nature

Eagle drops fish on Water Ski Days

Jul 1, 2026

Something fishy was going on Saturday night at the Water Ski Days beverage tent and it stank to high heaven. An eagle was flying above the evening crowd carrying a fish. For reasons that remain unclear, the fish fell to the earth. “I was right next to the beer tent,” said Kyal Heydt of Lake City...

A turn of turtles and a solitary wood duck

Apr 22, 2026

Sitting there like a bump on a log gets a bad rap. The turtles above and at right below look like they are living their best life while soaking up the springtime sunshine. At left below, a wood duck paddles by.-Photos by Ben Threinen

Lake City lab works to save Minnesota’s mussels

Feb 18, 2026

While researching an earlier article on pearl buttons, I found out that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a facility in Lake City known as the Center for Aquatic Mollusk Programs (CAMP). Naturally, I reached out to learn more and spent a whole afternoon absorbing the very...

Library hosts talk on local phenology Feb. 22

Feb 14, 2024

The Lake City Public Library invites the public to a slide show and discussion on the phenology of the Lake City and Frontenac area led by Bruce Ause. “Attendees will learn about the cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena of our area, especially in relation to climate, plant, and animal life....

Walking group discovers a beaver’s dam

Jun 22, 2022

Wednesday, June 15, it was a beautiful evening for the second group walk of the season for Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) participants. The group walked 1.5 miles from the Lake City Sportsman’s Club to the bridge over Miller Creek. A beaver dam was discovered on Miller Creek and thanks to Paul Myers...

Painted turtles on a log

Apr 30, 2020

Seven painted turtles sun themselves on a log south of the Lake City Sportsman’s Club. -Photo by Ben Threinen

Wildlife refuge photo contest

Jan 2, 2020

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters are encouraging all amateur photographers to get outside this winter and capture the beauty of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge for a winter photo contest. Photos in the following categories will be accepted until March 13: Scenic...

Pelicans on Frontenac pond

Apr 24, 2019

Lake City photographer Ben Threinen spotted many pelicans on Frontenac Pond late last week. Over the next few days the pelicans departed.

Gnawed tree tips over

Dec 6, 2018

This tree, one of a handful in the vicinity that appear to have been gnawed around its base, lies on the shore of Lake Pepin not far from Roschen Park. Two other damaged trees remain standing, for now.

Unusual ducks spotted in great numbers

Apr 11, 2018

Lesser scaup and canvass back ducks mill around in the waters of Lake Pepin. Photographer Ben Threinen said it was his first time seeing lesser scaup ducks on the lake. Known for their distinctive blue bills, lesser scaup breed primarily in Canada and the north western United States, according to...