FEATURE: Hunters, send in your wildlife observations!

I love a statistic like "bobcats per hour," and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources always seems ready to provide. Since 2017, they've asked bow hunters to report what other wildlife they encounter while looking for deer. The DNR has now expanded their survey to include all deer hunters!

If you hunt deer, you can provide data through the DNR's website. If you're feeling extra inspired, you could also send a report to me, your favorite (and only) local radio phenology coordinator! I'd love to hear from you.

Have a great harvest!

Visit our Season Watch Facebook page!

STUDENT AND LISTENER CONTRIBUTIONS

Our students are back! We have reports from across Minnesota and one from Amherst, Massachusetts.

Hear their voices!

JOHN LATIMER'S WEEKLY REPORT

This week, I learned that Sandhill Cranes aren't the dainty, dignified eaters I always assumed they'd be.

Listen to John's report!

Support Season Watch here!

CHARLIE'S RECOMMENDATION

While at Grand Rapids Riverfest I got to meet Lorie Shaull, a talented local photographer and certified Cool Outdoorsy Human. In addition to an amazing Flickr page - with a dedicated phenology album - she has a Vimeo account with some incredible video of hummingbirds fledging, dragonflies emerging, and folks going skating on wild ice. (She also made the sculpture pictured above using the same materials hummingbirds use to build their nests. SO COOL!) Check out her work and bask in the glory with me!

Enjoy!

Season Watch Photo Feature:

Naomi Foss

Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale). Ojibwe: Ozhaawashkogidigaa okaadiginebig

Throughout spring, summer, and fall, keep an eye on window wells for passing amphibians and other small critters that may get stuck. A strategically- placed plank of wood can help reduce fatalities!

Bonus fact: Hummingbirds' tongues act as tiny pumps! Their beaks squeeze the interior channels in the tongue shut, and the channels re-open when they touch liquid. The elastic energy of the channels re-opening pulls the nectar into the tongue in less than a tenth of a second!

Go meander and find a salamander!

Northern Community Radio

KAXE/KBXE

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Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.