Wildlife Viewing in Voyageurs National Park

A Guide to Spotting and Safely Enjoying Nature from Northern Lights Resort

With 120,000 acres of land and 84,000 acres of water and vast stretches of wilderness, Voyageurs National Park is home to an incredible variety of wildlife, from bears and wolves to bald eagles and loons. Whether you’re paddling the waters of Lake Kabetogama, hiking the park’s trails, or simply relaxing at Northern Lights Resort, you’re in for some unforgettable wildlife encounters.

This guide covers some of the most exciting animals you might spot and provides helpful tips for safe and successful wildlife viewing.

Mammals of Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs is home to over 40 different species of mammals, many of which are specific to the Northern Boreal Forest habitat. Keep your eyes on the shorelines, forests, and open waters of Lake Kabetogama for a chance to see these amazing creatures.

Black Bear

Bears are strong swimmers and frequently island-hop across Lake Kabetogama in search of food. While they naturally eat berries, fish, and plants, they can become attracted to human food.

⚠️ Safety Tip: Never leave food or garbage unattended, especially if you’re camping or picnicking near the water. If you encounter a bear, do not run—instead, make yourself big, make noise, and slowly back away.

Guaranteed Bear Sighting-Local Viewing Tip: View bears in their natural habitat near Voyageurs at the Vince Shutte Wildlife Sanctuary

Beaver

Beavers are the original engineers of Voyageurs. These hard-working rodents build impressive lodges along the shoreline, using sticks and mud to create dome-shaped homes that can range from 6 to 40 feet wide! Look for their lodges and freshly chewed trees along the water’s edge.

Viewing Tip: Beavers are most active at dusk and dawn. Watch for their slick brown heads gliding across the water as they use their flat tails as rudders.

Local Viewing Tip: To spot Beaver in Voyageurs checkout the Beaver Dam at the mouth of the Gold Portage on the west end of Kabetogama Lake. The backcountry trail for Locator Lake also has a beaver dam at about the 1 mile marker. You will know you’ve arrived due to the extensive boardwalk to keep our feet dry from where the beaver dam backed up the waterway into a bathtub.

Red Fox

Tucked into the forests, meadows, and frozen lakesides of Voyageurs National Park, the red fox is one of the most charming and elusive residents you might spot during your stay at NLRO.

A Familiar Face 🦊 in the North Woods: Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are easily recognizable by their rust-red fur, white underbellies, and bushy tails tipped with white. But in Northern Minnesota, you may also spot silver or even black-phase foxes — natural color variations that are surprisingly common in this region.

Prime Viewing: Nighttime Wanderers: These foxes are mostly nocturnal, but can be spotted around dawn or dusk. They’re naturally cautious of humans, but curious enough that you might catch one trotting across a trail or peeking out near the resort’s forest edges.

Tracks in the beach sand or snow: Winter guests often catch signs of red foxes even if they don’t see the animal itself. Look for neat, straight track lines in the snow — unlike dogs, foxes walk in nearly straight paths to conserve energy. Their prints are small, with a pointed oval shape, and are often found near forest edges or frozen lake shores.

⚠️ Safety Tip Our resident fox feeds on both animals and plants. Their diet in Voyageurs Country includes: Mice and voles, Rabbits, Berries and wild fruit, Grasshoppers and beetles, Even discarded human food (so pack away those snacks!)

Next time you’re out on a snowshoe trail or enjoying a lakeside sunset, keep an eye out — you may just glimpse a flash of red moving silently between the trees. The red fox is more than just a northern legend — it’s a part of the wild rhythm of Voyageurs Country.

Moose

Towering over 6 feet tall and weighing over 1,000 pounds, moose are among the most breathtaking animals in Voyageurs. They love wetlands, bogs, and beaver-dammed areas, where they graze on aquatic plants.

Local Viewing Tip: To spot Moose in Voyageurs, best bet is Kabetogama Peninsula backcountry trails. We recommend the Cruiser Lake Trail section to Agnes lake area, the trailhead is accessible by boat. For front country trails accessible by car, we recommend the Echo Bay Trail that has an overlook on the back loop of the marsh area.

⚠️ Safety Tip: Never approach a moose. While generally peaceful, they can charge if they feel threatened. Keep a distance of at least 25 feet and observe quietly.

