Wildlife watching

Whether you're interested in insects, mammals, birds or wildflowers, the refuge provides a wide array of opportunities to spot wildlife in their element.

Hours

Daily, sunrise to sunset.

Locations

The entirety of the refuge, including the Wildlife Drive, Twin Lakes, Mandy Lake, CCC Camp, North Bog and Photo Blind Trails, is open to wildlife watching.

Know Before You Go

• Please refer to the full list of refuge rules and policies before visiting.
• Various wildlife-related programs are offered throughout the year. These programs are free and open to all ages.
• Wildlife is most active during the early morning and evening hours, making these the best times for viewing.
• Merlin, eBird and iNaturalist can be good resources to help with wildlife observation.

Points of Interest

Wildlife Drive

The 14-mile Wildlife Drive offers a great way to see wildlife and habitats from the comfort of your vehicle. Look and listen for eagles, loons, swans, flocks of ducks, flitting warblers and other critters. Gray wolves, red foxes, black bear, bobcat, white-tailed deer, beaver, porcupine and even the occasional moose are sighted. 

Northern Hardwood Forest

The northern hardwood forest along the wildlife drive is dominated by quaking and big-toothed aspens, red and sugar maples, paper birch, basswood, and red oak. Breeding birds on the refuge depend on different types and sizes of forest. For example, golden-winged Warblers breed in young forest and along brushy edges, while ovenbirds nest in the forest interior. Most of the world’s golden-winged warblers breed and nest in central Minnesota, and unfortunately, their population is in rapid decline. Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge biologists are working hard to restore and manage the young forest habitat they breed in and to help stabilize their population. Look and listen for their “bee buzz buzz” song in the forest openings and brushy edges along the wildlife drive.

Wetlands

On the refuge wetlands, look for trumpeter swans. After disappearing from Minnesota in the 1880s, trumpeter swans were reintroduced to the state beginning in the 1960s. To prevent their extinction, several conservation agencies made an effort to raise and release trumpeter swans within the state. The refuge is now the host of numerous nesting pairs of trumpeter swans and has participated in efforts to track swan movement. Several swans in multiple states have been fitted with collar transmitters in a collaborative project to learn more about these birds' movements. 

The Rice Lake Observation Mound 

In mid-October, thousands of ducks, geese and swans on Rice Lake can be viewed from the observation mound along the Wildlife Drive. In the fall, ring-necked ducks steal the show at the refuge during their southerly migration. In October 1994, more than one million ducks were observed - a Minnesota record - most of which were ring-necked ducks. They breed and nest along the forested wetlands of the boreal region in Canada. During fall migration, huge flocks stop to feed and rest in the wild rice beds of Rice Lake. The 2019 fall waterfowl survey saw an astounding peak count of 896,000 waterfowl with 883,000 being ring-necked ducks. Fall duck populations are directly tied to the wild rice produced on Rice Lake. In years with great rice crop, the refuge sees the greatest numbers of waterfowl. Poor rice crop yields fewer ducks.

The Warren Nelson Photography Blind

The blind overlooks a small wetland with waterfowl, beaver, mink, deer, and other birds frequently seen. 

Seasons of Wildlife

Spring

In the spring, bears emerge from their dens and spring flowers briefly bloom in the northern hardwood forest. Warblers and songbirds return to the refuge, with some migrating through and others redefining their territory for breeding season.

Summer

In the summer months, foxes raise their kits, trumpeter swan families cruise around the wetlands that sparkle in the summer sun.

Fall

Fall brings the ripening of wild rice and large numbers of migrating ducks. Wild rice is typically ready for harvest by Native Americans in September and peak numbers of ring-necked ducks can be viewed in mid-October.

Winter

During the winter months, enjoy the quiet peace and search for tracks that animals leave behind. Otters remain active and foxes continue to trot through the refuge.