Local Features

Recently three dogs were poisoned, one fatally, while on a walk in the woods with their owners. Do you know what poison does to dogs and other animals? What can you do to protect your dogs? Is there any way you can help? The Masked Biologist tries to help with answers in this week’s Wildlife Matters. In general, there are a couple of factors to keep in mind when killing an animal. First, the method of kill needs to minimize physical pain and suffering. Slitting an animal’s throat might be

Pandemics are nothing new to Ojibwe people. Neither are isolation or cold winters. “Long ago, the arts and crafts, they kept our people from going stir-crazy,” said Greg Johnson, a Lac du Flambeau artist. “Our culture was definitely there for us. It’s almost like insurance for bad times.” The current pandemic has put that spirit on display for Ojibwe artists. It has led to a resurgence in cultural exchange, Johnson said. A glance at traditional moccasins being produced and dances being taught

The Northwoods economy was focused on the logging industry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. However, mining was just as important to the economic growth of the region, and in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula mining for copper and iron brought economic prosperity to many communities. It also brought hardship and tragedy. Logging has always been among the most dangerous jobs in America, but hard rock mining is not far behind it. To illustrate the

The gray wolf has been on and off the federal endangered species list for years. Right now, it’s off the list. But designation on the endangered species list can be politized, and politics have shifted. The Masked Biologist has more about what’s happening with this year’s wolf hunt. Last week was a crazy week. There was a lot going on, and everything felt rushed. In Washington DC, President Trump rushed to finish some things before he left office, and the same day, President Biden rushed to undo

Have you ever stopped and admired an old wooden canoe or an early motorboat on a lake? If you have, you are not alone as the beauty and craftsmanship of these early watercraft captivates many including boat builder Josh Swan who is keeping the tradition alive. Nestled in woods just outside of Ashland, Wisconsin is the Swan and Sons Boat Works . For the last 20 years Josh Swan has been making and restoring wooden boats. Most wooden boat makers get started because of their love for sailing,

The World Bank has offices in more than 130 places and staff from more than 170 countries. Starting more than a decade ago, one of those staff members worked from a wood-paneled office overlooking a small lake outside Mercer. He was among the first telecommuters in Iron County, Wisconsin, a part of the first wave of work-at-home employees whose number has now spiked in the area. Gary Theisen had lived for years in Washington, DC, working at the headquarters of the World Bank and traveling

Cornelius Harrington, a native of Hurley, grew up in the Northwoods and maintained a lifelong dedication to the land he loved. Before his career could take off, his forestry skills made him invaluable to the U.S. Army in World War I. Before getting there, however, Harrington survived a harrowing shipwreck. Cornelius Harrington, who was known around the state as Neal, was born in 1891 in the town of Hurley. He entered college in 1909 and finished in 1913 with a degree in forestry from the

Have you thought about your funeral plans and their impact on the environment? It is not a pleasant topic, but it is one the Masked Biologist thinks deserves some extra thought, as he shares in this week’s Wildlife Matters. There were times in my life when I would worry, I suppose somewhat oddly, about where everyone is supposed to be buried. I even remember thinking at one point, “Where does it end? How much land can we afford to make into cemeteries?” Everything else seems like it can change

The cabin sits on U.S. Highway 8 between Crandon and Laona. When Johnnie Aschenbrenner was growing up, it was his home. Despite being on a major highway, there were no power lines until 1962, so the family used generators for electricity. Nowadays, the cabin has an updated yet rustic feel, and Aschenbrenner rents it out as part of his small resort on Wabikon Lake. It’s literally connected to the tiny bar Aschenbrenner also owns. All told, resort guests can expect a pretty modern experience,

Today no one really thinks about air mail as anything particularly unique. In the past, however, the railroads transported most interstate mail in the U.S. To receive a letter with a special air mail envelope and stamp meant that it was either important enough for the sender to pay extra for the postage, or that it came from overseas. The United States Post Office Department, which is today the U.S. Postal Service, began experimenting with air mail delivery as early as 1911. In 1918 the Post