Who would pet a porcupette?

North Shore Community School near Duluth

“Hello from North Shore Community School on the north shore of Lake Superior. This is the Phenology Report for the week of May 9, 2026. My name is Iljia, and I am your phenologist for this week!

"On Tuesday, May 12, there were scattered thundershowers and hail early in the morning. There were reports of half dollar sized hail, one inch, quarter inch, but mostly pea size hail in the French River and Knife River area.

"On Monday, May 11, Ms. Urban saw a blooming bloodroot, the first of the season. On Tuesday, May 12, the Preschoolers noticed wild ginger plants popping up in the school forest by the stream. They also noticed wild leeks, or ramps, had popped up in a lot of spots. Several dandelions blossomed on Wednesday, May 13, on the school playground.

"Ms. Jackson spotted her first hummingbird and Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Saturday, May 9. On Monday, May 11, Ms. Urban heard the first Black-and-white Warbler singing in the school forest. On Tuesday, May 12, Ms. Urban heard an Ovenbird, the first of the year! Mrs. Rolfe’s neighbor saw small birds swimming in their pond and found them to be Wilson's Phalaropes. These are not very common in our area, they are typically found in the prairie pothole Region. On Thursday, May 14, Ms. Urban heard a Black-throated Green Warbler singing- a first of the year!

"On the afternoon of Sunday, May 10, Ms. Jackson spotted a porcupine up in a tree at her house. The next afternoon, she saw that it had a baby! Did you know that a baby porcupine is called a porcupette? And, a group of porcupines are called a prickle! Nora saw a bat on Sunday, May 10, on the ground next to her garage; it had an injured wing. I saw a black bear Friday, May 15, peaking out of the trees sniffing for food, next to Highway 61.

"On Monday, May 11, Ms. Felton’s class caught a dragonfly nymph in the stream.

"On Thursday, May 14th Mr. Dover’s class caught a leech in the stream.

“This concludes the phenology report. Have a great week and be observant!”

Long Lake Conservation Center near Palisade

This report is brought to you by Stella, MaKenna, Everly and the students from Minnewaska Area School.

“During our trip from May 6-8, the low temp was 25 degrees and the high was 58 degrees. We even had a few snow flurries and during our first bog trek of the day the group found a thin layer of ice on the bog water.

“On the path into the bog, we saw that the marsh marigolds are just starting to bloom. On Long Lake we saw muskrats, two swans swimming together and two loons swimming together.
We thought there was something on the loon’s backs, but it was feathers sticking up. We learned that this is where an oil gland is, and the loons were very busy cleaning and keeping their feathers oiled so that they are waterproof.

“Hepatica is in bloom. We watched many squirrels running, chasing, hanging upside down and eating. Chipmunks, chickadees, nuthatches, Blue Jays and woodpeckers were also very active. Several deer came to the bird feeder area while we were eating dinner. We found coyote scat and heard howling in the evening. A Barred Owl was heard in the evening, and one was seen in the morning.

“We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!”

This report is brought to you by Lilly, Bria, Emma and the students from Cold Spring Elementary.

“During our trip from May 13-15, the low temp was 39 degrees and the high was 80.

“The spring weather was EGGScellent… as in our group found lots of EGGS during our trip. Long Lake’s Loons are on the nest with two eggs. It was interesting how the adults lay low and flat on the nest for camouflage and to escape quickly into the water if needed. We also found a turkey nest with 10 eggs in it, American Robins are on the nest near a building and Tree Swallows have taken over a birdhouse on campus.

“In other bird notes, orioles, Ovenbirds, bluebirds, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Solitary Sandpipers and Common Yellowthroats have returned to campus. We also noted a very large flock of Blue Jays.

“In the bog, bog rosemary is in bloom with pink buds. In the forest, serviceberry bushes are blooming and we saw a blue-spotted salamander. Other notes include an unidentified white butterfly, a muskrat, beaver, and a chipmunk.
“The world is blooming and new life is happening everywhere. We had a great time exploring nature, and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!”

