Horse-drawn hay rides, with volunteer interpreters on board, were enjoyed by  visitors during the Wildlife Festival at Sherburne. - FWS photo by Brian Dixon.

Ron Beam, maintenance worker from Crane Meadows NWR, assists a young visitor with her air rifle, at the Sherburne NWR Wildlife Festival - FWS photo by Michael Stemper.

Several facinated children enjoyed touching a snake held by Bruce Haig, Minnesota Herpetological Society.  - FWS photo by Michael Stemper

Senator Norm Coleman talks with Refuge Manager Anne Sittauer at the Sherburne NWR Wildlife Festival. - FWS photo by Michael Stemper

Over 1,000 visitors attended the 14th annual Wildlife Festival held at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, October 6. 

Although scattered showers kept the morning crowd light, the 80-degree sunny afternoon pulled many families out to the refuge.

Special guests included Senator Norm Coleman and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Charlie Poster, aide to Senator Amy Klobuchar also stopped by. The event, which celebrated National Wildlife Refuge Week and the 42^nd Anniversary of  Sherburne Refuge, highlighted wildlife and the wildlife-dependent recreation activities of wildlife observation, environmental interpretation and hunting. 

Guided tours led by refuge volunteers and staff included an early morning crane watch, two nature walks, two bus tours on the Wildlife Drive and a horse drawn hayride.  Presentations included a live raptor program by Allison Holzer from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, and a live reptile program by Bruce Haig from the Minnesota Herpetological Society. 

Activities scheduled throughout the day included a wildlife scavenger hunt, nature crafts, a wildlife drawing contest, face painting, a bonfire, campfire songs, archery and air rifle workshops, and exhibits on wildflower seeds and tea, wildlife fur, feathers and bones, radio telemetry, bird houses, binoculars and spotting scopes, reptiles, refuge fire equipment, and pointers on caring for the outdoors.

A number of refuge service roads were open during the event to allow vehicle travel into the interior of the refuge.  The event was co-sponsored by the refuge and the Friends of Sherburne with assistance from the Rapids Archery Club, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Firearms Safety Instructors, the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, Minnesota Herpetological Society, National Camera Exchange, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), 128 refuge volunteers and 15 refuge staff who each played an active role in making the event possible.

The Friends of Sherburne secured the support of 24 businesses from 11 towns making it possible for them to offer the event free to the public.