Goose Lake Association

10/17/2026

Going Undercover 🐢
Discover where reptiles and amphibians spend winter.
As fall temperatures drop, some of Minnesota’s smallest wildlife begins disappearing from view. Turtles retreat beneath the water, salamanders tuck into protected places and frogs settle in for winter. But they aren’t simply sleeping until spring. Reptiles and amphibians have some remarkable ways of surviving a Minnesota winter.

Painted turtles are among Minnesota’s most familiar reptiles. In warmer months, visitors may spot them basking on logs or rocks near the water at parks like Lake Shetek or Lac qui Parle. Basking helps warm their bodies after time spent in chilly water. As temperatures drop, many turtles spend the winter in the water or mud.

Salamanders also seek protection from freezing temperatures. Blue-spotted salamanders spend much of their active season hidden beneath logs, bark and leaves. In winter, they move underground into burrows that extend below the frost line.

A tiny green frog sits on a brown leaf.
Frogs take different approaches. Some species overwinter in well-oxygenated lakes or streams, taking cover among rocks, logs and leaves. Wood frogs, however, overwinter beneath fallen leaves on the forest floor and can tolerate partial freezing. A wood frog’s breathing and heartbeat stop, while a natural antifreeze protects its cells until temperatures rise again. Gray treefrogs (right) can also survive winter in a partially frozen state beneath leaf litter, rocks and logs.

Snakes and lizards have their own winter strategies. In fall, they return to wintering areas called hibernacula. During winter, they move underground below the frost line and become inactive. Common garter snakes may use rock crevices, ant mounds or tunnels made by burrowing animals as winter dens.

By late fall, many of these animals may have disappeared from sight, but they haven’t gone far. Beneath the water, soil and fallen leaves, they’re waiting out winter — ready to emerge when warmer days return.

10/16/2026

The Other Kind of Snow Birds ❄️
Not all birds migrate south in the winter.
Fall migration may be underway, but don’t put away the binoculars just yet. Plenty of birds stick around for a Minnesota winter, while others are making their way here from farther north. As the seasons change, a new cast of birds is ready to take center stage.

Of the nearly 240 bird species that nest in Minnesota, only about 20 are considered nonmigratory. One of Minnesota’s iconic birds, the trumpeter swan (above) can be found throughout the winter where rivers and other bodies of water remain open, like Glendalough State Park. These large, cold-climate-loving swans can have wingspans around 7 feet, and their return to Minnesota is a major wildlife conservation success story after they disappeared from the state in the late 1800s.

Three bird images, the top is a chickadee, the middle is a flock of snow buntings, and bottom is a flying snowy owl.
But winter means major changes in available food, so birds that stay must adapt. Black-capped and boreal chickadees (right top) eat more seeds and berries as insects become scarce and cache food in tree bark and other small crevices. On cold nights, they can generate heat by shivering while sheltering inside tree cavities.

For some birds, migration means flying south to Minnesota. From late October through November, snow buntings make their way to Minnesota from summer nesting grounds on the Arctic tundra. Also known as “snowflakes,” these birds take flight in unison, flushing together so it looks like snow blowing in the wind (right middle).

One of Minnesota’s most striking winter visitors is the snowy owl (right bottom). These large white owls nest in the Arctic, but some travel south into Minnesota during winter. Look for them in wide-open areas such as fields, where their white plumage can make them surprisingly difficult to spot against the snow. Some winters bring only a few snowy owls to the state, while other years see much larger numbers.

Birdwatching opportunities don’t end after migration season. Many state parks offer birding events year-round. Check out the events calendar and find a birding event near you!

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/birding.html?campaign_name=oct-2026&utm_medium=trailblazer&utm_source=govdelivery

10/15/2026

🎉 Thank You for Supporting the 2026 Goose Lake Association Gun Raffle! 🎉

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this year’s raffle and helped make it a success! We truly appreciate your support! ❤️

🎟️ Congratulations to our winning ticket holders! The winning ticket numbers are:

0103
0749
0836
0563
0207
0557
0537
0620
0546
0173
0866
0231
0389
0895
0816

Thank you again for your support, and congratulations to all our winners! We can’t wait to do it all again next year! 🎯🙌

10/14/2026

Youth deer season is Oct. 15-18

Minnesota offers a perfect opportunity for experienced deer hunters to share their knowledge and traditions with youth ages 10-17 during the statewide youth deer season Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18.

Youth hunters or their adults should buy licenses early. Youth hunters use a standard license for youth deer season — the same deer license they use for other deer seasons such as regular fi****ms, archery or muzzleloader.

