Minnesota Nature Photos

Bobcat spotted while muzzleloading December 1 near Heinola, MN.

I took snowshoes to go down and check my game camera on the 4th of December after a 20+ inch snowfall and found a very interesting sight. The creek had frozen over and as I was looking down stream from the culvert I noticed something on the ice. I could not figure out what exactly I was looking at. First I thought that there might be part of a deer sticking out of the ice, perhaps a hip bone peeled clean by the coyotes and then I thought perhaps it was a deer skull laying on the ice. Next thought was maybe a porcupine or some type of small animal. I got closer on my snowshoes and was surprised to see that it was a snapping turtle. The coyotes had gotten to it and rolled it over. They had a nice meal from the under belly of the thing. Then to my surprise I noticed a second turtle just beyond the first one around a small bend in the creek. I was shocked to see two of them hammered by the coyotes. I am at a loss to understand why they came out of the creek which exposed them to the coyotes in the first place. I want to walk down the creek to see if I can find some more turtles that may have met the same fate. It is a very difficult walk with all the alder brush laying every which way! I thought that you would be interested in seeing the photos.

This action shot was barely taken near Orr, MN. Shows a wolf in the hunt after a doe. A quick second later, another wolf ran across the road in pursuit, too.

Bailey's 1st Autumn

Hidden in plain sight

Giant Swallowtail butterfly on our flowers in Athens Township Isanti County MN

July 2019 buck in velvet - Carlton County MN

Bobcat Kit was on the front porch of Cally and Devin Anderson's home near Deer Creek on 7-11-19.

Bobcat by Deer Creek on 7-11-19

Bobcat baby by Deer Creek on 7-11-19 at Cally and Devin Anderson's. The baby didn't want to leave so the sheriff was called where they maced him away as he kept hissing and wouldn't leave.

White tailed squirrels by Lake Reno. First time ever seeing them.

So much fun watching this new family in our backyard near Medford MN!

My neighbor in Longville, MN watched as this fawn crawled into this decorative boat in another neighbor's yard.

Morning coffee, city Wood Duck! Love the shadow on the tree.

While Turkey hunting with my daughter's boyfriend Fred, we had a mule deer buck come by us in Watonwan County in south central MN

Napping bear

Peter McBride 14 from St. Louis Park, MN completed a wood duck house again this year.

Fishing on Cedar lake by Faribault. We caught over 100 crappies today. And got some Great pics

This mink caught a bird for lunch.

Found this beaver on the St Croix

Lot of young Eagles on the St Croix.

The eagles are on the Croix.

I can't believe that branch wont break.

Went for a 4 hour walk and found this guy taking it easy.

He lost his 2 points that he had. This buck is 2 years old.

Took this pic 2 weeks ago.

Vermillion River, Farmington MN

One of my favorite Waterfowl photos that I took. I love the background and all the colors within the mallards . Also love that they're taking off.

Loons on Sawbill Lake

Bald Eagle about to catch a fish on Bouder Lake

Otters on Alton Lake

Loon on the north end of Sawbill Lake

Cow and calf in a pond along Sawbill Trail

Bull moose near Crescent Lake Cook County

Bull Moose crossing Bouder Lake

I took this picture of a lynx hiding behind some brush while driving on the The Grade on our way to Sawbill Canoe Outfitters.

Sunday morning sunrise over Martin lake. Wyoming Minnesota

Caught this river otter fishing on the Mississippi River.

Remember this guy. He took a beating from the next buck I will post.

This guy took the doe away from the other buck that I posted. The other buck kept coming back to take the doe back. But the other buck won the battle.

The goldness of fall ... Lake Sylvia ...Stearns County

I had to hide behind a tree to take these pictures because this buck came at me swinging his head side to side like a moose. The rut is on.

Look at the eyes on this deer. If you don't know what kind of deer this is, it is a Piebald deer. They are rare.

Landon posing with the biggest "Hen Of The Woods" we found this year!!

Timber wolf seen near Lutsen, MN

Timber Wolf seen near Lutsen, MN

nice little buck walking around out on state park land

10 point 8 point and the baby of the group 6 point

I posted this buck when he was in velvet. This is what he looks like now.