Baxter Elementary

“Hello from Baxter Elementary School in Baxter, MN. This is the phenology report for the week of May 8. Our names are Isaac, Anki, and Jon, and we are your phenologists for this week.

“’It looks like our forest was painted green!’ It seems everything has leafed out! Some of our big tooth aspen stands have leafed out, while others have barely started to bud. Our red oak trees leafed out on May 10. Isaac and his family identified ostrich ferns, collected some, boiled them and added salt and pepper. He said they tasted kind of like a floppy green bean. Dad may have over cooked them. Our serviceberries are flowering. Some red maples have started dropping their seeds.

“Nora encountered a porcupine on a walk with her family and got a great video. Lavaena met a porcupine too! Summer spotted a beaver.

“We’ve seen goslings and baby Mallards. Sofia spotted a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Levi identified a Red-headed Woodpecker, Killdeer nesting, a Brown Thrasher and saw male and female orioles on May 16. The loon on his lake also laid her eggs on May 10. Isaac identified a Green Heron on May 12. Our hummingbirds are coming back in force. Mr. Macejkovic’s male and female have returned, and Sofia has been seeing them everyday on her feeder.

“This concludes the phenology report. Have a great week, and be observant!!!”

Little Falls Middle School

"This is Presley and Amira reporting from Little Falls Middle School. This is our phenology report for the week of May 17.
“There are several plants blooming in the woods right now. We have seen trillium, trout lilies, wild ginger, wood anemone, Jack in the pulpits, and lots of violets.

“We had our first sighting of a hummingbird on May 10, and an American Redstart and House Wren on May 12.

“Most of our trees have a fuzzy appearance from leaves and flowers that are slowly growing, and all of our plum and cherry trees have beautiful flowers right now.

“We have been catching different warblers as they pass through. This week we had an Orange-crowned, Black-and-white, Nashville, Yellow, Magnolia, and several Yellow-rumped Warblers.

“Now that there are leaves on the trees, we have observed the warblers as they feed on insects and flutter around the tops of trees.

“We did see painted lady and cabbage white butterflies.
“We had a trail cam video of a badger, which is a very rare sighting for us.
“Purple Martins and Tree Swallows have both been regular visitors to bird houses this week, and an Indigo Bunting became our 117th bird for the school year.
“Classmates have found gray treefrogs and an eastern hognose snake this week.
“Creeping Charlie and dandelions are starting to take over our yards.
“On May 13, we got a photo of our first Indigo Bunting. We also saw a Swainson’s Thrush, a Wood Thrush, a Northern Waterthrush, and an Ovenbird.

“There have been ducklings and goslings spotted, and we have noticed that there are groups of male Mallards hanging out together. We were wondering if they were males who did not mate, or if they leave the hen after she starts nesting.
“That is our report for this week, until next week, keep exploring, keep discovering, and keep connecting with the great outdoors.”

Linwood Elementary School in Wyoming, Minnesota

Caledonia High School in Houston County

“Hi, this is Leah, Will, and Cooper reporting from Caledonia Public High School in Caledonia, MN. On May 15, we noticed:
“We’ve gotten less than one inch of rain in the month of May so far. The sun is setting around 8:30 p.m.

“All the trees are leafing out in the woods. Wild geraniums are in full bloom. Honeysuckle is blooming. Tinker weed is blooming at the bottom of the bluff, which is rare because it’s usually blooming at the top. This happens because more moisture is at the bottom of the bluff.

"I saw baby coyotes. Robins and grackles are already fledging. Bluebirds have young in nests. First June bug on May 13. Orioles, grosbeaks, and wrens are singing. A Dekay’s brown snake was thermoregulating by flattening its body on the road.
“We’ve been seeing a baby fox on the school property.

“This has been Leah, Will, and Cooper reporting from Caledonia Public High School. ‘Never stop questioning!’”

Listener talkbacks

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Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).