Camp Creature: Top 5 Highlight Reel!

One of our favorite things to post about is our featured Camp Creature. We have tons of camp creatures here living in this part of rural Minnesota, which puts us in an excellent spot to explore and see animals of all types. Today we are bringing together some of your favorite editions of Camp Creatures past to bring you ..... the Camp Creature Highlight Reel! You might remember some of these blog posts, and for those of us who do not, we are reminded of all the nature that we're connected to here at Foley:


Coming in at Number 5: The Bobcat
More than likely, we won't catch a glimpse of these elusive creatures, but they are local to the area. A fun fact about the bobcat is that it gets its name from its 'bobbed' tail which looks as though it has been cut off. Check this blog out to learn more fun facts about the bobcat!






Next, at Number 4: The Common Snipe
This small brownish bird is also sometimes called the 'Jacksnipe' and can be found in Minnesota especially near wetlands and damp forests to help them probe for food in the soft ground. Ever wanted to learn more about snipe hunts? Well here's your chance!






At Number 3: The Beaver

Photo by Alli Faricy at Hidden Lake

What's cooler than being the largest rodent in North America? What about having webbed feet? Wait, you mean to tell me that beavers are the largest rodent in North America and have webbed feet? How neat is that! Raise your hand if you've seen one of these creatures around Hidden Lake. We think it's pretty neat having the beaver as our neighbor on the lake, and we've got a lot more interesting facts about them here!

Our Boys' AD, Jordan, with a massive snapping turtle

In the Number 2 Spot: The Snapping Turtle
If you've taken Nature as an activity, come to our Outdoor Education program, had the chance to paddle to Hidden Lake, or driven down the road then you may have had the experience of seeing a snapping turtle. This is the largest turtle in Minnesota, some even reaching 80+ pounds! Check this blog out for even more cool things about snapping turtles.







And finally, at NUMBER 1: The Bald Eagle
The numbers don't lie - this blog post is one of our most popular to date! These majestic birds are stunning mid-flight, and more than likely, you've seen at least one during your time here at Foley (if not, just take a moment in the quieter hours of the day to look out over the lake and up in the trees). Our Director, Alli Faricy, has been known to take stellar shots of these birds of prey as they soar around Whitefish Lake. Check out our top blog to learn more and check out her amazing photos!

Photo by Alli Faricy

Photo by Alli Faricy, an eagle perched with its prey

Photo by Alli Faricy, an eagle mid-flight with a fish in its talons

Well, that just about covers it - our TOP FIVE camp creature posts to date. Comment below and let us know what Camp Creatures you'd like to see featured on the Rattlin' Blog!

Oops, and we almost forgot!
For Honorable Mention: Camp Dogs 

They may not be too wild, but we can't just leave out three of our best camp creature buddies. Remember throughout the summer to stop and say hi to our furry friends who continually travel around camp!

Camp Creature: The Bobcat

This week we'll be introducing you to the bobcat! An "illusive" creature as Camp Foley's Director, Alli Faricy, put it. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), "Few humans ever see a bobcat in the wild."

The bobcat is the smallest of of all four species in the Lynx genus. Bobcats can weigh between 10 and 40 pounds, and stands one to two feet tall. Generally, it is tan to grayish-brown on top with a white belly and it has
black streaks or spots. The ears of the bobcat are black-tipped and pointed, with short, black tufts.

First bobcat fun fact: Bobcats from desert regions of the southwest have the lightest fur, and the northern bobcats from the forest regions have the darkest! 

Bobcats have excellent hearing and vision, and a good sense of smell. Plus, it is an excellent climber (they have been known to climb trees and catch and eat porcupines!) and can swim (but tends to avoid water)! The bobcat is muscular, and its hind legs are longer than its front legs, which gives it a bobbing walk. However, this is not why the animal is named the bobcat...

Second bobcat fun fact: Bobcats are named for its "bob" tail, which looks as though it has been cut off at about five inches long!

Bobcats eat a wide range of small and medium-sized prey such as mice, snowshoe hares, squirrels, birds and white-tailed deer fawns. The bobcat needs to watch out for coyotes and fishers, but fishers and coyotes should also beware of the bobcat.

Bobcats used to live across the state, but now it is seldom found in southern Minnesota. It most commonly lives in the woodlands of north-central and northeastern Minnesota. Bobcats are a designated game animal, meaning they can be hunted, but only during the prescribed seasons. It is typically hunted - with hounds - for its fur. 

In a Shawnee tale, the bobcat is outwitted by a rabbit, thus resulting in the bobcat getting its spots. After trapping the rabbit in a tree, the bobcat is persuaded to build a fire. The embers then scatter on its fur, leaving it singed with black spots. The bobcat, lynx and coyote are present in a lot of Native American Mythology and national folklore. 

Final bobcat fun fact: The bobcat we see in the western Great Lakes area (including upper Michigan, Wisconsin, Southern Ontario and Minnesota) is the L. r. superiorensis. It is one of thirteen bobcat species.