While we do have lots of amazing wild life here at Foley, there some animals that campers just won’t see. There are a few reasons why, it could be the wrong environment for some animals, they may be very good at hiding, or might not like the sounds people (screaming children) make. Let’s take a look at 3 Minnesota animals campers probably won’t see at Camp Foley…
Photo by Milo Weiler
Grey Wolf
Now wolves are a sight to see! But you won’t be seeing them much at Camp Foley. The one exception is our Nature Center. Inside there we do have a stuffed wolf on display for campers to look at and learn about. The gray wolf stays in mostly northern Minnesota. They are social animals, wolves live and hunt in packs of 2-15. Minnesota packs often roam a territory of 50 or more square miles. While Foley is north of the Twin Cities, we are located more so in the middle of the state and too far south to see wolves most of the time. Grey Wolves are also still considered a threatened aby the Federal Government. This is another reason campers won’t see Gray Wolves at Foley. But the good news is, the grey wolf population is growing every year, and we are not projected to lose this beautiful animal anytime soon.
The only wolf you will find at Camp Foley is at the Nature Center
Moose
Don’t be fooled by the Moose Trail here at Foley, a real moose has not walked that path in many many years. While it would be very cool to see a moose, the simple truth is Camp Foley is not in an area moose like to live. All populations of moose that live in Minnesota live in the upper northeast and northwest of the state, much closer to the Canadian border. We try not to take it personally, they probably would not like the noise of campers or the cars on the road either. Camp Foley does have food moose would like to eat. Moose are herbivores! They must eat all day to fill up. The name moose originated from the Algonquin word “moz” or “mons” depending on the dialect, which means twig eater. They eat any kind of vegetation and require almost 10,000 calories each day. Like cows, moose have four-chambered stomachs. And they would even like Whitefish Lake I bet. A moose can dive 20 feet underwater and stay underwater for up to 30 seconds! They can also swim fairly fast considering their size: up to six miles an hour. Moose hair is hollow, which helps them stay afloat while swimming or while eating. It also helps to keep moose warm in the winter.
Photo by Shivam Kumar
River Otters
I bet you can guess why we don’t see otters around Camp Foley… it’s in the name! Camp Foley sits on beautiful Whitefish Lake, where campers can swim and waterski. What Camp Foley is not next to is any kind of river. This would pose a problem for otters, as that is exactly where they want to live. The river otter is Minnesota’s largest aquatic carnivore that lives in most northern Minnesota rivers and streams. It can swim and maneuver better than many fish, and swims with only the top of its head out of the water. I think it would love Paddlemania with the campers, splashing with all the toys and on the water mats. Otters are playful, often wrestling or spending hours sliding down muddy or snow-packed stream banks. They also play by nudging sticks across the water, and by dropping pebbles to the bottom and retrieving them. Likely, all of this “play” helps the otter to hone its skills as a skilled predator.
Photo by Daniel Olaleye
We may not see these animals at Foley, but we will see so many others! Don’t miss out on a chance to be in a beautiful nature environment this summer. Head here to check out Camp Foley’s dates and rates, and join us this summer!