Timber Wolves

Voyageurs National Park is home to five active wolf packs and around 30–40 timber wolves, also known as gray wolves. These elusive predators are rarely seen, but if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of one along the shoreline early in the morning or late in the evening.

Viewing Tip: Out on the water! Many wolf sightings happen from boats as they roam the shores of the big lakes.

DYK? A recently discovered fact about our local wolves is they eat blue berries! The Voyageurs Wolf Project’s research discovered this fact and captures fascinating film footage of wolves and other local wildlife. Follow along on Facebook.

⚠️ Safety Tip: Stay at least 100 feet away from wolves and other predators. If you see one, remain quiet and observe from a safe distance.

Whitetail Deer

Although shy around guests the deer frequent our grounds at dusk and you can explore the “deer trails” on our grounds.

⚠️Safety Tip: While driving in the Kabetogama area, be cautious of deer dashing across the road – especially as the sunsets and at night. Deer often graze alongside the roads where the road salt concentrates.

Otters of Voyageurs

Playful, Curious, and Occasionally a Little Sneaky

One of the most entertaining wildlife encounters you might have during your stay at Northern Lights Resort is spotting a North American river otter. These playful, curious creatures are native to Voyageurs National Park and absolutely thrive in the clear waters of Lake Kabetogama. They’re excellent swimmers, social by nature, and downright adorable to watch.

Early morning and dusk are the best times to catch them in action—look near shorelines, rocky outcroppings, or even sliding down muddy embankments into the lake.

Viewing Tip (and a friendly heads-up):
If you’re storing minnows or bait in a bucket near the dock, keep a close eye on it! The local otters at NLRO are clever and not above helping themselves to an easy snack. We’ve had more than one guest find their bait bucket mysteriously empty—turns out, it wasn’t the fish biting early, but the otters stopping by for a midnight buffet.

So bring your camera, secure your bait, and enjoy the show—these little lake bandits are part of what makes the Northwoods so unforgettable.

Birds of Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 240 different bird species recorded in the park over 60 of these species are considered rare or endangered and a bucket list find for avid birders. Whether you’re scanning the trees, the skies, or the lake, there’s always something incredible to see.

Checkout our birdwatcher’s hiking guide for where to go in the Voyageurs area.

Songbirds & Woodpeckers

With over 100 species of songbirds, the park is alive with birdsong. Keep an ear out for:

• Pileated Woodpecker – the grandest of the woodpecker family & lives on property at NLRO
• Nashville warblers
• Ovenbirds
• Red-eyed vireos
• White-throated sparrows
• Canada Gray & Blue jays

Birds of Prey

Voyageurs is home to some of the most powerful birds in North America, including:

• Bald eagles – Look for large nests high in white pines near the water.
• Ospreys – These hawk-like birds nest near lakes and hunt for fish.
• Great horned owls & snowy owls – Scan tree branches at dusk and dawn for these silent hunters.

Shorebirds & Waterfowl

Voyageurs’ lakes and wetlands provide the perfect habitat for herons, gulls, and loons.

• Loons – Listen for their famous haunting calls as they float across the lake.
• Great blue herons – Visit Echo Bay Trails to see Voyageurs’ largest heron rookery.
• Pelicans – These large, white birds with distinctive beaks are often spotted right from the Northern Lights Resort dock!

Rare and Notable Bird Species in Voyageurs National Park

1. Spruce Grouse
   Often referred to as the “fool hen” due to its tame nature, the Spruce Grouse is a boreal forest specialist. Its reliance on coniferous forests makes it vulnerable to habitat changes, rendering it a species of conservation concern.
2. Peregrine Falcon
   Once on the brink of extinction, the Peregrine Falcon has made a remarkable comeback. In Voyageurs, sightings are rare but possible, especially near cliff faces or open areas where they hunt. ​
3. A Variety of Woodpeckers call Voyageurs Home – Two of the most notable of the Voyageurs Ecosystem:
   1. American Three-toed: This elusive woodpecker prefers mature coniferous forests and is seldom seen, making any encounter noteworthy. Its presence indicates a healthy, undisturbed forest ecosystem.​
   2. The Pileated: The largest, most noisy and most grand of the woodpecker family. Our resident Pileated Woodpecker sounds like a jackhammer in our forest on our resort grounds. This magnificent woodpecker is simply awesome to see up close – a zoom lens or binoculars may help you get closer as they spook easily.

