Winter Visitor Center Hours
Weekdays: 8:00 am- 4:30 pm; Weekends: CLOSED until Spring
What an odd “winter” it has been so far! Temperatures have been uncharacteristically mild for most of the winter, with recent temperatures nearing 50°F. Our area has also seen very little snowfall, with no snow on the ground at this time. Looking forward it seems that we have a few more warm days coming, but we will begin to drop back down a bit in the next week (but just into the high 30’s!).
Because of this mild weather, we have had some wildlife sightings that are not common for this time of the year as well. Several reports of Black Bear roaming around have been sent to our staff, Trumpeter Swans by the hundreds are back in the area and have been hanging around Crex Meadows and Fish Lake flowages the past week or so, several reports of Canada Geese returning to the area have come in, and the Sharp-tailed Grouse are already beginning their dances on lekking areas.
Other wildlife highlights for the past week include: Badger, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Golden Eagle, Northern Shrike, Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Recent bird sightings in Burnett County (focused on areas around Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, and Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Areas):
| American Kestrel | European Starling | Red-winged Blackbird |
| American Robin | Golden Eagle | Ring-necked Pheasant |
| American Tree Sparrow | Great Horned Owl | Rock Pigeon |
| Bald Eagle | Hairy Woodpecker | Rough-legged Hawk |
| Barred Owl | House Sparrow | Ruffed Grouse |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Northern Cardinal | Sharp-tailed Grouse |
| Blue Jay | Northern Harrier | Snow Bunting |
| Canada Goose | Northern Shrike | Trumpeter Swan |
| Cedar Waxwing | Pileated Woodpecker | White-breasted Nuthatch |
| Common Raven | Pine Siskin | Wild Turkey |
| Common Redpoll | Red-bellied Woodpecker |
Recent mammal sightings in Burnett County (focused on areas around Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, and Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Areas):
| Badger | Coyote | Red Squirrel |
| Beaver | Grey Squirrel | River Otter |
| Black Bear | Red Fox | Striped Skunk |
| White-tailed Deer |