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 Common Snipe

-->

The Common Snipe

Is it possible to meld a Throwback Thursday and Camp Creature blog into one?  Well in this segment of the Rattlin’ Bog we are certainly going to try.  Who remembers going on a Snipe Hunt?  I would guess it is likely the “older” generation of campers that do.  Regardless, this mythical creature is the source of one of the greatest evening programs to ever take place at Camp Foley. 

A Snipe Hunt, for those of you who have no clue what I’m talking about, goes something like this:  Young campers are told by their counselors to dress up in the crazy clothes they own and are promptly marched from their cabins.  Upon arriving in some obscure knoll of the Camp Foley woods, counselors animatedly tell their campers they are here to try and catch a snipe.  Old potato sacks are then handed to the kids and soon the woods are filled with the screams and laughter of campers and counselors as everyone attempts to call, and ultimately, catch a snipe.  However, very few groups are successful in even seeing a snipe, let alone catching one.  Those who are fortunate enough to have spotted a snipe give wide and varying descriptions of this creature.  This is because the snipe appears differently to every individual fortunate enough to behold this remarkable creature.

I am sure many of you are thinking to yourself, “But wait a minute… Snipe aren’t actually a real thing.”  But that my friends, is where you are wrong. 

Meet Gallinago gallinago, the Common Snipe. This 6 to 8 ounce bird measures only about 10 total inches from end to end.  Even when including the snipe’s 2 inch bill!  The Common Snipe most closely resembles an ocean shorebird, such as a sandpiper.  The snipe has long legs and small, pointed wings to go along with its long bill.  Usually consisting of a striped grey-brown plumage, the snipe is most readily identified by its very erratic flight pattern, which is composed of many twists, dives, and turns.  It is these characteristics that give rise to the wide and varying descriptions of the snipe! 

Like shorebirds, the Common Snipe spends most of its life on the ground.  Its preferred habitats include heavily wooded forests and wet meadows.  Instead of eating small oceanic creatures like the shorebird, snipe probe the wet earth for a variety of worms, grubs, and even insect larvae.  The primary feeding hours for the snipe occur at dawn and dusk.  This is why Snipe Hunts always occur during evening program!  Additionally, snipe also roost and lay their eggs on ground level nests.  Snipe usually lay four very developed eggs, which hatch in only three weeks.

The Common Snipe is a migratory bird.  When the first frost begins to creep down into Minnesota, the Common Snipe begins its migration to the Southern states.   The snipe will spend the winter months there before returning to its summer home. 

So the next time your counselors tell you and your cabinmates you’re going on a Snipe Hunt, don’t roll your eyes and claim there exists no such creature.  You may be asking, but why would anyone want to go through all of that work to catch a small bird?  Quite simply, Marie, the director of Camp Foley, loves Snipe Pie.  She has even been overheard saying she would pay a hefty sum of canteens to the first cabin to catch a snipe or two so she can make her beloved Snipe Pie!  

For more information on the Common Snipe, visit the DNR website.