Trail cameras reveal Minnesota’s hidden wildlife
Patrick Brejcha, a conservation specialist with the Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District, captured this striking image of a bald eagle through his participation in Extension’s Offal Wildlife Watching Project.
The effort uses trail cameras to document wildlife species visiting deer gut piles left by hunters across Minnesota, revealing how these offal sites support diverse animal populations. Brejcha is one of more than 400 hunter-participants contributing image data, with more than 10,000 volunteers identifying animals in images online through Zooniverse.
His 13 cameras have documented remarkable wildlife activity, including eagles, fishers, wolves and bobcats. The project has identified more than 60 species statewide. Birds make up two-thirds of all visitors.
Brejcha has been impressed by how quickly local wildlife clean up his offal. “Just about every time when we go to retrieve the cameras, there’s almost nothing left,” he said. “Everything from mice and small birds all the way up to bears is consuming it. It doesn’t go to waste, and it’s all part of a chain of life.”
Highlights
- Breckin A., a Wilkin County 4-H’er, is a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador. He enjoys the dairy project as well as working with forages and other livestock areas. He was featured in the Minnesota Star Tribune during the Minnesota State Fair.
- Maddy Beyer is also a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador and is involved in beef, dairy, and swine projects. Maddy represented Minnesota as one of just nine delegates selected statewide to attend the 2025 National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia. She spoke in front of 700 people.
- The Northwest District Horse Show, held in Breckenridge, allows 4-H horse project youth to test their skills, participate in a hippology contest, and compete against 4-H members from other counties. First- through Sixth-place ribbons and high-point awards in each age division for games and pleasure were awarded.
- Wilkin County 4-H’ers averaged more than 12 projects per exhibitor at the 2025 county fair, an impressive display of learning.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: CCC Hought
- Extension provides financial capability education for participants in the judicial district’s treatment courts, including adult and juvenile drug courts, and courts for mental health, veterans, family dependency and DWI/DUI.
Wilkin County office
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Wilkin County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. More about Extension in our county.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.