Pelicans making a stopover at ponds outside of LeSeuer, MN

Young and curious fawn, Noth Mankato, MN

Remember this guy? He is all cleaned up now.

He hangs out with the big buck that I posted.

This is the small piebald buck that I see a lot. There is also a bigger piebald buck that I haven't seen since last winter.

What a rack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The bugs were bad but it was worth it to get this picture.

Took this pic while I was fishing for muskies on Mantrap up north.

Albino buck deer in Lakeville/Prior Lake near I35

Took this pic on Pike Island

Snapper laying it's eggs.

This is the 2nd Piebald deer I have seen this year. This is a young buck.

This is the 2nd Piebald buck I have seen this year.

I caught this rare picture of a squirrel carrying babies from nest to nest. Three different babies.

The Duckweed Drake

Sandhill Crane Blaine, MN

Sandhill Crane in Blaine, MN I have been trying to photograph Sandhill Cranes for years by my work. One evening after work I got my chance! This guy was up on a hill, and I had to walk low to the ground and hide behind bushes to get this shot. Such a beautiful bird, I'm so happy to have been able to capture it!

Caught this little guy by the swamp .

Trumpeter swan taking a nap.

Lot of woodie's this year

Taken on Pike Island

The ducks are everywhere. Lots of woody's and mallards in the woods.

Took this pick by the Minnesota river today. Looks like this mother has a Baby eagle in its mouth. What do you think?

The loons are passing through. Took on Pike Island

Eagle sitting outside of her nest.

I wish is was my season to hunt.

Took on the St Croix River

Took this pic where I deer hunt.

Took these pics at Pike Island.

Great Grey Owl on the hunt in the Sax Zim Bog

Spring is coming! All sorts of birds and critters were out and about today in Rochester MN.

Beautiful mallard struttin his stuff on a beautiful day.

Couple of geese staring off into the distance; but more than likely just at the tourists throwing bread.

My wife pictured this Snowy Owl waiting for dinner to emerge from the fresh snow. 2/23/18 McLeod Co., MN

Trumpeter swan in mid February

Blue Jays eating peanuts at their feeder in the morning. They clean up peanuts in a matter of minutes each morning.

This is a photo of a piebald wild turkey near my home in Morrison County. He doesn't seem to have any friends - is always alone.

Hundreds of mallards and geese lift off a pond heading out to nearby cornfields in late Nov 2017.

A rutting buck races after a doe with weeds streaming from his antlers.

Bull Elk on Thanksgiving morning near Clam Lake, WI.

Snowy morning Bull Moose

Right place at the right time. A dandy Minnesota 10 pointer.

The Rut is on in Minnesota.

Battle scared Bull

Mushrooms are popping up all over the wooded areas of Minnesota.

Mushrooms are showing themselves out in the wooded areas of Minnesota.

The common mushroom popping out of the earth in the wooded areas of Minnesota

Golden beauties. Mushrooms in Minnesota

October Eagle, Chisago County.

September bull elk, Clam Lake, Wisconsin.

End of summer migration of the Monarch Butterfly near Little Birch Lake in Melrose, Minnesota

The last grab of nectar. Bees are swimming getting ready for the colder weather.

these little guys came to visit Sunday morning in my back yard

Roger Panzer, took this photo of a Loon with a Rainbow Trout in its mouth on Long Lake west of Itasca State Park on 7/2/17. I will also send a hard copy

Juvenile Bald Eagle in Chisago County MN.

Eagle in Chisago Co. MN.

The Yellow Warbler belting out his song in his outdoor amphitheater. Whitetail Woods Regional Park in Farmington MN

Trumpeters in Chicago Co. MN.

3/25, Bluestem Nature Conservancy near Dilworth, Mn. It was early, but there was still some competition for territory.

3/25, Bluestem Nature Conservancy near Dilworth, Mn. It was early, but there was still some competition for territory.

Had an opportunity to sit in a blind at Bluestem Nature Conservancy near Dilworth, MN on 3/25. Great show.

Wild River State Park, Chisago Co. Mn.

This image of an adult male wolf appeared on my trail camera in Mahtowa, Minn. In February, 2017.

Half hour before sunrise on West Rush Lake, Chicago County. Photo by John J. Werner, Stacy, Mn.

