News
Northern Wilds recently received a phone call from Bart Smith, the man featured in our last issue who is hiking all of the National Scenic Trails. He passed through Grand Marais last summer as he hiked the Superior Hiking Trail, which will soon be part of the national North Country Trail. At the time, some local trails were closed due to fire danger, so Bart had to return in the fall to complete his Minnesota hike.
When he returned, he hiked the Border Route Trail and Kekekabic Trail. He called to ask Northern Wilds to warn other hikers that both trails were in poor condition and very difficult to follow.
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Effects of Climate Change on Forests
Research at the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center began fifty years ago, initiated by the husband-and-wife team of Clifford and Isabel Ahlgren. Now the work the Ahlgrens began promises to yield insights into how forests respond to climate change.
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Research at the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center began fifty years ago, initiated by the husband-and-wife team of Clifford and Isabel Ahlgren. Now the work the Ahlgrens began promises to yield insights into how forests respond to climate change.
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Lake Superior Bird Survey
The Trout Lake Learning Center has launched the 2007-2008 Bird Survey for the Lake Superior Basin, taking place through March 31. You can learn more about this project at http://tllc.ca
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The Trout Lake Learning Center has launched the 2007-2008 Bird Survey for the Lake Superior Basin, taking place through March 31. You can learn more about this project at http://tllc.ca
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Superior Radio
Minnesota Sea Grant and KUWS Radio are producing Superior Science News which will air on KUWS (91.3 FM or http://kuws.fm/) on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. every two weeks throughout the winter. Audio files and transcripts will be offered on www.seagrant.umn.edu.
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Minnesota Sea Grant and KUWS Radio are producing Superior Science News which will air on KUWS (91.3 FM or http://kuws.fm/) on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. every two weeks throughout the winter. Audio files and transcripts will be offered on www.seagrant.umn.edu.
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Fewer Folks Outdoors?
Being Minnesotan means hunting, fishing, boating, camping, exploring the great outdoors, right? Well, maybe not so much anymore. Recent surveys conducted by the Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service show declines in recreational activities that once defined Minnesotans.
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Being Minnesotan means hunting, fishing, boating, camping, exploring the great outdoors, right? Well, maybe not so much anymore. Recent surveys conducted by the Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service show declines in recreational activities that once defined Minnesotans.
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Ironworld Exhibits War Photos
Ironworld presents moving and powerful images of the Vietnam War in a memorial titled Requiem: By the Photographers Who Died in Vietnam and Indochina January 26 through April 20 This exhibit features 290 images taken by photojournalists who were killed or reported missing while covering the conflict. This is the first time the collection has been exhibited in Minnesota.
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Ironworld presents moving and powerful images of the Vietnam War in a memorial titled Requiem: By the Photographers Who Died in Vietnam and Indochina January 26 through April 20 This exhibit features 290 images taken by photojournalists who were killed or reported missing while covering the conflict. This is the first time the collection has been exhibited in Minnesota.
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If you surf the nearly endless channels of satellite television, you can tune into some unusual programs. Recently, we watched Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel. Mr. Zimmern travels to far corners of the planet to sample local delicacies. From what we saw on the show, it is fair to say not everyone on this green Earth shares the same palate.
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Ammunition Offers Choices, But Few Are Cheap
Recently, I went to an outdoor “box” store in search of nontoxic shot shells.
What better place to find a wide selection in shotgun ammunition? Several rows
of shells offered such an assortment that it took a few minutes of perusing
just to get a handle on what was available. Still, without an exact brand or
load in mind, I was unable to find just what I was looking for—an affordable,
lethal round for public land pheasants made of a material heavier than steel.
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Recently, I went to an outdoor “box” store in search of nontoxic shot shells.
What better place to find a wide selection in shotgun ammunition? Several rows
of shells offered such an assortment that it took a few minutes of perusing
just to get a handle on what was available. Still, without an exact brand or
load in mind, I was unable to find just what I was looking for—an affordable,
lethal round for public land pheasants made of a material heavier than steel.
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Scientists Predict Grim Future for Minnesota Moose
At the recent Minnesota Large Mammal Conference in Grand Rapids, biologists presented bad news and good news about the state’s moose population. The bad news is that the northwestern herd has diminished nearly to nonexistence and the northeast herd also appears to be in long term decline. The good news is that state and tribal biologists are taking whatever steps they can to learn more about Minnesota and make on-the-ground habitat improvements.
