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Events
2021 Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger Hunt – Myre-Big Island

Scavenger Hunt – Myre-Big Island

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!

Small yellow bird with black mask

#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"

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!

Double Crested Cormorant

#3. Bird - DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

Large black bird with snake-like neck. Male and female look alike. Roost in large groups in trees near water and make sounds like an oinking pig.

Large black bird with snake-like neck. Male and female look alike. Roost in large groups in trees near water and make sounds like an oinking pig.

Fun find! Hopefully you also got to hear it making it’s loud calls.

Great Egret

#4. Birds - GREAT EGRET

Tall graceful bird that walks slowly in shallow water looking for small fish to spear. Once hunted to near extinction for their feathers, now fairly common. Males and females look alike.

Tall graceful bird that walks slowly in shallow water looking for small fish to spear. Once hunted to near extinction for their feathers, now fairly common. Males and females look alike.

Wonderful that you found the egret!

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 - Gray Squirrel on limb

#6. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

Found across Minnesota from woods to urban yards. Build leaf nests in summer.

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.

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 - Goldenrod

#9. Wildflower - GOLDENROD

Blooms Jul-Sep l Grows in the sunny areas. Plant grows 1-6 feet tall. MN has 17 types of goldenrod that look similar with small yellow flowers.

Blooms Jul-Sep l Grows in the sunny areas. Plant grows 1-6 feet tall. MN has 17 types of goldenrod that look similar with small yellow flowers.

Yes! This is a very common flower that’s important for pollinators.

Flower - Gray Head Coneflower

#10. Wildflower - GRAY-HEADED CONEFLOWER

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny fields. Droopy yellow petals surround a brownish center.

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny fields. Droopy yellow petals surround a brownish center.

How great!

Flower - Lead Plant

#11. Wildflower - LEAD PLANT

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny, sandy fields. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Technically a shrub with woody stems to last through winter.

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny, sandy fields. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Technically a shrub with woody stems to last through winter.

Wonderful! Aren’t those leaves interesting

Flower - Purple Prairie Clover

#12. Wildflower - PURPLE PRAIRIE CLOVER

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny fields and rocky areas. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Attracts many pollinators.

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny fields and rocky areas. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Attracts many pollinators.

Super job finding this clover!

Tree - Basswood

#13. Tree - BASSWOOD

Leaf is heart-shaped with jagged teeth. Bees love to make honey from basswood flowers.

Leaf is heart-shaped with jagged teeth. Bees love to make honey from basswood flowers.

Wonderful job finding this basswood!

Tree - Green Ash

#14. Tree - GREEN ASH

Between 7-9 leaflets are attached to each stem. An invasive insect known as the emerald ash borer is spreading across the state and killing off many ash trees.

Between 7-9 leaflets are attached to each stem. An invasive insect known as the emerald ash borer is spreading across the state and killing off many ash trees.

Nice job! Look for evidence of the Emerald Ash Borer, which leaves “S” shaped etchings in the bark. Let’s hope you don’t see any!

Tree - Red Oak

#15. Tree - RED OAK

Leaf has 7-11 lobes that are notched about half-way to the center of the leaf and each lobe ends in pointed tips. Produces acorns that feed wildlife.

Leaf has 7-11 lobes that are notched about half-way to the center of the leaf and each lobe ends in pointed tips. Produces acorns that feed wildlife.

Super!

Tree - Sugar Maple

#16. Tree - SUGAR MAPLE

Maple syrup is made from this tree by collecting sap in the spring. Leaf has 3 pointed lobes with 2 smaller points near the stem (symbol on Canada flag).

Maple syrup is made from this tree by collecting sap in the spring. Leaf has 3 pointed lobes with 2 smaller points near the stem (symbol on Canada flag).

Wonderful, you found a sugar maple!

two people bicycling on paved trail

#17. Humans - BICYCLIST

Someone riding a bicycle

Someone riding a bicycle

Pedal on!

three people with binoculars

#18. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

Someone with binoculars

Someone with binoculars

Wonder what they see?

Two people in canoe on lake

#19. Humans - CANOEIST or KAYAKER

Someone canoeing or kayaking

Someone canoeing or kayaking

Great! What a fun way to explore the park!

finish

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651-726-2457 or 800-944-0707

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