Minnesota, the 12th-largest U.S. state, is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The state's nickname is not an exaggeration --- there are actually 11,842 lakes, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.This Midwest state borders Canada to the north and Lake Superior and Wisconsin to the east. In addition to lakes, it also has an abundance of prairies and forests. The northern portion of the state is where the prairie meets the forest, creating an ideal habitat for certain creatures.
One of two flying squirrels in Minnesota, the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) does not actually have wings. It has a membrane, called a patagium, that is a stretch of skin from the front feet to the hind feet, enabling the squirrel to glide in the air when its legs are outstretched. Typically, the squirrel flies between 20 to 30 feet, but it is capable of gliding up to 150 feet. The grayish-brown northern flying squirrel is about 11 inches long and weighs about 3 oz. It typically eats insects, nuts, fruits and scraps of meat.
A hulking creature that can grow to 6 feet long and weigh up to 500 lbs., the black bear (Ursus americanus) is the only bear found in Minnesota. It's also the largest mammal found within the state. Bears increase their food intake in the fall before they hibernate for up to six or seven months during the winter, living off their fat stores until spring. By nature, black bears try to avoid people, but they occasionally come into contact with them. When it encounters danger, a bear will give off warning cues by popping its jaw, snorting or making huffing sounds --- a warning to humans to find safety as quickly as possible.
Back when wearing fur was all the fashion, the short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) was a provider of fine ermine fur used in coats or to trim garments. Oddly, the weasel's fur also glows in ultraviolet light. In summer it is covered in brown fur that turns white in the winter. The weasel moves by leaping, its hind feet landing in the tracks of the front feet. It is also known to move silently under the snow in pursuit of its prey.
In Minnesota, hunting season runs from mid-September through mid-December and includes white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which are considered to be big game. The hunting season keeps the deer population under control and more resistant to disease. Whitetails are not easy prey, however, as they raise their white tail when alarmed in order to alert other deer to possible danger. This deer is plentiful across the state, not just the northern forests, and it is known to be a suburban nuisance, foraging for food and destroying landscape gardening.
