree - TAMARACK

#15. Tree - WHITE CEDAR

#16. Tree - WHITE PINE

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

#17. Humans - ANGLER

#18. Humans - HIKER

ADDITIONAL PRIZE
In addition to the weekly drawing for $20 gift card from all parks’ entries, the following prize will be drawn from all entries to this park’s hunt on Sept. 13

$25 PIRAGIS GIFT CARD
sponsored by Friends of the Lake Vermilion Trail

Results

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Scavenger Hunt – Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - MALLARD

#2. Bird - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

#3. Bird - DOWNY or HAIRY WOODPECKER

#4. Birds - HOODED MERGANSER

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

#5. Mammal - RED SQUIRREL

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

#7. Mammal - RIVER OTTER

#8. Mammal - FISHER

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

#9. Wildflower - BLUE FLAG IRIS

#10. Wildflower - COLUMBINE

#11. Wildflower - SELF-HEAL

#12. Wildflower - THIMBLEBERRY

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - BALSAM FIR

#14. Tree - TAMARACK

#15. Tree - WHITE CEDAR

#16. Tree - WHITE PINE

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

#17. Humans - ANGLER

#18. Humans - HIKER

ADDITIONAL PRIZE In addition to the weekly drawing for $20 gift card from all parks’ entries, the following prize will be drawn from all entries to this park’s hunt on Sept. 13

$25 PIRAGIS GIFT CARDsponsored by Friends of the Lake Vermilion Trail

Results

Search

ADDITIONAL PRIZE
In addition to the weekly drawing for $20 gift card from all parks’ entries, the following prize will be drawn from all entries to this park’s hunt on Sept. 13

$25 PIRAGIS GIFT CARD
sponsored by Friends of the Lake Vermilion Trail