Matt Andres, of Randall, captured these eagles eating on a deer carrcas in Morrison County in Nov. 2016.

Bald eagle grabs fish and takes it back to the nest. Photo by John Werner of Stacy, Mn.

Clam Lake, Wisconsin elk. Thanksgiving morning 2016. Photo by John J. Werner. Stacy, Mn.

Photo by John J. Werner. Stacy, Mn.

Photo by John J. Werner Stacy, Mn.

Photo by John J. Werner. Stacy, Mn.

Trumpeters on St. Croix River. Photo by John J. Werner, Stacy, Mn.

Full February moon just after sunset on West Rush Lake, Chicago County. Photo by John J. Werner, Stacy, Mn.

Half hour before sunrise on West Rush Lake, Chicago County. Photo by John J. Werner, Stacy, Mn.

Amber Larson, of Chicago City, captured this, amazing swans.

Amber Larson, of Chicago City, captured this gracious image. Beautiful birds to listen to and watch.

A pair of wintering Trumpeter swans in the St. Croix river.

My dad, Brad Ellison (of Lake City, MN) took this photo in Esko, MN of a barred owl in 2012.

Prints in the snow found while snowshoeing in central Wisconsin near Rudolph.

While out fishing with my daughter this buck decided to take a swim with a doe all the way across the lake, what a great God moment. We were up in Cumberland, WI. First weekend in November.

Reflections I took this photo 1 week before season early morning while I was blading roads.

Alicia Kranz with Nate Chadderdon taken on Lake Pepin, Montgomery, Saturday Nov. 5, 2016. There were many ducks flying and it was a beautiful warm morning. Although the hunt wasn't great, the company sure was.

Dave Zylstra, of Coto De Caza, CA took this picture of the Sunrise and Moonset over the decoys while duck hunting in Otter Tail County on Saturday, October 22nd 2016.

Another shot of the white squirrel with blue tail. My sister, Dawn Caughey, was walking her dog and saw this squirrel by Vadnais Lake.

My sister saw this squirrel while she was walking her dog by Vadnais Lake. White squirrel with blue tail.

A weed covered Fawn emerges from the woods in Blaine during a rainy dusk in August.

Mushroom finds 5-2-16 on my parents farm near Winona, MN

A drake wood duck escorts his lady friend across a pond on April 17th.

This chickadee was regularly visiting the area below a window to pick moss to pack into her nest in a nearby tree.

Walleye eggs taken on east shore of Mille Lacs 4/21/16

Male and female Pileated Woodpeckers are regular guests on my back yard feeder in the Spring

The angry goose chasing off another. Minnesota Valley Preserve in Bloomington.

Soft light from the setting sun illuminates a Barred owl

I didn't think I would ever get the chance to show the size difference between the Downy and Harry woodpecker. Taken by Marie Noplos, Fergus Falls, MN

My backyard sunrise , Cotton mn 1/29/2016

Sunrise Rainbow Cotton Mn 1/29/16

Which way did mom say to run? Run toward me instead of away. Stopped 20 yds away. Mom walked over and guided them off at a slow walk. Rick Julian, Cormorant MN

Two fawns kicking up there heals

A gloomy day when all of a sudden the sun peaks through the clouds and cast a gold ray of light that makes for an astonishing view

This Snowy Old was spotted in Elk River, MN on January 4th at 8:00pm. The bird was perched up in a tree, in our yard.

Last Day

Lake Itasca Headwaters by Donald Pick

One of the White Deer of Father Hennepin State Park.

I was photographing this doe feeding when two birds landed on her back.

Sunrise on Pine Lake in Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.

rooster trying to get the dry black oilseed in the rain

Me and my 3 year old son Keegan each enjoying the Outdoor News on a beautiful fall morning.

A mature buck steps out from behind heavy cover.

Early light spotlights a bedded buck.

The wolves did not get this Bull and Cow moose as of yet. Taken on a bog in NE MN on 9/20/2015 outside of the BWCA

Albino Deer - 2nd photo

Two albino deer were spotted grazing in a field in Moose Lake, MN. Photo submitted by Diane and Scott Clark of Cloquet, MN.

