Owl invasion- Approximately every 4 years or so there is a crash in the meadow vole population in northern Canada. Voles succeed or fail based on weather conditions. Cold, wet weather is hard on them and that was the case this spring and summer. This causes those that prey on them, Great Gray Owls and Northern Hawk Owls to not breed and to move further south in search of food. 2004 was just such a year and the numbers of owls invading Northern Minnesota was incredible. I went up there mid-December to witness and document this spectacular natural occurrence.

These red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were taken at the Great Swamp and Sandy Hook.

An annual fireworks display (called "KaBoom!") on July 3rd has been ranked 2nd behind those held by Macy's in New York, as "the biggest and best fireworks display in the country."