Local Features

Have you seen a deer lately that isn’t pretty? It is probably just dealing with life, as the Masked Biologist shares in this week’s Wildlife Matters.

Many geographic regions, towns, and counties in the Northwoods have interesting name origins, but few are as intriguing as Langlade County. Historian Gary Entz has the story.

For this month’s Field Notes, Susan Knight of UW-Madison’s Trout Lake Station shares three stories about strange lakes from around the world.

Social deviance describes an action or behavior that violates societal norms. Deviant behavior that violates established codes of conduct often lands the offender in trouble, as happened with one Northwoods transient. Historian Gary Entz has the story.

There may be few images that inspire thoughts of strength, courage, and independence more than that of the majestic bald eagle soaring in the blue sky. In this episode of Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist takes a look at our country’s national emblem.

Scouting is an important part of many young peoples’ lives. The Northwoods is a natural setting for learning the ethical and environmental lessons scouting teaches, but there is a nautical branch of scouting that had early roots in the Northwoods. Historian Gary Entz has the story.

During the first week of June, a boat sprayed chemicals into the waters of Anvil Lake in Vilas County for the first time. It was applying an herbicide called 2,4D, targeting Eurasian watermilfoil, an aquatic invasive species whose presence in the lake has grown and grown. The decision to use chemicals in treating the problem was difficult and often controversial for lake leaders. But it’s a decision more and more lake groups in the Northwoods are forced to consider as invasive species spread. In

Rabbit breeding season starts in early spring and continues through the summer. Lots of bunnies start showing up on lawns and gardens at this time of year. Some Northwoods residents look at them as pests, but others see opportunity. Historian Gary Entz has the story:

Businesses large and small have had to make major adjustments during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the region’s largest employers, Merrill-based Church Mutual, sent almost all of its employees to work from home in March. Church Mutual is the nation's largest insurer of religious organizations. Now, the company has targeted Sep. 8 to allow some employees to start returning to their offices. WE talked with Church Mutual President and CEO Rich Poirier about managing a big company during a global

The Masked Biologist saw a firefly recently, and it “sparked” an idea that turned into this week’s episode of Wildlife Matters.