Advocacy

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March Mudness

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March Mudness

I needed to check out a trout stream project on Sunday. The site was only 100 yards or so from the bridge and someone had already tracked through the snow almost all the way there. Almost. And I found out why. If Satan wants to make hell more miserable he can simply add postholing to the list of daily activities. As each foot breaks the crusted top layer of snow through the remaining eight inches of snow and is then extricated with a mix of lung and thigh power, the operator of that foot begins to question the sanity of being outside on what seemed such a nice day.

Photo by Katerine Hala FCC

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Preserving, restoring, protecting, and improving

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The Wisconsin DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program is now taking applications for a number of paid internships that are geared toward engaging traditionally marginalized groups.

The outdoors we love is going to take an abundance and diversity of young people who'll make the outdoors their passion and their profession. Those folks need internships. Please see the information below about a very worthwhile DNR summer internship program and alert any young person who might be interested and has any of the qualifications described in the third paragraph.

Photo courtesy of WDNR

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WCC Spring Hearing needs to hear from you

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The WDNR just issued a notice concerning the annual spring hearing of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. The hearing will be a three day virtual event beginning on April 12. The virtual format makes expressing your opinion on a variety of conservation issues facing the state convenient.

Photo by Elvis Kennedy

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In praise of elected officials (really!)

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Some most excellent land conservation news broke recently. The Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) announced the creation of a huge new nature preserve in southwest Dane County!

Two aspects of the Spring Valley Preserve stand out: its size and diversity. At 308 acres, it's huge. Those acres include oak savannas, sand prairies, oak woodlands, oak openings, wetlands, springs, and a small stream. The land features some great native plants, including a personal favorite, the prickly pear cactus. I don't know if DALC and its allies have had the chance to identify all the animals that call this land home at one time or another but, in my blissful, hopeful ignorance, I'm rooting for the ornate box turtle to show up one day.

Photo courtesy of DALC

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An eagle wants to know: Why are we still shooting and fishing lead?

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Last week's issue of the Wisconsin Outdoor News (WON) has a story some Madison Audubon volunteers have been following with great concern. An adult Bald Eagle in distress was found near Barneveld and is now receiving care at the Dane County Humane Society. As I write this, his prognosis is guarded.

He has been diagnosed with lead poisoning. He has shotgun pellets from an old injury and has also probably eaten lead fragments as he scavenged the remains of deer shot by hunters.

Madison Audubon’s Bald Eagle Nest Watch volunteers have been monitoring an active bald eagle's nest in that area for a couple of years. It's possible this eagle was one of a nesting pair at some point. The nest is still active with a pair of eagles.

This eagle has every right to wonder: is this any way to treat your national symbol and a magnificent bird? No, and it needs to stop.

Photo by Monica Hall

 
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