Importantly, the new electronic license system is different and setting up a youth account might take a little more time. For children 12 and under, their account must be linked to an adult’s account. If the child is 13 or older, they can create their own account, or their account may be created by an adult who links their account to the adult’s account.

A helpful guide on how to link a youth account to an adult account, and on how to add a child’s fi****ms safety certification to their account, is available on the Minnesota DNR FAQ page for the new electronic license system.

Information about participation, eligibility and requirements for participation in Minnesota's annual mid-October, four-day statewide youth deer hunt.

10/13/2026

Spring planting planning starts now, order DNR tree seedlings starting Oct. 13

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' State Forest Nursery will open spring 2027 seedling sales at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13. More than 3.5 million native, bareroot tree and shrub seedlings are available for Minnesota landowners to order. Whether people are looking to reforest their property after a harvest or planting for wildlife and pollinators, the nursery has options available.

Seedlings are ordered through the online ordering system. Customers are encouraged to create a LoginMN account to track and view orders. Customers who check out as guests can still order, but will not be able to track and view their order history using the system. Those using cost share or claiming tax-exempt status will need to create an account.

“Our tree and shrub seedlings are great for large scale plantings and reforestation projects. Bareroot seedlings are easy to plant and some DNR offices even lend out tree planters you can attach to your tractor,” DNR Assistant State Forest Nursery Manager Matt Thompson said. “Our conifers are less than a dollar per tree and hardwoods are $1.25. The price drops even more when you order larger quantities. With a $20 flat rate for pick up at a drop site near you, it's a great deal.”

The nursery has an ample supply of white pine and white spruce this year. These trees make great additions to the winter landscape by providing valuable wildlife shelter. The nursery is also excited to offer several varieties of shrubs, such as dogwoods, nannyberries and cherries, as well as pre-made mixed species seedling packets to fit woodland goals. The minimum order is 300 seedlings or one 250-seedling packet. Orders can be customized in increments of 100 per species. Depending on site conditions and future forest goals, an open acre can accommodate 300 to 700 seedlings.

Landowners are encouraged to contact a local DNR forester for site-specific planting advice. Landowners planting 3 acres or more of open, historically forested land, may also qualify for the DNR’s Field to Forest Cost Share program. After planting is complete, the program reimburses up to 75% of tree planting costs and provides an additional $500 per acre. Funding is limited, so sign up early to give a forester plenty of time to visit the property and help create a tree planting plan, which is required to receive cost share.

Nursery seedling sales will remain open through Friday, March 12, 2027 or until stock is sold out. For inventory and ordering information, visit the nursery webpage.

Minnesota State Forest Nursery sells seedlings for planting in Minnesota. Seedlings are kept in the ground long enough to develop robust root systems and healthy stems. Depending on species, coniferous seedlings between 2–4 years of age and deciduous seedlings are between 1–3 years of age when s...

10/12/2026

Winter Survival Strategies 🌨️

Stay, go, or slow down!
As temperatures drop, you may find yourself wondering: How on earth does Minnesota's wildlife survive our winters? For most animals, it comes down to three main strategies: leave, adapt or slow down.

Leave 🛫
And who wouldn't want a beach vacation? Many bird species migrate south for winter, but so do some bats! Eastern red bats, hoary bats and silver-haired bats leave Minnesota in the fall for warmer parts of the U.S. and northern Mexico.

Adapt ↪️
Other species, like otters, are well-adapted to winter and actually thrive during the chilly months. River otters have exceptionally dense two-layer fur, keeping them warm and making them virtually waterproof. Their coat contains anywhere from 100,000 to 450,000 hairs per square inch. Keep an eye out for otters at parks like Grand Portage or Buffalo River, where lakes and waterways provide year-round habitat.

Slow Down 💤
For many animals, like turtles, mussels and badgers, the key to surviving winter is hunkering down. Most turtles become relatively dormant, moving very little as they lie along the bottom of a pond, lake, stream or river. Mussels will move from shallow to deeper water to avoid freezing, barely moving the rest of the winter. Flying squirrels do not hibernate, but become less active in winter and sometimes nest in groups to stay warm.

Black bears take slowing down especially seriously — but first, they have some eating to do. Before winter arrives, bears may gain 20% to 50% of their summer body weight and build about 4 inches of fat, allowing them to live off those reserves during hibernation.

When temperatures plunge, slowing down until spring can sound pretty appealing. But winter doesn’t have to mean hunkering down! Take a cue from the otters: bundle up, embrace the cold and find an adventure worth leaving your den for.

