Scavenger Hunt – La Salle Lake – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. 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.

Woohoo! You found a chickadee!

#2. 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.

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

#3. 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!

#4. Birds - RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

Our smallest bird at only 3 inches, but this is a mighty bird whose wings flap an amazing 50-60 times/second, creating a humming sound. Only the male has the red throat. Migrate to Central and South America.

Good eye!

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

#5. Mammal - CHIPMUNK

They are very active and inquisitive and find a home in hollow logs, tree cavities, or underground dens where they store piles of food.

Oh, lucky! These are fun to spot.

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 - MINK

Blackish to light-brown with white chin. Long tube-like body with short legs and bushy tail. Lives near water and is a great swimmer.

Good eye! Such a fun find.

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

#9. Wildflower - BLUE VERVAIN

Blooms Jun-Sep | Grows in sunny, wet ditches and shores. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Flowers are on spikes 2-5 inches tall. They attract bumblebees and other important pollinators.

Wonderful! Look for bees and butterflies enjoying this plant.

#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 - 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?

#12. Wildflower - SWAMP MILKWEED

Blooms Jun-Sep l Grows in sun in wet fields or swamps along the shore. Consists of 2 to 3-inch convex flower clusters that make a 5-parted crown with a curved horn sticking out of each of the 5 cylindrical hoods in the crown.

Nice job! Have butterflies found it too?

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 - JACK PINE

Needles are pretty short, about 1-2" long and grow in clusters of two. They have serotinous cones, meaning the cone needs fire (or extreme heat) in order to release the seeds to grow new trees.

Nice job finding the Jack Pine!

#15. Tree - RED PINE

Needles are 4-6" long and bound into clusters of two with sharp tips. Gets its name from its reddish bark.

Great job finding the red pine!

#16. 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?

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 - CANOEIST or KAYAKER

Someone canoeing or kayaking

Great! What a fun way to explore the park!

#19. Humans - SWIMMER

Someone swimming

Scavenger Hunt – La Salle Lake