posted Jun 12, 2018, 7:52 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Jun 12, 2018, 7:54 AM
]
The Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey
The
Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey is a joint venture between the Minnesota
Wildlife Tracking Project and the University of Minnesota's Cedar Creek
Ecosystem Science Reserve. It is a unique opportunity
to improve your tracking skills, connect with nature, and help Cedar
Creek scientists learn about the wildlife living on their property. You can read about our last survey here on our blog.Summer Survey, Sunday, July 15
Our Cedar Creek Summer Survey will take the place of our July Tracking Club. This survey will also be our first after the introduction of bison to the property. The bison will be in a large enclosure in the southern section of the reserve. They will have a dramatic affect on the plant communities, which may cascade over to influence the behavior of other wildlife as well. The Survey will be an all day affair. We will head out in teams to
survey sand roads for animal tracks, then come back in to share
our discoveries with one another. Each team will be led by an
experienced wildlife tracker, certified in
Track & Sign identification. Here is the schedule for the day: 8:30am Gathering at Lindman Center
9:30am Tracking teams leave for the field
--Lunch in the field--
~2:30pm Return from the field for mapping, debriefing and sharing
4:30pm Complete
This
is an all-weather event. Please come dressed to spend most of the day
outside in whatever conditions we have that day. Bring
your own lunches and snacks. Weather permitting, we will eat
lunch in the field.
Cedar Creek will provide coffee and snacks in the morning. Please register using our contact form, or write Caitlin Potter < caitlin@umn.edu> or Jonathan Poppele < poppele@umn.edu> to let us know you are coming. Want to Carpool?
We have a new tool to help coordinate carpooling. If you would like to share the trip to Cedar Creek, you can use our Group Carpool webpage to offer or request a ride. Bring Your QuestionsIn
recent surveys, our teams
have identified the tracks of about 20 species including black bear, fisher, mink, red fox and grey wolf. We have been noting the
behavior of deer, coyote and fox in relation to the shifting wolf
population, and seeing some of our wolf track sightings verified by
Cedar Creek's new network of trail cameras. A lot has been changing
every season and we are looking forward to
what we will find this summer. Some of the questions that have come up
in recent surveys include: - Why is an apparently solitary wolf apparently maintaining a relatively small and defined home range? And why does that range appear to end so abruptly around Cedar Bog Lake when there are so many deer in the southern half of the reserve?
- How will the newly introduced bison affect the behavior of other wildlife on the property?
- Was the bobcat that left the scat our team found in the spring a transient or a resident? Where might we find more bobcat sign?
What questions do
you have about the landscape, the animals and their behavior? We will
take some time to share questions before we head out into the field.
About Cedar Creek
Cedar
Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is a 5,400 acre experimental ecological
reserve operated by the University of Minnesota. It is located about 35
miles north of Minneapolis and St. Paul, just east of Bethel. Cedar
Creek lies at the boundary between prairie and forest. It is a mosaic
of uplands dominated by oak savanna, prairie, hardwood forest, pine
forests, and abandoned agricultural fields and of lowlands comprised of
ash and cedar swamps, acid bogs, marshes, and sedge meadows. The area
was first set aside in the early 1940s to be kept in its natural
condition for scientific and educational purposes. Much of the land
remains pristine, and has never been developed for agriculture. You can
learn more at www.cedarcreek.umn.eduThe diverse, pristine habitat supports a wide variety of mammals. Species seen on the property over
the Reserve's 75 year history include white-tailed jackrabbits, badger,
fisher, fox squirrels, porcupine & spotted skunks. Reserve staff
and scientists are looking for our help to update their index of
mammals. If you are a beginner, the surveys will offer an overview of
the diversity of Minnesota Mammals. For the advanced tracker, you might
get to try your hand at distinguishing fisher from otter; fox squirrel
from grey squirrel; and a variety of tiny mammal tracks. You can take a
look at some of what our tracking teams have found on our iNaturalist Project PageThe
property includes 25 miles of sand roads, which catch tracks
beautifully. The roads will be grated shortly before our surveys,
offering optimal tracking conditions for us to locate and identify a
rich diversity of species. Public access to the Reserve is
limited. The Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey program offers you the rare
opportunity to explore this exceptional landscape. Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve 2660 Fawn Lake Dr NE Bethel, Minnesota 55005 For a map & directions to Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, click hereCedar Creek Ecosystem Science ReserveCedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve |
posted Jun 11, 2018, 11:47 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Jun 11, 2018, 11:55 AM
]
Please join us for our next Bird Language Gathering
Saturday, July 7
9:00 - 1:00
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
3815 American Blvd E
Bloomington, MN 55425
Registration for these gatherings is encouraged, but not required. Feel
free to drop by--and it would be great to know that you are coming! Birds talk to each other. We can learn to understand it. And it's fun!Celebrate the weekend after Independence Day eavesdropping on the birds along the
wooded slopes of the Mississippi River Valley. As we move into the
height of summer, we can expect to be surrounded by all five voices of
the birds signing, screaming, begging, gossiping, jeering & tattling
on each other like tiny, feathered fireworks.
