Minnesota

Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis

I first visited Minnesota in February 2017 for a weekend, and was successful in my quest to see a Canada Lynx. I have been back many times, mainly to see my friends Charles (from the mammalwatching podcast) and Lara Foley, though we have also looked for mammals a bit.

Grand Marais

The forest around Grand Marais is probably the best place to look for Lynxes in the USA outside of Alaska. They are still, however, far from easy to see.

Forest roads near Grand Marais

I focused my efforts on a deer carcass in the forest between Grand Marais and the Gunflint Lodge, and lucked out seeing a Lynx, on two separate occasions, feeding at dusk one evening, and at 8 a.m. a couple of days later. The only other mammals that weekend were many Red Squirrels at the Gunflint Lodge and a probable Northern Short-tailed Shrew in the forest.

Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis

Late February is Lynx breeding season and one of the best times to look for them. Fishers were reported also feeding on the carcass a couple of weeks after I was there. Thanks to David Johnson and Chris Townend (Wisebirding) for their help.

Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis

Sax-Zim Bog

American Marten (Martes americana)

I spent a weekend here in February 2025 with Charles Foley and Todd Pusser. This popular birding spot is famous in winter for its many owls including Great Gray Owls. It can also be a good place to see mustelids, especially in winter: American Marten is usually reliable and can be seen on bird feeders, Mink and River Otters are reasonably common and even Fishers are seen from time to time. In some winters American Ermine ( Mustela richardsonii) – now split from the European Stoat – are easy to see.

The winter of 2024/25 was not, we discovered, a good year for the ermine and we were not lucky. We did briefly seen an American Marten on a bird feeder, along with numerous Red Squirrels and White-tailed Deer plus a Musk Rat (about here). Other mammals around the bog include Moose, Northern Flying Squirrel, Coyotes, Bobcat and Porcupines. And just before our visit Star-nosed Moles were seen several times running along the frozen roads!

North American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)