While the Friends of Sherburne Eagle’s Nest Nature Store remains closed for in-person shopping, they’re pleased to announce that they now offer online shopping at their SherburneEaglesNestStore.com! 

Let one’s “fingers do the walking” from the warmth of home and browse the selection of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge knit caps and fleece headbands. Or how about some hand-made “upcycled” wool mittens with fleece lining? 

If books are your thing, review the selection of field guides and other books geared to naturalists of all ages. NWR also has a large selection of nature-themed apparel, puzzles, books, and stuffed animals to engage the kids when they aren’t outside exploring nature.

Refuge Trails Open!

Blue Hill, Mahnomen and the Oak Savanna Learning Center trails, and their respective restroom facilities, are open from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset and will be packed following significant snowfalls for better hiking conditions. 

If a parking lot is full when one visits, please continue on to another trail. Cross-country skiers will want to know that classic tracks have been set on the Mahnomen Trail. There is no fee for cross-country skiing and the refuge does not have equipment to check out. Reference the home page of the refuge website for trail updates: fws.gov/refuge/sherburne.

Want to go snowshoeing? One can snowshoe on service roads and venture off-trail through Feb. 28. Hot Tip: Try snowshoeing on the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive--but please don’t block the entrance gate when parking. The refuge is offering free snowshoe checkout, based on availability. There are additional requirements this year and they include:

• Sending request by Thursday at 8 a.m. to alaina_larkin@fws.gov (for large groups, it’s to one’s advantage to request earlier and include approximate numbers/sizes needed);

• Scheduling and attending a 10-minute video chat to go over the snowshoes and bindings;

• Providing requested sizes and numbers of snowshoes at least one day prior to pick up;

• Scheduling a pickup time on Friday between 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Pickup is at the Oak Savanna Learning Center at 16797 289th Ave NW near Zimmerman;

• Arriving at one’s scheduled pickup time and loading snowshoes into one’s vehicle;

• Returning snowshoes in good condition to the Oak Savanna Learning Center at one’s scheduled time the following Friday.