What should I bring?
Bring what you need to be comfortable
sitting still, outside on the ground for an extended period of time—perhaps as
long as an hour. You will also need something to take notes on. You do
not need to have binoculars, but there is no harm in bringing a pair if
you would like. Here are a few recommended and optional items to bring:
Recommended:
Note pad & pencil
Ground cloth, blanket or camp-chair
Sun protection Bug protection
Poncho if it is raining
Optional:
Water bottle
Snack
Binoculars
Sign me up!
Registration
is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop in and join us—and
it would be great to know you are coming! If you have any questions,
or to register for the event:
For a map & directions click here
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge |
posted Jun 11, 2018, 11:44 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Jun 12, 2018, 7:36 AM
]
Come join us for our next Tracking Excursion at Ft. Snelling State Park:
Sunday, June 17
9:00am - 1:00pm
We will gather at the Ft. Snelling State Park visitor center:
Ft. Snelling State Park
101 Snelling Lake Rd
West St Paul, MN 55111
Trackspotting: noun, chiefly British English, referring to the
hobby of recording the footprints one has observed, particularly when
an identifying feature of the footprint is a spot.
Come join us
this coming Sunday as we spot a few tracks of our own. This is an all-weather event and we spend time off trail. Please bring appropriate footwear and dress for several hours outdoors in whatever weather we may have that day.We
will gather at 9:00 in the fireplace room in the Visitor Center. We
will head out on the trail about 9:20 and return to the visitor center
about noon for a brief mapping exercise and wrap-up session. If you need
to reach us the day of the outing, please call Jon's cell phone at 612-388-4700. Please note that cell reception is poor in much of the park.
Note that you need a State Park pass to drive to
the Visitor Center, but you can park for free at the Historic Fort
Snelling visitor center. It is about a half-mile walk past the historic
fort and down the hill to get to the State Park visitor center. The
Historic Fort parking is located at 200 Tower Ave, St Paul, MN 55111
RSVPs are encouraged, but not required. |
posted May 18, 2018, 11:27 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated May 18, 2018, 11:50 AM
]
Please join us for our next Bird Language Gathering
9:00 - 1:00
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
3815 American Blvd E
Bloomington, MN 55425
Registration
for these gatherings is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop
by--and it would be great to know that you are coming! Birds talk to each other. We can learn to understand it. And it's fun!Its a busy time of year for songbirds. Spring migration is wrapping up,
nesting season is winding up, and all five voices of the birds are
filling the woods. With the trees leafed out and the canopy filled in,
we will once again need to rely more on our ears than our eyes to
understand what is going on in the forest around us. Come join as we
step into the birds' world along the slopes of the Minnesota river
valley. What should I bring?Bring
what you need to be comfortable sitting still, outside on the ground
for an extended period of time—perhaps as long as an hour. You will also
need something to take notes on. You do not need to have binoculars,
but there is no harm in bringing a pair if you would like. Here are a
few recommended and optional items to bring:
Recommended:Note pad & pencil Ground cloth, blanket or camp-chair Appropriate clothing for sitting still outside Bug protection Sun protection Poncho if it is raining Optional:Water bottle Snack Binoculars Sign me up!Registration
is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop in and join us—and
it would be great to know you are coming! If you have any questions, or
to register for the event: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
|
posted Mar 28, 2018, 12:18 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Apr 12, 2018, 9:47 AM
]
The Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey
The
Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey is a joint venture between the Minnesota
Wildlife Tracking Project and the University of Minnesota's Cedar Creek
Ecosystem Science Reserve. It is a unique opportunity
to improve your tracking skills, connect with nature, and help Cedar
Creek scientists learn about the wildlife living on their property. You can read about our last survey here on our blog.Spring Survey, Saturday, April 28
This year, our Spring Survey will be an official part of the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge--a friendly competition between 60 cities around the world do document biodiversity near urban centers. Our teams will conduct our regular surveys, while guests will be invited to tag along with survey teams and record their own observations. The Survey will be an all day affair. We will head out in teams to
survey sand roads for animal tracks, then come back in to share
our discoveries with one another. Each team will be led by an
experienced wildlife tracker, certified in
Track & Sign identification. Here is the schedule for the day: 8:30am Gathering at Lindman Center
9:30am Tracking teams leave for the field
--Lunch in the field--
~2:30pm Return from the field for mapping, debriefing and sharing
4:30pm Complete
This is an all-weather affair. Please come dressed to spend most of the day outside in whatever conditions we have that day. Bring
your own lunches and snacks. Weather permitting, we will eat
lunch in the field.
