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Events
2021 Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger Hunt – La Salle Lake

Scavenger Hunt – La Salle Lake

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 bird with black head

#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.

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!

Hooded Merganser

#2. 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.

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!

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

#3. 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.

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!

White-breasted Nuthatch

#4. 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!

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 - chipmunk on rock eating

#6. Mammal - CHIPMUNK

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

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

Oh, lucky! These are fun to spot.

Mammal - Mink standing on mossy log

#7. 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.

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.

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 - BlueVervain

#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.

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.

red delicate flower

#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.

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 - Jewelweed

#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!

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?

Flower - Swamp Milkweed

#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.

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?

Tree - Balsam Fir

#13. Tree - BALSAM FIR

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

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

Excellent job spotting this fir!

Tree - Jack Pine

#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.

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!

Tree - Red 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.

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!

Tree - White Cedar

#16. Tree - WHITE CEDAR

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

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

Wonderful! Can you smell it?

People - Angler

#17. Humans - ANGLER

Someone fishing

Someone fishing

Does it look like their catching anything?

Two people in canoe on lake

#18. Humans - CANOEIST or KAYAKER

Someone canoeing or kayaking

Someone canoeing or kayaking

Great! What a fun way to explore the park!

Humans - Swim

#19. Humans - SWIMMER

Someone swimming

Someone swimming

finish

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