Scavenger Hunt – Mille Lacs Kathio – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - CANADA GOOSE

The big, black-necked with a white chinstrap mark. Known to make honker sound. Males and female look alike.

Nice job finding the Canada Goose — did it honk at you?

#2. 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!

#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. Bird - CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER

Small songbird with yellow cap and strip of reddish-brown on side. Female colors a little paler than males. Flit and hop through shrubs.

Amazing–how lucky you are to have spotted 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.

#6. Mammal - COTTONTAIL

One of the most common small mammals in MN. Often seen running along trails within thick brush. They live within about the same 5 acres all year long.

Fabulous job spotting the cottontail. Did you notice its white tail?

Male deer with antlers and females deer with fawn

#7. 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.

#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 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 - 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 - LABRADOR TEA

Blooms May-Jun | This common bog plant has unique, curled leaves that have wooly brown hair underneath. The leaves are evergreen, meaning they remain on the plant year-round.

Amazing job finding this flower!

#12. Wildflower - STEMLESS LADYSLIPPER

Blooms May-Jul | This orchid looks like a less showy version of our state flower--the pink ladyslipper. It can be white, pale pink, or deep pink.

Yay! You found a great flower!

TREES – The lungs of our world

#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.

Super! You found a black spruce!

#14. Tree - QUAKING ASPEN

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

Great job!

#15. 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!

#16. Tree - WHITE OAK

White Oaks are mighty trees whose acorns feed many wildlife. Leaf has 5-9 finger-like lobes that can be notched deeply or shallow.

Fabulous! Do you see any acorns?

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

#17. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

Someone with binoculars

Wonder what they see?

#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 – Mille Lacs Kathio