Cedar Creek will provide coffee and snacks in the morning. Please register using our contact form, or write Caitlin Potter < caitlin@umn.edu> or Jonathan Poppele < poppele@umn.edu> to let us know you are coming. Want to Carpool?
We have a new tool to help coordinate carpooling. If you would like to share the trip to Cedar Creek, you can use our Group Carpool webpage to offer or request a ride. Bring Your QuestionsIn recent surveys, our teams
have identified the tracks of about 20 species including southern flying
squirrel, fisher, mink, red fox and grey wolf. We have been noting the behavior of deer, coyote and fox in relation to the shifting wolf
population, and seeing some of our wolf track sightings verified by
Cedar Creek's new network of trail cameras. A lot has been changing
every season and we are looking forward to
what we will find this spring. Some of the questions that have come up in recent surveys include: - Why are the coyote moving so freely in the north unit, even when there is fresh wolf sign in the area? What has changed since last spring when they were avoiding this area?
- Where are the bobcat? One showed up on a trail camera last year, but we have not seen tracks on any of our surveys. Was that individual a dispersing male just passing through, or are they in the reserve and we are just missing their sign?
- Are there badger in the area? We found one, tantalizing, partial track that looked like it might have been from a badger on East Bethel Blvd over a year ago--but no sign since then. They have been sighted in the reserve, but not recently.
What questions do you have about the landscape, the animals and their behavior? We will take some time to share questions before we head out into the field.
About Cedar Creek
Cedar
Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is a 5,400 acre experimental ecological
reserve operated by the University of Minnesota. It is located about 35
miles north of Minneapolis and St. Paul, just east of Bethel. Cedar
Creek lies at the boundary between prairie and forest. It is a mosaic
of uplands dominated by oak savanna, prairie, hardwood forest, pine
forests, and abandoned agricultural fields and of lowlands comprised of
ash and cedar swamps, acid bogs, marshes, and sedge meadows. The area
was first set aside in the early 1940s to be kept in its natural
condition for scientific and educational purposes. Much of the land
remains pristine, and has never been developed for agriculture. You can
learn more at www.cedarcreek.umn.eduThe diverse, pristine habitat supports a wide variety of mammals. Species seen on the property over
the Reserve's 75 year history include white-tailed jackrabbits, badger,
fisher, fox squirrels, porcupine & spotted skunks. Reserve staff
and scientists are looking for our help to update their index of
mammals. If you are a beginner, the surveys will offer an overview of
the diversity of Minnesota Mammals. For the advanced tracker, you might
get to try your hand at distinguishing fisher from otter; fox squirrel
from grey squirrel; and a variety of tiny mammal tracks. You can take a
look at some of what our tracking teams have found on our iNaturalist Project PageThe
property includes 25 miles of sand roads, which catch tracks
beautifully. The roads will be grated shortly before our surveys,
offering optimal tracking conditions for us to locate and identify a
rich diversity of species. Public access to the Reserve is
limited. The Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey program offers you the rare
opportunity to explore this exceptional landscape. Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve 2660 Fawn Lake Dr NE Bethel, Minnesota 55005 For a map & directions to Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, click hereCedar Creek Ecosystem Science ReserveCedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve |
posted Mar 28, 2018, 11:41 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Apr 3, 2018, 1:13 PM
]
Come join us for Tracking Club at Carlos Avery State Wildlife Management Area
Sunday, April 15 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
This April, tracking club will be at the Carlos Avery State Wildlife Management Area, a 20-thousand acre wetland and forest preserve 30 miles north of the Twin Cities. Carlos Avery is near Cedar Creek, and offers similar habitat and diversity of species--but with no restrictions about where we can explore.
