I have been tweaking the locations of my three trailcams over the past month based upon animal tracks, scat and locations which are trail choke points that are near water. I am certain that at least three moose families are featured in these videos, possibly four. My wilderness research is what allows me to occasionally have “in person” experiences … like this Canada Lynx!

Anyhow … family movies from the past month … all moose movie clips except for one short spot where my local Canada Lynx inspects my camera. Timber Wolves and Coyotes have also been regulars in my trailcams over the past 30 days … including “Poodle”! (a very large timber wolf whose tail looks like a poodle’s)

• Moose Family Video 1: Movie link for email subscribers
• Moose Family Video 2: Movie link for email subscribers

I also want to mention the night images and movies are taken with infrared light. Thus, the animals are NOT being blinded by any bright lights. Observe in any of the images or videos of bull moose, a new rack of antlers are under construction!

Moose Family Movies – Greenwood Bog

Moose Family Movies – Yukon Trail

The fires have now grown to 30,000 acres. There is hope that rains will arrive late this afternoon and evening. Here is the official site to obtain the most current fire information. The forest fire is now named the Brimson Complex Fire, which manages these two large fires (Camp House and Jenkins Creek Fires).

This fire is 0% contained, and complicated by almost no forest roads through the affected area, and the native spruce bud worm caterpillar which has resulted in large stands of dead spruce trees (the insect defolliates and kills the trees). The dead trees are perfect fuel for the fires. At this time most of the fire fighting efforts are focused towards saving structures.

Many friends from church are helping to fight the fires (thanks and prayers). Molly made 4 dozen cookies for distribution to the fire fighters … as did many other church members at French River Lutheran. If you wish to help out, join Molly and me by donating to the combined United Ways of Lake and St. Louis Counties. 100% of your financial donation goes to those affected by the fire, not overhead or administrative expense. Send or direct your donation to the Wildfire Relief Fund of the Head of the Lakes United Way.

The Greenwood area is now officially closed by the forest service. Do not visit the feeders or hike the trails. Here is an affected area map from the U.S. Forest Service.

Oh my … was my heart thumping after seeing this Canada Lynx early this morning!!! This was no where near the bird feeders. I was hiking deep within the Boreal forest when I came over a rise, and realized a lynx was inspecting something on the ground only 50 yards in front of me. Thankfully I was wearing camouflage and came to a full stop before the lynx looked up. In addition the sun was partially behind me, and the strong breeze was at the big cat’s back (i.e. it could not smell me). The cat finally looked up and started walking right towards me! Upon seeing me, it dropped down to the ground an gave me a loooong stare for over a minute.

Lynx are an endangered species in northern Minnesota. The Superior National Forest estimates there are only 136 of these beautiful creatures in northeastern Minnesota. Thankfully the population seems to be increasing (read more on the the Superior National Forest’s Lynx web page.

Actually, due my trailcam sightings I have known for over one year there were lynx in the the area, but I had never seen one with my own eyes. That fact changed this morning!!!

Superior National Forest Canada Lynx

The lynx and I had a “stare down” once the big cat realized I was in front of it on the trail. Note its HUGE paws which are optimized for running across northern Minnesota’s deep snow as it preys upon snowshoe hare.