What’s in this Season?
Minnesota’s ever-changing seasons serve up immeasurable discoveries in nature. Explore what’s happening in nature this season.
Winter in Minnesota is cold and snowy, but that should not keep you from exploring the outdoors! The trails are quiet and chances are, you may be the only one braving the elements. Embrace the solitude and soak in the mental health benefits the snowy forests and icy lakes have to offer. Bundle up and grab your snowshoes. There is so much going on in nature even on the chilliest days.
Birds
Winter is the best time for birding because there are no leaves on the trees. It makes spotting birds much easier! Although many birds flee Minnesota during the cold winter months, we have some year-round resident birds that you can surely spot around the state. In some winters, birds that are uncommon in the state arrive unpredictably in large numbers – a surprising movement called an irruption. Feeders that normally attract only the usual chickadees, juncos and blue jays suddenly are visited by colorful yellow and black evening grosbeaks, purple finches, redpolls, pine siskins or pine grosbeaks. These winter finches are hard to overlook, although their visits may be brief and sporadic—they are wanderers seeking seeds to sustain them through the winter. A good place to look for winter birds is Sax-Zim Bog, 300 square-miles of ideal habitat crisscrossed by county roads approximately 35 miles north of Duluth near the town of Cotton.
Winter Birds
Wildlife
A snow-covered landscape makes Minnesota optimal for spotting wildlife in the winter months too. And soft snow holds evidence of wildlife movements for observers who are willing to look for it! Keep an eye out for the tracks of deer, fox and even coyotes.
If you have especially keen eyes, you may spot some critters that would rather not be seen. The fur coats of snowshoe hare, white jackrabbits and weasels all turn white to blend in with the snow in the winter months!
Wildlife Detective
Winter’s snows provide the perfect chance to flex and grow your wildlife tracking skills. From the common hoofprints of white-tailed deer to the distinct paw prints of coyotes, you never know whose tracks you’ll spot in the snow throughout TNC's preserves.
Coyote Pawprint: Coyote pawprints are a common sight in the snow. © Charles Larry
Coyote: Coyotes are present in many Illinois counties. © Lisa Bourgeault /TNC Photo Contest 2019
White-tailed Deer: White-tailed deer can be spotted across the state. © Kent Mason
Red Fox Tracks: Winter is an ideal time to practice identifying wildlife tracks thanks to how well snow can hold prints. © James Day/TNC Photo Contest 2022
Racoon Tracks: Snowfall makes for excellent opportunities to practice your animal track ID skills! © Lily Mullock/TNC
Places to visit
There is no shortage of places to experience the natural world in a Minnesota winter, but here are some of our recommendations.
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Paul Bunyan Savanna
Explore the rare jack pine savanna in the heart of Brainerd. Keep an eye out for birds and bring your cross-country skis! A local ski club maintains a ski trail through the preserve. Learn more
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Elm Creek Park Reserve
This park in Maple Grove has tons of hiking trails ready for you to explore, plus several miles of cross-country ski trails and downhill skiing! Learn more
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Jay Cooke State Park
Rent some snowshoes and explore this state park located just south of Duluth. The St. Louis River looks incredibly ethereal when its partially frozen! Learn more
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