Experiencing The "Wild Life" in Northern Minnesota!

We, like so many other Minnesotans this past Memorial weekend, took advantage of the opportunity to head “up north” to experience Minnesota’s wildlife. When we first arrived into town, we ran into a couple that we are friends with and Di asked when I would again be updating my blog. I told her I was looking for some inspiration and asked if she had any topics that she would suggest, and she immediately said "why don't you write about wildlife?" We talked for a few minutes about why this topic was important to her and I thought about it myself several times throughout the weekend and this is the conclusion that I came to – we may go up north to experience the wild life (which can come in various forms), but, for some, we keep going back “up north” because of the moments that are less wild.

As we journey north, the landscape changes from multi-lane freeways and Suburbian surroundings, to a two-lane highway (on which the slowest driver in Minnesota is always in front of us) lined by evergreen trees, small towns, and the occasional glimpse of wild animals who make this their home. Over the course of this past weekend, we saw loons, ducks, turtles, deer (one who walked right in front of me during my morning walk), hummingbirds, woodpeckers, squirrels, beavers, dragonflies, and of course, the unavoidable mosquitos. Though we have not yet had the pleasure of meeting some particular woodland neighbors, our friends share stories of nightly encounters in their own backyard with bears and bobcats. The people who live here are fiercely protective of these animals and their right to be there. This is also a place where nature is wild – the sunrises, sunsets, rains, and sunshine somehow seem intensified when you are experiencing them from a cabin in the woods.

There is another kind of wildlife that exists in the northern woods of Minnesota that is equally primal at times and as ever-changing as anything found in nature.  These wild creatures are a nocturnal variety who come out of hiding from the woods each evening as the sun sets seeking nourishment and camaraderie. This wild life is human. And whether they are locals, or visiting lake people, they are all seeking some of the same things – a good meal, a good drink, and a good laugh with friends. We come together as groups of all ages and varying senses of “wild”. Of course, the younger generations tend to have the wildest behaviors providing entertainment for those of us who are a bit older. However, don’t dismiss us from the fun just because of our age. We have had many years of experience in having a good time and still enjoy the laughs, and occasional drama, that is brought about during a wild night at the local establishment. Whether we are native to the area or just visiting, we have formed friendships that are important, very real, and in many ways, critical to our "species survival". Over a freshly baked pizza and an ice cold beer, we listen to the sounds (sometimes good…sometimes not so much) of the karaoke celebrities, share a little gossip, have a few laughs, and celebrate our common good fortune to be enjoying the wild life up north.

However, while it might be wildlife (both the animal and the human) that draw us up north for occasional visits, what makes me return time and time again, are the quieter moments that are so typical of a northern Minnesota weekend. It is about sitting on the deck with a glass of wine in one hand and the one you love seated next to you. It is waking up in the morning to the sound of the loon's mournful song. It is taking a walk through the woods as the birds serenade every step. Relaxing with a good book, watching the lake roll into the shore, sneaking in a late afternoon nap – these are the moments that for me define a weekend up north and that will encourage me to return for as long as I’m able.

I hope that you had a wonderful Memorial weekend. Perhaps you had a chance to experience some form of Minnesota Wild Life or maybe you just walked a quieter path. But my wish for you is that you enjoyed the moments as they came, and set the stage for a summer ahead of moments that will bring you joy. Happy summer!