Carlos Avery has minimal facilities.
There are no lavatories, benches or shelters in the area we will be tracking.
Because of potentially wet conditions, we
will make the final decision about where to go tracking on the day of
the event. We will meet at the McDonald's just off I-35 and E Viking Blvd.
This is an all-weather event and we spend time off trail, perhaps in
very muddy conditions. Please bring appropriate footwear and dress for
several hours outdoors in whatever weather we may have that day.
We
will gather at 9:00 at the McDonald's on E Viking Blvd to do our
welcomes and get organized before heading out on the trail. We will
leave for the field about 9:20. If you need to reach us the day of the
outing, please call Jon's cell at 612-388-4700. Please note that cell
reception may be spotty. RSVPs are encouraged, but not required.
For a map & directions click hereCarlos Avery Rendezvous SiteMcDonald's |
posted Mar 13, 2018, 3:30 PM by The Center for Mind-Body Oneness
[
updated Mar 13, 2018, 3:30 PM
]
Please join us for our next Bird Language Gathering
9:00 - 1:00
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
3815 American Blvd E
Bloomington, MN 55425
Registration for these gatherings is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop by--and it would be great to know that you are coming! Birds talk to each other. We can learn to understand it. And it's fun!It's spring at the Refuge. The first red-winged blackbirds have shown their stripes at the Refuge, and male robins are beginning to stake out territories. Meanwhile, we have seen some recent signs of Cooper's hawks setting up their own territory near the bottom of the Hillside Trail. As territorial aggression increases, these Cooper's hawks may try to take advantage of the commotion. Come join us on the slopes of the Minnesota River Valley as we get a glimpse into the lives of the area's avian residents. What should I bring?Bring what you need to be comfortable sitting still, outside on the ground for an extended period of time—perhaps as long as an hour. You will also need something to take notes on. You do not need to have binoculars, but there is no harm in bringing a pair if you would like. Here are a few recommended and optional items to bring:
Recommended:Note pad & pencil Ground cloth, blanket or camp-chair Appropriate clothing for sitting still outside Sun protection Poncho if it is raining Optional:Water bottle Snack Binoculars Sign me up!Registration is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop in and join us—and it would be great to know you are coming! If you have any questions, or to register for the event: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
|
posted Feb 23, 2018, 11:23 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Feb 23, 2018, 11:23 AM
]
Come join us for our next Tracking Excursion at Ft. Snelling State Park:
Sunday, March 18
9:00am - 1:00pm
We will gather at the Ft. Snelling State Park visitor center:
Ft. Snelling State Park
101 Snelling Lake Rd
West St Paul, MN 55111
Join
us for a fun activity to see how many species of wildlife we can
identify in the short amount of time we're in the field using track and
sign. We will gather for a short time to get acquainted then divide up
into groups and venture out on the landscape to see who's there.
This is an all-weather event and we spend time off trail. Please bring appropriate footwear and dress for several hours outdoors in whatever weather we may have that day.We
will gather at 9:00 in the fireplace room in the Visitor Center. We
will head out on the trail about 9:20 and return to the visitor center
about noon for a brief mapping exercise and wrap-up session. If you need
to reach us the day of the outing, please call Donnie's cell phone at 952-334-5471. Please note that cell reception is poor in much of the park.