4. Connecticut Warbler
   A secretive and ground-nesting warbler, the Connecticut Warbler breeds in the boggy areas of northern Minnesota (Voyageurs NP has bog)! Its elusive nature and specific habitat requirements contribute to its rarity.​
5. Boreal Owl
   Primarily nocturnal and inhabiting dense boreal forests, the Boreal Owl is challenging to spot. Its soft, low hoots can sometimes be heard during quiet nights.​

Identification Tip: For a picture identification guide for the birds of Voyageurs we recommend this helpful link over at the Audobon Society. Includes a handy feature of birds by season.

Arctic Migrants That Pass Through Voyageurs

6. Long-tailed Duck
   Seen on large, open waters during spring and fall migrations. These stunning divers breed in the Arctic tundra and winter on Great Lakes waters.
7. Tundra Trumpeter Swan
   Thousands pass over Voyageurs in spring and fall. Listen for their soft, bugling calls and look for flocks resting on lakes or marshes.
8. Lapland Longspur
   Ground-feeding songbirds that stop over in open fields and along roadsides during migration. Their breeding plumage glows with chestnut and black.
9. Snow Bunting
   These hardy birds flash bright white wings as they flit along rocky shorelines or snowy clearings—more common in late fall and early spring.
10. Red-necked Phalarope
    These small, spinning shorebirds are occasionally spotted on Kabetogama or Namakan Lakes. They breed in Arctic wetlands and migrate through interior lakes.

Birding Tips for Voyageurs

• Best Times: Spring (late April–early June) and fall (September–October) for migratory birds; early mornings are best.
• Where to Look: Shorelines, wetlands, quiet forest trails, and open water viewpoints. The Voyageurs regional bog also offers unique birding opportunities.
• Gear Up: Bring binoculars, a field guide, and a notebook—or try a birding app like Merlin or Audubon.
• Patience: Many rare species are elusive; quiet observation increases chances of sightings

For those interested in a comprehensive list, the National Park Service provides a detailed bird checklist for Voyageurs National Park.​

Hunting near Voyageurs in Kabetogama State Forest

Fall brings opportunity to both fish Voyageurs lakes and grouse hunt in Kabetogama. Although the National Park does not allow hunting, our surrounding Kab area is flush with ruffed grouse.

Reptiles of Voyageurs National Park

Turtles

• Painted turtles – Small (up to 10 inches long) with bright yellow and red markings on their shells.
• Snapping turtles – Much larger (up to 30 pounds!), these prehistoric-looking creatures can often be seen sunning themselves on logs.

Snakes

Voyageurs is home to two harmless snake species:

• Garter snakes – Recognizable by their yellow stripes.
• Red-bellied snakes – Shy and usually found hiding under logs.

Fish of Kabetogama Lake

 

At Northern Lights Resort, we’re experts on Voyageurs’ favorite fish populations. The voyageurs chain of lakes boasts over 200 species of fish. Lake Kabetogama is home to these popular fish for anglers:

• Walleye & Sauger
• Northern Pike
• Smallmouth Bass
• Yellow Perch & Black Crappie
• Muskie & Lake Sturgeon – These rare giants in Voyageurs can grow over 6 feet long and weigh over 200 pounds! If you are serious about fishing for these giants, let us connect you with local guides. Your guided trip may take you to the interior lakes of the Kabetogama peninsula or the Rainy River for the best luck.

🎣 Want to learn more? Check out our Ultimate Kabetogama Fishing Guide and Weekly Fishing Report! 🔗

Tips for a Safe & Enjoyable Wildlife Adventure

 

✔ Keep Your Distance – Stay at least 25 feet from moose & deer, and 100 feet from wolves & bears.
✔ Stay Quiet & Move Slowly – Many animals are startled by sudden movement.
✔ Use Binoculars – Get a close-up view without disturbing wildlife.
✔ Secure Your Food – Prevent bear encounters by storing food properly.
✔ Best Times to Spot Wildlife – Dawn & dusk offer the best opportunities for sightings.

Make Northern Lights Resort Your Wildlife Adventure Basecamp

 

There’s no better way to experience Voyageurs National Park’s incredible wildlife than by staying right on Lake Kabetogama. At Northern Lights Resort, you’ll be just steps away from the action, whether you’re watching eagles soar overhead, spotting moose along the shoreline, or listening to loons call out across the lake.

🌲 Ready to explore the wild side of Voyageurs? Book your stay at Northern Lights Resort & Outfitters today!

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