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At the recent Minnesota Large Mammal Conference in Grand Rapids, biologists presented bad news and good news about the state’s moose population. The bad news is that the northwestern herd has diminished nearly to nonexistence and the northeast herd also appears to be in long term decline. The good news is that state and tribal biologists are taking whatever steps they can to learn more about Minnesota and make on-the-ground habitat improvements.
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Gooseberry Statue Honors CCC Workers
The scenic beauty was already in place, but it was the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s and early 1940s who built the roads and bridges that gave the public access to the natural resources and recreational opportunities in Minnesota state parks and elsewhere. A tribute to their handiwork and the structures of wood and stone they built is in place at Gooseberry Falls State Park.
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The scenic beauty was already in place, but it was the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s and early 1940s who built the roads and bridges that gave the public access to the natural resources and recreational opportunities in Minnesota state parks and elsewhere. A tribute to their handiwork and the structures of wood and stone they built is in place at Gooseberry Falls State Park.
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Returning Soldiers Get Free Licenses
Returning Minnesota soldiers, including those who served in the National Guard, may fish and hunt small game without a license for two years from their discharge. They may also obtain one free deer license under regulations passed by the 2007 Legislature.
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Returning Minnesota soldiers, including those who served in the National Guard, may fish and hunt small game without a license for two years from their discharge. They may also obtain one free deer license under regulations passed by the 2007 Legislature.
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Map Shows Hunting Lands
The Nature Conservancy has a new map showing its preserves in Minnesota where public hunting is allowed.
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The Nature Conservancy has a new map showing its preserves in Minnesota where public hunting is allowed.
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New State Parks Guide
A new Guide to Minnesota State Parks, featuring information on facilities and services available at each site is available from the Minnesota DNR.
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A new Guide to Minnesota State Parks, featuring information on facilities and services available at each site is available from the Minnesota DNR.
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Duluth To Host Superior Conference
Many people know that Lake Superior is a great Great Lake. Keeping it that way is the goal of the "Making a Great Lake Superior 2007" conference to be held October 29-31, 2007 in Duluth.
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Many people know that Lake Superior is a great Great Lake. Keeping it that way is the goal of the "Making a Great Lake Superior 2007" conference to be held October 29-31, 2007 in Duluth.
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Lake Superior’s Sinking Water Levels
Since 1998, Lake Superior has slipped to the shallower side of average. This year the lake could sink to a new low. Experts point to two main reasons for this: Less precipitation and more evaporation
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Since 1998, Lake Superior has slipped to the shallower side of average. This year the lake could sink to a new low. Experts point to two main reasons for this: Less precipitation and more evaporation
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What Happened to the Salmon?
I’ve been chasing and catching salmon in Lake Superior for almost 30 years. During my first 15 or so years of trolling on the big lake, both Pacific and Atlantic strains of salmon were more abundant and larger than those of today. By the mid 90’s changes occurred in the Lake Superior fishery. Where we once saw record numbers of fish and multiple state records set in an angling season, we now have to search hard for a good catch of much smaller salmon. So what happened?
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I’ve been chasing and catching salmon in Lake Superior for almost 30 years. During my first 15 or so years of trolling on the big lake, both Pacific and Atlantic strains of salmon were more abundant and larger than those of today. By the mid 90’s changes occurred in the Lake Superior fishery. Where we once saw record numbers of fish and multiple state records set in an angling season, we now have to search hard for a good catch of much smaller salmon. So what happened?
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Groups Sue Shippers to Stop Invasives
Conservation groups led by the National Wildlife Federation have announced their intent to file a citizen suit against several shipping companies that operate in the Great Lakes, demanding compliance with the Clean Water Act. The lawsuit aims to shut the door on aquatic invasive species.
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Conservation groups led by the National Wildlife Federation have announced their intent to file a citizen suit against several shipping companies that operate in the Great Lakes, demanding compliance with the Clean Water Act. The lawsuit aims to shut the door on aquatic invasive species.
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E. coli May Not Indicate Contamination
University of Minnesota researchers say that the bacteria used to justify beach closings don’t always come from harmful sources. Mounting evidence suggests that Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria live as natural residents of the beach environment.
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University of Minnesota researchers say that the bacteria used to justify beach closings don’t always come from harmful sources. Mounting evidence suggests that Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria live as natural residents of the beach environment.
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Looking for Gypsy Moths
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is placing over 2,800 gypsy moth traps Cook and Lake counties, including the areas of Grand Marais and Grand Portage where high concentrations of the destructive moth were found last summer.
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is placing over 2,800 gypsy moth traps Cook and Lake counties, including the areas of Grand Marais and Grand Portage where high concentrations of the destructive moth were found last summer.
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