Note that you need a State Park pass to drive to
the Visitor Center, but you can park for free at the Historic Fort
Snelling visitor center. It is about a half-mile walk past the historic
fort and down the hill to get to the State Park visitor center. The
Historic Fort parking is located at 200 Tower Ave, St Paul, MN 55111
RSVPs are encouraged, but not required. |
posted Feb 6, 2018, 9:38 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Feb 6, 2018, 9:39 PM
]
Please join us for our next Bird Language Gathering
9:00 - 1:00
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
3815 American Blvd E
Bloomington, MN 55425
Registration
for these gatherings is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop
by--and it would be great to know that you are coming! Birds talk to each other. We can learn to understand it. And it's fun!March
is the beginning of meteorological spring, when some migrant and resident
songbirds are just beginning to stake out territories. Songs and territorial
aggression signal the warmer weather to come, and provide a more
dynamic baseline of activity in the forest. Meanwhile, the owls are well into their nesting season and keeping the songbirds on alert. Come join us on the slopes
of the Minnesota River Valley as we see what we can learn from the birds
though the disturbances in the dynamic baseline in this transition from winter to spring.What should I bring?Bring
what you need to be comfortable sitting still, outside on the ground
for an extended period of time—perhaps as long as an hour. You will also
need something to take notes on. You do not need to have binoculars,
but there is no harm in bringing a pair if you would like. Here are a
few recommended and optional items to bring:
Recommended:Note pad & pencil Ground cloth, blanket or camp-chair Appropriate clothing for sitting still outside Sun protection Poncho if it is raining Optional:Water bottle Snack Binoculars Sign me up!Registration
is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop in and join us—and
it would be great to know you are coming! If you have any questions, or
to register for the event: For a map & directions click hereMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
|
posted Feb 6, 2018, 9:34 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Mar 14, 2018, 10:59 AM by The Center for Mind-Body Oneness
]
The Cloquet Forestry Center is launching a wildlife tracking survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project and the University of Minnesota Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Club. Short term goals for this project include assessing what animals are
using the forest and providing a learning experience for Cloquet
Forestry Center management staff and University students. Long term
goals include monitoring trends in mammal diversity and abundance with
possible links to forest management and climate change. To register, email Rachael Olesiak < rolesiak@umn.edu> Project Kick-Off has been Rescheduled for, Sunday, March 25
**UPDATE** Due to heavy snow expected the morning of February 25, we are rescheduling our kick-off survey for Sunday, March 25. Our
initial survey will be an all day affair. We plan to divide into teams and survey the snowpacked roads for track and sign, then come back in to share
our discoveries with one another. Our plan is to have each team led by an
experienced wildlife tracker, certified in
Track & Sign identification. Here is an approximate schedule for the day: 8:30 Gathering in the Library 9:30 First survey route 12:00 Lunch break 12:30 Second survey route 2:30 Meet back in Library to share the story of the day 3:30 Depart Registration
Advanced registration is required. To ease our planning, please register no later than Thursday, February 22. To register, email Rachael Olesiak < rolesiak@umn.edu> About Cloquet Forestry Center
The Cloquet Forestry Center, located 135 miles north of the Twin Cities, has been the primary research and education forest for the University of Minnesota for over a century. Located in the Lake Superior watershed in northeastern Minnesota, this 2,662 acre experimental forest is home to researchers, practitioners, students, and members of the public who are interested in forest ecosystems and their sustainable management. The Center sits inside the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation and partners with the tribe on forest management and educational programming. It's northern Minnesota biome is home to a diversity of wildlife including moose, wolves, bears, lynx, bobcats, porcupines, pine martins, hares, goshawks, deer, and ruffed grouse. Get more information about the Center here. The overnight lodging that is normally available at the Cloquet Forestry Center is filled up for the weekend. For those planning to head up Saturday, rather than early Sunday morning, there are some nearby hotels that offer reasonable rates. These are two of the closest and least expensive options:
121 Big Lake Rd, Cloquet, MN 55720
1308 MN-33, Cloquet, MN 55720
Cross Country Skiing NearbyExtensive networks of cross country ski trails are available in Fond du Lac State Forest and Jay Cooke State Park, just 10-15 miles from the Cloquet Forestry Center. You can get more information, and perhaps some information about trail conditions, from the Skinny Ski website:
Address, Map & DirectionsCloquet Forestry Center 175 University Road, Cloquet, MN 55720 For a map & directions to Cloquet Forestry Center, click hereCloquet Forestry CenterCloquet Forestry Center |
|
