Traveler - Where the Wild Things Are

The List: Wildlife Watching Destinations

Bison and wolves and bears, oh my!  With 78 mammal species, 22 amphibian species, 31 reptile species, and 428 bird species, Minnesota hosts a vast diversity of wildlife.  

Wildlife tourism is growing as a popular hobby in Minnesota.  You can be part of it no matter what your budget, time constraints, or travel options are.  Some wildlife tourism adventures are as close as your own backyard!  You can also expand your viewing adventures to a wildlife management area, park, wildlife refuge, or other public recreation spot.  Many Minnesota state parks have free loaner kits you can check out to learn about birds and wildlife.

Below are a few wildlife viewing destinations at Minnesota state parks.

• Besides Blue Mounds State Park, you can also find bison roaming the prairie at Minneopa State Park.
•  In the blufflands of southeast Minnesota, you can encounter the rare timber rattlesnake during a live snake program at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park or Whitewater State Park.
• Hear the haunting tremolo of our state bird, the common loon, at  Itasca or Lake Vermillion-Soudan Underground Mine State Parks, and parks throughout the north woods.

Traveler Tip:  Wildlife at the Campsite

When vacationing in the Great Outdoors, you may encounter a black bear, raccoon or other wild animal at your campsite.  Wildlife can quickly become a nuisance when they know there is an easy meal to be found in picnic baskets and storage coolers.

To reduce the chances of a wildlife encounter in your campsite, try these tips:

• Never have food in your tent.  
• Use canned and dried foods to minimize food odors.
• Use air-tight or bear-proof containers.
• Burn waste paper in your campfire.
• Do not burn or bury food scraps!
• Remove all garbage and fish remains from camp every evening.
• Move to a new campsite if fresh bear signs are present.

Discover:  Bringing Back Bison

Historically one-third of Minnesota was covered in prairie where tens of thousands of bison once roamed.  Everything changed in the late 1800's when bison were hunted to the brink of extinction and the prairie was exploited by European settlers.  Only one percent of Minnesota's native prairies remain.

Thanks to conservationists, both bison and prairies can still be found in Minnesota!  Today Blue Mounds State Park, Minneopa State Park and the Minnesota Zoo have bison herds that you can visit. 

Current bison herds are at risk because of habitat loss and bison-cattle hybrid experiments by early ranchers and conservationists.  Of the nearly 500,000 bison in North America today, less than 5 percent of tested bison show no signs of cattle DNA.  Without more land converted to prairie, there just isn’t enough grass to support more bison.  To fight against these two problems the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has partnered with the Minnesota Zoo to raise and manage a herd of bison with the healthiest genetics possible called the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd. 

National Get Outdoors Day on June 9

National Get Outdoors Day is an annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun. On this day, admission to Minnesota state parks is free.

Nation-wide, parks will offer opportunities for families to experience traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities.

Prime goals of the day are reaching first-time visitors to public lands and reconnecting our youth to the great outdoors.

Check out these great events planned at our Minnesota State Parks and Trails for National Get Outdoors Day on June 9:

1. Outdoor Recreation Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Father Hennepin State Park
2. Get Outdoors Day - History Hike from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Red River State Recreation Area
3. National Get Outdoors Day - Geocaching, Tours and Activities from 12 - 2 p.m. at Glacial Lakes State Park.
4. National Get Outdoors Day - Family Outdoors Fair from 12 - 3 p.m. at Whitewater State Park.