10/09/2026

🚨 LAST CALL! RSVP DEADLINE IS TOMORROW! 🚨

🥂💐 Don’t miss out on our Membership Appreciation Brunch on October 24th! 💐🥂

We’re excited to celebrate YOU and show our appreciation for your membership, support, and commitment! ❤️✨

⏰ The RSVP deadline is TOMORROW! If you haven’t responded yet, now is the time! Make sure you secure your spot and join us for a wonderful time of fellowship, food, and appreciation. 🥐☕💕

📅 Date: October 24th
📣 RSVP DEADLINE: TOMORROW!

✅ Don’t wait until it’s too late — RSVP TODAY!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🥳❤️

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/goose-lake-association-member-appreciation-brunch--2026

10/08/2026

Head to Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for long MEA weekend

Each October, Minnesota children get a school break during the Minnesota Educator Academy. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages families to spend time outdoors during the MEA weekend, which is Oct. 15-18 this year.

For families looking for fun ideas for MEA weekend, Minnesota state parks and recreation areas have a wide range of terrific outdoor activities, from day trips to multi-night stays.

With fewer bugs, cooler temperatures and gorgeous fall leaves, here are a few ways to discover family fun at Minnesota state parks.

Plan a fall camping trip

Families will find campsites across Minnesota for Oct. 15-18. More than 25 state parks and state recreation areas currently have more than 20 drive-in campsites still open to book. Fall offers perfect camping conditions, where people can savor the crisp night air around a campfire (don’t forget the s’mores!) before curling up in a warm sleeping bag.

Many state park campgrounds close for the season after MEA weekend, so it might be the last chance to sneak in an overnight visit to a favorite park in 2026. Check availability and book campsites at mndnr.gov/reservations.

Crunch some leaves on a hike

According to the DNR’s Fall Color Finder, central Minnesota typically sees its last burst of 75% to 100% color during MEA weekend. Peak colors then start to move into the Twin Cities metro and southern Minnesota.

A hike is a great way for families to engage with nature and burn off energy. A few fall color routes to consider over MEA weekend:

Hiking Club Trail, Lake Carlos State Park – This 2.8-mile loop combines the Hidden Lake and Red Oak trails. It’s perfect to admire lake views and the colors of sugar maples and oaks.
Tom Trail, Sibley State Park – This 3.3-mile loop travels through forest and prairie and climbs to the scenic outlook at Mt. Tom, one of the highest points in Kandiyohi County.
Big Woods Loop, Lake Maria State Park – On this 5.5-mile loop, experience old-growth forest made up of oak, maple and basswood trees, plus hills, ponds and marshes.
Hiking Club Trail, Sakatah Lake State Park – Enjoy rolling hills through a forest of foliage on this 2.2-mile loop. Add another 0.75 miles for another loop of even more brilliant leaves.
Chimney Rock Trail, Whitewater State Park – While this hike is only a 0.7-mile loop, it’s a workout with more than 100 stairs and 200 feet of elevation. At the top of the bluff, hikers can take in the panoramic view of the Whitewater River Valley.

Become a Junior Ranger

Pick up a free Junior Ranger booklet at a ranger station and set off to explore Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. With two booklet options aimed at different ages, kids can complete activities to learn about mysterious and misunderstood wildlife, or animal and plant superpowers.

Then, bring the completed booklet to a ranger station to collect a special Junior Ranger patch. Learn more at the DNR’s Junior Ranger webpage (mndnr.gov/state_parks/kids).

Attend a naturalist event or tour

State park naturalists offer a variety of events for all ages to learn about Minnesota’s amazing natural world. Check out 56 naturalist events across the state during MEA weekend. Visitors can:

Try stargazing and learn about the night sky at Lake Shetek, St. Croix and Camden state parks
Go on a naturalist-led hike, including at Mille Lacs Kathio, Nerstrand Big Woods and Sibley state parks
Help create future prairies by collecting seeds at Wild River and William O’Brien state parks
Enjoy a fall candlelight hike at Bear Head Lake State Park or Big Bog State Recreation Area
Find the full events calendar at mndnr.gov/ptcalendar.

MEA weekend is also the last chance to catch the following naturalist-led tours before the end of the 2026 season:

Prairie and bison tours, Blue Mounds State Park – Travel into the bison range to experience the sights and sounds of prairie and learn about the important relationship between the land and its resident bison herd.
Mystery Cave tours, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park – Enter Minnesota’s longest cave system and discover flowstone, fossils, underground pools and more.
Soudan Mine tours, Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park – Travel 2,341 feet underground to explore the oldest and deepest iron mine in Minnesota.

10/07/2026

📢 SPONSOR RECOGNITION 📢

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Starkside Auto for their generous 2026 Goose Lake Association sponsorship of the Gun Raffle this Saturday!

Their support is invaluable, and we encourage you to learn more about them at

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