Signs of the Northeast Minnesota Owl Irruption

Given both this blog, and my volunteer work as a naturalist, I am getting lots of questions about the current owl irruption in northeastern Minnesota. With this post, I will try to let the Great Gray Owls answer those questions!

Where is the irruption taking place?


What are the backroads like in Northern Minnesota?


What should I do if I see an owl hunting a railroad right of way?


Will Rich Hoeg (the owner of this blog) share his private local owling locations?


What is the highway speed limit when I need to drive home?


If I get lost, how will I find my way?

If the owl’s answer to this last question is NOT obvious, follow the light house’s beacon!


All of these photographs were taken within the past two days. Rich would like to thank each and every owl which agreed to be part of the answer to your questions about the Northeastern Minnesota Owl Irruption of 2025.

I would like to correct “only” one answer given by an owl. Rich Hoeg will not give out his private owling locations. It is neat that many of you are coming from all around America to enjoy our special wilderness. Great Gray Owls are native to Northeastern Minnesota. However, this winter we have many more owls in our region … both locals and migrants. In my experience most of the migrants tend to start flying north around the 1st of March. Thus, plan trips to our area with that thought in mind.

On a closing note, this morning I was interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio about owls in Northwestern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota. If you would like to read a transcript of that interview, please browse to WPR. Unfortunately I do not believe the sound files of the interview are active anymore.

Great Gray Owls in a SnowStorm

Saturday was a ugly day, and all the owls … both our locals and irruption migrants … decided they needed to hunt DURING the storm. For Great Gray Owls which catch prey by hearing mice and voles running beneath the snow, I can’t believe they had much success. It goes to show, hunger is a great motivator. Make certain you watch the videos. The snow was coming down at an amazing rate (Video links for email subscribers: Owl#1 | Owl#2 | Owl#3). I will be following this post up with a “morning after the storm” addition to this blog!


Finally here are some still images taken during storm. I actually hung out at home till the worst of the storm hit. Thankfully, none of these owls were over 10 miles from my home. I just slowed down my driving and took my time. I was actually somewhat amazed I found any owls given the poor visibility. Luck (and some skill) definitely played a role.

Just prior to the storm … unlike us, owls don’t get to use weather apps to learn that a storm in coming

Great Gray Owls during the storm. The last owl was in a ravine, which I thought was smart, but then it flew up to a non protected area. In the fourth image, the owl is shaking show off its head … thus the bit of blur.

Flight shots. Quite frankly I am amazed I not only found these owls, but managed to photograph them in flight.