[0:00] - Gin and I will keep a lookout for tracks and scat. [0:04] Today we're at [0:05] the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, [0:07] exploring the different ways [0:08] that we can enjoy the outdoors, [0:09] even in the winter in Minnesota. [0:11] - Before you go out, [0:12] just 'cause it's cold outside [0:14] doesn't mean you have to be cold. [0:15] The first layer we wanna wear [0:17] is gonna be something made of nylon or spandex. [0:21] It is going to be absorbing our sweat [0:24] and keeping us dry. [0:26] And then the next layer [0:28] is gonna be all about insulation. [0:30] So something warm, [0:31] like a nice hoodie or flannel. [0:34] We prefer cotton or wool. [0:38] And then if it gets really cold, [0:39] you can feel free to add on even more second layers. [0:42] So more cotton. [0:43] You can throw on just a nice waterproof winter coat. [0:47] And those are the basic layers that we wear out in winter. [0:50] You usually lose most of your body heat [0:53] the quickest through your head. [0:55] So always make sure that you have a nice hat. [0:58] And I forgot my gloves [0:59] and scarves today, which is not that big of an issue [1:04] because the Bloomington Visitor Center [1:06] has a borrowing closet [1:07] where I can grab any scarves, hats, gloves, [1:10] or other accessories that you might have missed. [1:13] - One of my favorite things about winter on the refuge [1:15] is just the different ways [1:17] that you can experience the wildlife. [1:18] Just because it's cold outside [1:19] doesn't mean that activity has slowed down. [1:22] For example, there might not be any more leaves, [1:24] but that makes it easier for beginning birders [1:26] to come out and see what kind of birds that they can find. [1:29] Now we have an easier time seeing red cardinals, blue jays, [1:33] and other animals that pop against the white of the snow. [1:37] - So on the refuge there are gonna be a lot of trees [1:39] that have bugs inside that woodpeckers really love to eat. [1:42] And a way to tell whether or not [1:44] the woodpecker was successful was to look at the holes [1:47] in the tree just up there. [1:48] So you're gonna see the really itty bitty, [1:50] tiny, itty bitty holes are where its talons [1:52] were put in the tree to keep it stable. [1:55] And then the bigger the hole, the more successful it was, [1:57] the more bugs it was able to catch. [1:59] If you see something down here like these tiny ones [2:03] that don't go all the way through, [2:05] and this one down here, that means that it tried, [2:07] but it didn't find any bugs, so it moved on. [2:10] - I also really enjoy hiking during the winter. [2:12] During the summer there's a lot of noise from the frogs, [2:16] the crickets, the bugs, the insects, and the birds. [2:18] During the winter, it's a lot more calm and tranquil. [2:21] We're also able to explore more of the refuge. [2:24] We always encourage people to take out some snow shoes [2:27] or cross country skis. [2:29] It gives you a really cool opportunity [2:30] to explore some spots off the trail. [2:33] One thing that we can see a lot of in the winter [2:35] is animal tracks, and they are all around us. [2:39] So we're able to see deer, rabbit, coyote, fox, [2:42] and kind of track their movements [2:44] of where they've been. [2:46] And it's always really fun to see that, [2:48] especially after a fresh snowfall. [2:51] (mellow music)