As the year comes to a close, the Masked Biologist takes a few minutes to ponder the fate of endangered species around the globe and closer to home. It’s that time of year again. Every year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources updates its red list, bringing the threatened and endangered species discussion to light. As stated on their website, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (known more simply as the IUCN) harnesses the

To Scott Williams, most drones are just toys. They can fly high and take photos and video, but can’t do much more. But his drones? As he sees it, they might change the world. “If we could put a flying cell tower [up] there, then we could do computing, we can do whatever right off of this thing,” said Williams. “We need a flying computer. We need this network that we can put anywhere and just let everyone compute off of it.” Williams and his 16-year-old son, Mac, were flying one of the prototype

Few corporate brands are as recognizable as Coca-Cola. The soda has been around for over 130 years, and for much of that time it was bottled right here in the Northwoods. In 1886, when John Pemberton developed the syrup that became Coca-Cola, he did it with the intent of producing a medicinal tonic that would relieve numerous ailments. He quickly discovered that when mixed with carbonated water, it made a refreshing beverage and started selling it as a fountain drink. Pemberton’s health was not

What is a wildlife overpass, or underpass, and does Wisconsin have any? Why or why not? Valid questions, to be certain, and the Masked Biologist has a few answers for us. Recently I saw an article from Smithsonian Magazine about a wildlife overpass in Utah that is getting significant use from a variety of wildlife species much earlier than expected. This is cause for celebration for local wildlife and road authorities in Utah, for certain. It has gotten quite a bit of attention lately because

On a sunny day last week in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Kevin Sundholm picked up a small handful of marble-sized pellets of iron ore from the ground. “Those pellets would go through there and they would get baked,” he said, gesturing at the abandoned foundations of the former Groveland Mine complex near Felch, in Dickinson County. “You can see the remnants up on top of the silos there,” Sundholm said. He knows the lay of the land. He worked here more than 40 years ago. For decades, the complex

Wisconsin’s wolf population has been in the news for the past few months. With efforts to remove wolves from the endangered species list and calls to reinstitute an organized wolf hunt, it seems timely to revisit what originally happened to Wisconsin’s native wolf population.

Rocky the owl made headlines recently with a wild ride into the Big Apple. The Masked Biologist ponders the plight of this owl in this week’s wildlife matters.

If you live in the Northwoods, you know there are still many family-run funeral homes. Funeral home directors, along with the entire funeral industry, have made changes as a result of the pandemic. But small community funeral directors often have an extra burden.

On a recent Saturday, Bill Sherer carefully wrapped fine thread and colorful chenille around a hook. A handful of fly-tying learners watched and copied the move with the materials in their own hands. Sherer has been teaching these classes at his self-proclaimed “throwback, old-fashioned” fly-fishing shop, We Tie It in Boulder Junction, for years. “Here in the Upper Midwest, we have fishing season and we have fly-tying season. It’s a great winter activity,” Sherer said. But for this winter’s

Teenagers playing pranks on the community is an issue that is as old as civilization itself. Every generation has had to deal with it in one way or another. But a prank is little more than a practical joke or a mischievous act. At what point does an innocent prank cross the line to become juvenile delinquency? An incident from Oneida County’s early history shows how easily the line can be crossed. Historian Gary Entz has the story.