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2021 Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger Hunt – McCarthy Beach

Scavenger Hunt – McCarthy Beach

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 yellow bird with black mask

#1. 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"

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!

Male mallard with green head standing next to brown female mallard

#2. Bird - MALLARD

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

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

Nice job!

Bird - Red Winged Blackbirds

#3. Birds - RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

Male is all black with prominent red patch on wings. Female is all brown. Often seen perching on reeds as they sway in the wind along water edges.

Male is all black with prominent red patch on wings. Female is all brown. Often seen perching on reeds as they sway in the wind along water edges.

Nice job!

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 - Black Bear hugging tree trunk

#5. Mammal - BLACK BEAR

Usually all black but some brown. Keep your distance. Tend to avoid humans, but are incredibly strong and fast.

Usually all black but some brown. Keep your distance. Tend to avoid humans, but are incredibly strong and fast.

So special to see a black bear. Stay safe and stay back.

Mammal- Red squirrel

#6. Mammal - RED SQUIRREL

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

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?

Mammal - Otter

#7. Mammal - RIVER OTTER

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

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.

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.

red delicate flower

#9. 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

#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!

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 - Self Heal

#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.

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!

Water Lily

#12. Wildflower - WHITE WATER LILY

Blooms Jun-Sep | This lily grows in slow-moving water where it forms dense colonies. White petals swirls around yellow stamens. Appears to float on water.

Blooms Jun-Sep | This lily grows in slow-moving water where it forms dense colonies. White petals swirls around yellow stamens. Appears to float on water.

Stupendous! You must be at the water.

Tree - Black Spruce

#13. Tree - BLACK SPRUCE

This tree is common in bogs and marshes and can handle the acidic soil. It has very short needles, is often very skinny and scraggly, and grows slowly.

This tree is common in bogs and marshes and can handle the acidic soil. It has very short needles, is often very skinny and scraggly, and grows slowly.

Super! You found a black spruce!

Tree - Quaking Aspen

#14. Tree - QUAKING ASPEN

Leaf is rounded with saw-tooth edge and flattened leafstalk that helps with tremble in breeze.

Leaf is rounded with saw-tooth edge and flattened leafstalk that helps with tremble in breeze.

Great job!

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 Pine

#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.

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?

three people with binoculars

#17. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

Someone with binoculars

Someone with binoculars

Wonder what they see?

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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651-726-2457 or 800-944-0707

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