by Greg Schmitz | Jul 18, 2026 | Conservation Corner
Wildfires are a natural but increasingly dangerous phenomenon, shaped by both ecological processes and human activity. They occur when uncontrolled fires ignite in wildland areas such as forests, grasslands, and shrublands, often due to lightning strikes, human...
by Greg Schmitz | Jul 12, 2026 | Conservation Corner
Algal blooms are rapid, often visible growths of algae in aquatic environments such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. There are two types of algae blooms that can occur. The first is harmful algal blooms (HABs) which are caused by toxin producing species like...
by Greg Schmitz | Jul 2, 2026 | Conservation Corner
The black locust, also known as false acacia, is a fast-growing tree native to the Appalachian and Ozark regions of the United States. In Wisconsin, however, it Is considered an invasive species that threatens native ecosystems. While valued historically for its...
by Greg Schmitz | Jul 1, 2026 | News
The Boundary Waters is canoe country. It is the largest Wilderness east of the Rockies and north of the Everglades. Along with the Superior National Forest, it contains 20% of all the freshwater in the entire National Forest System. Proposed sulfide-ore copper mining...
by Greg Schmitz | Jul 1, 2026 | News
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages boaters to be aware of early-growth wild rice while out on Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and flowages ahead of the Fourth of July weekend and throughout the rest of the summer growing season. In early July,...
by Greg Schmitz | Jun 26, 2026 | Conservation Corner
Long before roads and farms reshaped northern Wisconsin, wild lupine was spread vastly around the county in shades of blue and purple. Today, conservationists see it as a symbol of the region’s natural heritage, and a plant worth protecting. Wild lupine is a perennial...
