The loon is an iconic Northwoods wildlife species, and this time of year it can get into some trouble—sometimes due to human activities. In this episode of Wildlife Matters , the Masked Biologist looks at some of the troubles encountered by loons. I commonly receive calls from concerned boaters, lakeshore residents, and fishermen about seeing a loon with something colorful wrapped around its leg. While it is possible that the loon has a fishing lure stuck to it, it is also possible that it is

History has taught us that we can prepare for the future by examining the past. In this week’s episode of Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist looks back at a full year of episodes, and asks for your feedback. This episode celebrates a special one-year anniversary; I started recording Wildlife Matters for WXPR in September 2016. In my inaugural article, I listed the many amazing natural resource features that make Wisconsin so special; we have a diversity of habitats, which in turn provides

Have you heard the distinctive call of the whip-poor-will? The Masked Biologist takes a closer look at this interesting member of the nightjar family in this episode of Wildlife Matters. Whip-poor-wills are a fixture of Wisconsin bird life. Recognized by their distinctive call, perhaps second only to that of the loon, whip-poor-wills are readily heard but rarely seen in the Northwoods. I remember coming up north to camp in the State Forest and hearing the birds singing in the darkness. I have

In this month's installment of Field Notes Scott Bowe of Kemp Station discusses reclaimed wood, how nothing in Nature goes to waste. A friend of mine has a saying, “Nothing in nature goes to waste.” It’s true. When a branch falls in the forest, fungi go to work consuming its sugars and recycling it back into the forest floor. When a blue gill dies in a lake, it provides a meal for a lucky raccoon or crayfish. As human consumers, we try to do the same by recycling cans, bottles, and paper. But

What’s a buck worth today? In this episode of Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist examines why a dollar bill is referred to as a buck and what a buck was worth when the phrase was coined compared to today. What is the true value of a buck? To some of you, that question may have brought money to mind – maybe the financial value of the American dollar in the stock market or on the global exchange. To others, you may be thinking “well, by the time you add up attractants, camouflage, firearms,

You never know what will trigger a childhood lesson to spring to mind, or when. In this episode of Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist reflects on childhood memories of collecting fish bait with his uncle. When my age was in the single digits, I was fortunate to have a living arrangement that had several relatives living in a row. Our family lived in my great-grandparents’ house. Next to us was my grandparent’s floral, nursery, and truck farm. Next to them lived my grandpa’s two siblings and

Are you somewhat of a locavore? Many Northwoods residents are. In this episode of Wildlife Matters the Masked Biologist points out the benefits of hunting and gathering locally. I spent my formative years living on a small farm in rural Outagamie County, Wisconsin, with my parents and five siblings. We didn’t farm for a living, but we put that farm to use. We rented out the pasture, boarded horses and ponies, and we raised fruits and vegetables. Any unclaimed chicks from the co-op came home with

Today on WXPR, we look at drugs, specifically opioids and other drugs that are the focus of physicians, law enforcement and the public. Locally, several organizations have put an emphasis on public awareness and curbing the use of prescription drugs to deal with patients' medical pain. To understand the opioid situation in the Northwoods, WXPR's Ken Krall has put together a forum with several people who work with patients in various ways. For more information on the HOPE Consortium and the

We all love that feeling we get when we solve a riddle or experience an aha moment that solves a nagging problem. In this month’s BrainWaves, Molly Rose Teuke looks at what makes those insights possible and how to have more of them. Molly Rose Teuke is host of WXPR’s Thursday Midday Classics. She’s also a certified brain-based coach and leadership trainer, and teaches a community education course for Nicolet College, “Getting Your Brain on Your Side.”

We have a lot of natural renewable resources here in the Northwoods—some you may think about, others you may not. In this episode of Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist takes a closer look at one important resource that might be easy to take for granted. When you think of an important renewable natural resource that is spread across the Northwoods, you might first think of timber; we have a lot of forested area. Maybe you think of the wildlife that occupies large blocks of forested habitat,