There are great opportunities to view wildlife on this paddling adventure due to the lakes and marshy river habitats. The Minnesota River begins near the Minnesota-South Dakota border at Big Stone Wildlife Refuge home to a variety of animal life the Minnesota-South Dakota border. Wildlife that you might come across on your paddle include, great blue herons, western grebes, white pelicans, ducks, bald eagles, geese, otters, cranes owls and hawks.