Natural Resources

Vilas county has picked up nearly $40,000 to promote non-motorized trails.

The money comes from the Department of Tourism through its Joint-Effort Marketing grants which are used to advertise tourist-friendly activities.

Cindy Burzinski from Vilas County Tourism and Publicity says this is the second year of the grant...

"....in 2013. Vilas county received their first year JEM grant of $39,550 so we could promote the rich trail systems in the county. We figure with the first year JEM grant, we figure we had an economic impact of just around $300,000...."

Park and forest managers are taking steps to minimize the damage from the emerald ash borer in the Northwoods.   

The tree-killing beetle was found in Rhinelander last week, making its first appearance in Northcentral Wisconsin.

Rhinelander Parks and Grounds Director Gunder Paulson says the city already has an emerald ash borer readiness plan. He says a tree inventory a few years ago identified 214 ash trees between sidewalks and streets in Rhinelander, about 12 percent of the street trees in town.

Native American Activist Winona LaDuke is speaking out against a proposal for an iron mine in the Penokee Range.

LaDuke holds degrees in economic development from Harvard and Antioch Universities.  She says she doesn’t buy the argument that the mine is needed to create jobs. 

“It’s absolutely not true.  The fact is that it’s a short-term economic gain for a few people and a corporation with the rest of us paying all of the externality expenses.  So what I’m saying that their math is bad.” 

A key program helping DNR biologists track wolves is looking for volunteers.

The Wolf Monitoring Program relies on volunteers to track the animals over winter.

DNR large carnivore specialist David MacFarland...

".....volunteers and DNR staff go out in the winter using established tracking techniques and established tracking blocks go look for signs of wolves to determine how many animals were there that left those marks in the snow...."

As colder weather moves into the Northwoods, most birds are moving out.  The fall migration is well underway for raptors and many other species of birds. 

At the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, researchers have counted tens of thousands of raptors passing overhead in the past several weeks. 

The first finding of the emerald ash borer in Northcentral Wisconsin may not have as big an impact on the landscape as you might think.  Still, forest managers say it’s a blow for forest health. 

The invasive beetle was found for the first time in Oneida County this week, at a middle school in Rhinelander.  No other neighboring counties have the ash borer.

But the finding may not be as devastating for northern forests as it has been for other parts of the state. 

The Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Rhinelander.  That makes Oneida County the 38th county in Wisconsin to go under quarantine for movement of firewood.

The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says the borer was found at James Williams Middle School, in a trap set by a USDA monitoring program. 

Spokesperson Donna Gilson says it appears the infestation was found early.

Bear hunting season closes Tuesday.  And for the past week, bear hunting has been open only to those using hounds.  It’s an approach that tends to bring out strong emotions in people…who are either devoted or opposed to hound hunting. 

In today’s Wildlife Matters, DNR Wildlife Biologist Jeremy Holtz shares his first experiences…hunting bear both ways. 

If you’re a trapper…the DNR wants to hear about it when you accidentally capture a wolf.

DNR Carnivore Specialist Dave MacFarland says if you trap a wolf without meaning to and without a wolf harvest permit, it can be a convenient time for the DNR to put a radio collar on that wolf. 

Temperatures are dropping, and as we move closer to winter many species are migrating south.  

  In today’s Wildlife Matters, DNR Wildlife Biologist Jeremy Holtz talks about the different ways birds make the trip.

My mom always used to tell me that hummingbirds traveled south for the winter riding on the backs of Canada geese.  While this is a charming and compelling tale, the fact is that these little birds migrate the same way all other birds do – they fly.