Location: Pig’s Eye Chokan Tanka Park, 2165 Pigs Eye Lake Road, St. Paul 55119
Come celebrate World Wildlife Day by looking at animal tracks in the snow at Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park. We may see deer, coyote, vole, and bird tracks. Perhaps we will see signs in the snow of a Northern Shrike snatching a mouse! We’ll hold the event even if a warmup arrives and melts all the snow. Then we will look for tracks in the mud! The habitat at Pig’s Eye is grassland, wetlands, floodplain forest, and waterways of Battle Creek and Pig’s Eye Lake.
INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, a camera phone, a field guide, a sketch pad & pencil, if you can. We will have loaner binoculars and field guides available. Dress for the weather: hats, mittens, a scarf, and waterproof snow boots are advised. The closest facility is port-a-potty at the nearby Wood Chipper operation.
DIRECTIONS: If you are coming to this park for the first time, please reach out to trip leaders for more detailed instructions. The Warner Road / Childs Lake Road / Pigs Eye Lake Road intersections are a bit challenging. Meet in the parking lot at the far end of the entrance road from the sign Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park.
REGISTRATION: None
EVENT WILL BE CANCELED IF Blizzard conditions and / or windchill temperatures below -25 are predicted.
DIFFICULTY: We will be walking on a snow-packed trail for a mile in and a mile out. The trail is fairly flat, with slow dip in grade on the approach to and from the concrete bridge over the creek. The trail may be icy depending on weather conditions.
LEADERS: Kiki Sonnen kikisonnen@gmail.com
And Kathy Sidles kesid@aol.com
