Paul Jacobsen

1 month ago | brainerddispatch.com | Paul Jacobsen

Question: I recently saw a bat flying outside. Isn’t March early for bats to come out of hibernation? Answer: March is the earliest month that bats may end hibernation in Minnesota, but it also could be a sign of something wrong with the bat. First, a little background. Of the world’s 1,400 bat species, only eight live in Minnesota.

2 months ago | brainerddispatch.com | Paul Jacobsen

Question: Like a lot of hunters, we use game cameras to spot deer. We’ve seen some interesting animals, including bobcats and bears. With so many game cameras out there, does anyone want our pictures for scientific purposes? Answer: Yes, public agencies are interested in your photos. As you know, game cameras, also known as trail cameras, have come a long way. Decades ago, they used film that had to be processed to see the photos.

2 months ago | brainerddispatch.com | Paul Jacobsen

Question: Earlier this winter I found a frog in my garden that was frozen solid and appeared to be dead. I heard that some frogs can freeze without dying. Is that really true? Answer: Yes, it is, and the frog may survive the winter. Minnesota has 14 different types of frogs and toads, and four of these have the amazing ability to survive winter by letting most of their bodies freeze. These frogs are the wood frog, the spring peeper, the gray tree frog and the similar Copes gray tree frog.

Dec 29, 2024 | brainerddispatch.com | Paul Jacobsen

Question: We had over 50 swans on our lake this fall, and we never saw them years ago. Why are there so many swans now? Answer: The swans you saw are most likely trumpeter swans, and their comeback is attributed to extensive efforts by several public agencies. Before European settlement of Minnesota, trumpeter swans lived across much of North America. Then, in the 18th and 19th centuries, hunters took swans for their skin, feathers and meat, and farming reduced swan habitat.

Nov 23, 2024 | brainerddispatch.com | Paul Jacobsen

Question: There are bushes in our woods that still have green leaves when everything else is brown. Some of the bushes also have black berries. What is this plant? Answer: There is a good chance that it’s non-native buckthorn, and you should get rid of it. Buckthorn is very invasive and is a "restricted noxious weed" in Minnesota, meaning that it may not be imported, sold, or transported in the state.