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Wisconsin Conservation Congress meeting Thursday

IRON MOUNTAIN — A district meeting of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at Crivitz Village Hall, 800 Henriette Ave., Crivitz, Wis. Spring hearing questions will be reviewed by Department of Natural Resources staff. Conservation Congress advisory questions will also be discussed. The spring hearings will be held in all Wisconsin counties Monday, April 8. More information on public input is available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing. A new license requirement for inland fishing guides in Michigan took effect Friday. The ...

State awards $3.6 million for invasive species projects; $70,000 goes to Dickinson district

LANSING — The state of Michigan announced Friday that 31 projects will share $3.6 million in grants through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program. This cycle marks the MISGP’s 10th anniversary. To date, over $36 million has been awarded to support 269 projects undertaken by units of government, nonprofits and institutions. The program — cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources — addresses prevention, detection, eradication and control of aquatic ...

Conservation group warns of effects of wake boats on lakes

In a forthcoming report, a conservation group warns that the use of wake boats on the state’s lakes can pose harmful risks to aquatic plants and animals, increase erosion and transfer invasive species. The report, released by Wisconsin Green Fire, is a review of the literature studying the effect that wake boats have on bodies of water. Wake boats — which are generally 18-25 foot boats with deep v-shaped hulls and engines with more than 350 horsepower to displace a lot of water and generate large wakes — have gained popularity in recent years. The often-expensive watercraft ...

Conservationist Aldo Leopold’s last remaining child dies at 97

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The last remaining child of famed conservationist and author Aldo Leopold has died at age 97. Estella Leopold, a researcher and scientist who dedicated her life to the land ethic philosophy of her famous father, died on Sunday in Seattle after several months in hospice, the Aldo Leopold Foundation announced. "She was a trailblazing scientist in her own right," Buddy Huffaker, executive director of the foundation, said Wednesday. "She was a fierce conservationist and environmental advocate." Estella Leopold specialized in the study of pollen, known as ...

Spring could be near … by the sound of it

We humans, I think, tend to favor sight among our senses — “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But in the natural world, sound so often can be more revealing of what’s out there for those who pause to listen. This past week, trumpeter swans demonstrated why they are so named from a wetland hidden behind trees not far from where Solberg Lake Creek feeds into Six Mile Lake. The rattling bugles of sandhill cranes from the same area can be the first signal each year they’ve returned in spring. Pileated woodpeckers announce they’re coming in for suet with what the Cornell Lab ...

Michigan ORV panel has vacancy to fill

By JIM ANDERSON News Editor IRON MOUNTAIN — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for an opening on its Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Workgroup. The seven-member panel meets quarterly at varying locations around the state, working closely with the Michigan Trails Advisory Council. “Members tell us that being part of this workgroup is a rewarding experience — it isn’t overly time-consuming and provides an opportunity for avid ORV riders to share their insight and connect with others who enjoy the sport and want to contribute to our state’s ...