Given both this blog, and my volunteer work as a naturalist, I am getting lots of questions about the current owl irruption in northeastern Minnesota. With this post, I will try to let the Great Gray Owls answer those questions!
Where is the irruption taking place?
What are the backroads like in Northern Minnesota?
What should I do if I see an owl hunting a railroad right of way?
Will Rich Hoeg (the owner of this blog) share his private local owling locations?
What is the highway speed limit when I need to drive home?
If I get lost, how will I find my way?
If the owl’s answer to this last question is NOT obvious, follow the light house’s beacon!
All of these photographs were taken within the past two days. Rich would like to thank each and every owl which agreed to be part of the answer to your questions about the Northeastern Minnesota Owl Irruption of 2025.
I would like to correct “only” one answer given by an owl. Rich Hoeg will not give out his private owling locations. It is neat that many of you are coming from all around America to enjoy our special wilderness. Great Gray Owls are native to Northeastern Minnesota. However, this winter we have many more owls in our region … both locals and migrants. In my experience most of the migrants tend to start flying north around the 1st of March. Thus, plan trips to our area with that thought in mind.
On a closing note, this morning I was interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio about owls in Northwestern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota. If you would like to read a transcript of that interview, please browse to WPR. Unfortunately I do not believe the sound files of the interview are active anymore.
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Curious if you are still seeing any Great Gray Owls in the Two Harbors / Duluth area? Thank you for any updated information on recent GGO sightings in NE MN!!
The Two Harbors Great Gray Owls have moved north. While owls are still being seen in Northeastern Minnesota, they are a hard find and normally never in the same location on subsequent days as their thoughts turn to love and return to their Boreal bog habitat.
How long will the owl irruption last? Is it guaranteed to seeing owls when planning a trip to Two Harbors?
As I’ve noted in prior posts, I expect the owl irruption to last till March 1st, but as we move towards spring and the snow begins to melt the migrants tend to fly back north. With respect to your question about Two Harbors and Great Grays Owls, there are no guarantees in life. As the owls hunt out a given territory they will move to different spots in northeastern Minnesota. However, right now it is very likely one would see GGO’s in our region. I just can’t guarantee Two Harbors (now would I ever make this kind of guarantee)
I love the way you deliver the messages with your photos. I am glad the owls cooperated for you. I only wish I had more experience/luck finding Great Gery Owls, but I keep trying. Maybe I’ll get lucky this weekend.
I suspect I might a few more years of practice at understanding owl habitat and behavior … plus this owl irruption is right at my home’s doorstep. Cheers!
Thanks for getting back to me. I really appreciate your blogs. They keep me invigorated. I’m heading up to my house near the North Shore tomorrow so will probably be driving the same roads you have been on. I will be checking out your feeders as well. Thanks for maintaining them. Even if I rarely see the birds you are able to find, and probably won’t get such great photos, you give me a reason to get up in the morning and to be late for dinner at night. Thanks again.
Karl