Our nickname as the “Arctic Riviera” for the Duluth / Superior area makes great sense if you consider:
I saw not one, but two Snowy Owls yesterday (no April Fool’s Joke)
A winter storm is taking hold of our region today (April 2nd)
Given the weather yesterday evening was truly “dreich” (my new favorite best word courtesy of my Scottish blogging friend, Brian Scott and his blog: Scozmo’s Photery,) both owls were definitely NOT enjoying the 30 mph winds off Lake Superior. However, today is worse with snow and increased winds thrown into the equation. Anyhow … April Snowys!
It should be obvious, I have returned from Costa Rica. LOL!
April Snowy Owls
Windblown … the Movie (video link for blog email subscribers)
Earlier this winter (2026) I discovered multiple Canada Lynx were using a specific “scent branch” to mark territory. In early March I placed five trail cams pointed at “the branch”. The Lynx came through! One Lynx even roars for the camera (40 seconds into video)! See near the end of this post the still image of “the roar” which was captured by one of my cameras.
The location is the Nature Conservancy Sand Lake / Seven Beavers Wilderness Preserve in the Superior National Forest, or what I like to call the Greenwood Creek Boreal Forest and Bog (Northeastern Minnesota). Stay tuned to my blog … in a few days I will post my images and videos of White Fang! Yup, I the same cameras even captured stills and videos of a white timber wolf! However, it takes me time to work through four weeks of trailcam content to prepare same for this blog. The wolf is coming!
Finally, this begs the question how I find locations for my trailcams? It is not “dumb luck”. A person needs to learn how to “read the forest”. Over the course of time I learn good habitat for wildlife and then early in the winter with the first snows I track both Snowshoe Hares and Canada Lynx. These rabbits are the primary prey for Lynx. I slowly move my cameras around to different locations in the forests based upon what I observe.
Superior National Forest Canada Lynx
Canada Lynx … the Movie! (the roar occurs at 40 seconds)(video link for blog subscribers)
More trailcam still images …
The Roar!
When I saw this traialcam image, I immediately knew “a roar” was in progress. Although my videos captured the roar with the Lynx “off camera”, its challenge is impressive. The settings for my trailcams is as follows: 1) If motion detected, with zero delay take one still image 2) After camera recharges (moments), start a second video with sound activated. 3) Repeat as long as motion is detected.
My cameras are still in place! Winter continues in the North Woods with a new winter storm expected tomorrow. If you have read this far, I hope you understood the reference to the classic Jack London novel and wolf, White Fang! The book is worth reading. It was originally published in 1906. As I noted … pics and a video of this timber wolf is coming soon.
Whether a person is remote in northern Minnesota, or down in Costa Rica, having backup communications via satellite is smart. While high end phones and devices such as Garmin InReach exist to insure you may easily text or call anyone … and more … one need not own a premium device or phone with their associated extra costs (device purchase and monthly plans). Recently both while up at the Greenwood Boreal Forest and down here in Costa Rica I tested my Google Pixel 10. While off the grid with zero connectivity I was easily able to connect my phone to satellites. My phone service then allows me to initiate emergency communications to the government authorities.
While I am NOT advocating for folks to purchase an Android phone and use the Google Fi Phone Service (my plan), it IS important people understand the small additional cost of insuring your mobile device has satellite connectivity as part of your monthly service plan. Many new phones and plans have included emergency satellite services. This should be part of your purchase decision.
My Google Pixel 10 cost me a bit over $400, and my monthly Google Fi plan is about $45, which is by no means an expensive phone and plan. While I am NOT able to make phone calls or texts via satellite as desired, if an emergency arises and I need to contact the authorizes via satellite, my phone handles that communication. In my case the emergency app questions me about the nature of my emergency, records my GPS coordinates and contacts the emergency authorities via satellite. This functionality is part of my regular monthly plan. It is NOT an additional cost.
Thus, if you are like me and bird / hike well off the grid … even if only on an occasional basis, consider a phone which has satellite emergency communications services. You do not need regular satellite communications, just the satellite emergency services. It is a good insurance policy if you ever unexpectedly need help.
Here are three screenshots I took from my Google Pixel 10 which I took while testing the satellite service while up at Greenwood early this month. I did not actually send an emergency help request, but my phone allows me to test and understand how the service works.