Trees form like an archway

My girlfriend took this shot as we were driving east on MN 23 just west of Beaver Creek. The two bucks were running one after the other on the left ditch, then crossed the road, and continued running alongside us in the right ditch. Won't happen again!

Up periscope

Blue Heron with breakfast

I photographed this buck twice (31 days apart). It had an amazing transformation.

Daven Hanson of Little Falls shot this photo a couple of weeks ago near Tower. Every year loons nest on this tiny rock island.

This state park buck watches joggers on a trail move past him .

Gary Bowden of McGregor, IA carefully working his way through the path in the reeds of Mud Creek Lake.

Kevin Jackson of Eveleth, Mn. Took this picture of a Coyote mother returning to her den to feed her pups on June 13, 2015, photo was taken on northern Minnesota golf course

I had this young buck staring at me when I went to leave on June 15,2015.

Walked out my front door to mow lawn and spotted this snapper! Thankfully it was missing all its teeth!

A bald eagle flies back to its nest, where an eaglet is waiting, on Monday, May 4, 2015. The nest is built in a tree on an abandoned farm site on 440th Street south of Hector, Minn.

We rarely chase squirrels away, but this one we encourage to come to our feeder. This was taken Sunday, April 19 at our home in Zimmerman, MN

I know some hunters would like this turkey. Seen outside just walking in front yard . 4/11/2015 Terry Shoop Lexington.MN nice white /turkey

4 turkeys. 1 white one Beautiful

A friendly doe let me photograph her while she ate on a hillside.

Let's take 10 wolves from MN and reintroduce to each state that doesn't have any. Thatshould get rid of about 2000 of them.

I spent about 2 hours photographing a pack of 4 wolves and their deer kill on the ice of Lake Superior north of Grand Marais

sun dogs 2/11/15 in Euclid MN

we saw this fox near Grand Portage Thanksgiving weekend and photo was taken by 7 year old Owen Byrns

25 miles out-20 below zero. Bite is on. 1/9/2015

sunrise over Medicine Lake

Columbus, MN Nov 30, 2014

Not just about where they live but some of those feathers are blue.

We saw four wolves running through our property just southeast of Alexandria. By the time I grabbed the camera, they were going up the hill and I was shooting right directly into the sun. Got three on camera at one time and a fourth was off to the right.

Beautiful morning on the water!

friendly Pelicans

July thunderstorm near Cambridge Mn

saw this hawk swoop down and grab this rabbit while i was out fishing.

I saw these young ones in our backyard shed and just had to take a picture of them.

Ashley Nelson, of Meadowlands, Apple blossoms, picture taken in May 2014

Dawn Strande, of Isanti, caught this beautiful Scarlet Tananger waiting for his turn on the freshly filled feeders.

We just put out our feeder after seeing a Ruby-Throated hummingbird the other day but the range of these little guys isn't even east of the Rockies and somehow he made it to MN. Taken close to nightfall on May 16th.

Here's a picture of a Western Tanager at my jelly feeder in rural Sleepy Eye. Looking at the range maps for this bird it looks like he is a long way from home.

I saw this bird on my way into work this morning and he was unique enough that I stopped and took these photos. I am guessing the storm displaced him.

Signs of Spring

Black Beauty

Natalie Sornsen (13) snapped photos of this momma fox and her two pups April 18, 2014.

A friend saw this doe lying on a bank near my house this afternoon. He stopped by to tell me and I grabbed my camera and we went back. She laid down for the photo.

11 year old Josh snapped this one off our back deck on a snowly March day in Big Lake, MN

This little fellow spent the last 3 weeks of Feburary 2014 in my back yard, from morning till dark. What a beautiful bird to watch.

spotted in rural Le Center, MN. 3-3-14

Beautiful morning!

Nothing better than watching the sun rise waiting for ducks to show up.

From a trail cam.

Steve Tatro, of Zimmerman, was surprised to find this 4 point shed in his deer feeder in Sherburne County on 01/30/2014

Tony Seyffer and dad, Kevin Seyffer of Red Wing, MN stumbled upon these twin fawns during morel hunting on May 25th near Frontenac, Minnesota.

Tomorrow is July and the legal time to take snapping turtles. They need to be a certain size so read the laws.