WNR magazine NEWS & REVIEWS October 2019

October masthead

News & Reviews

October 2019

fall color

Color it an awesome autumn 

Fall color is here! As the bright hues of autumn move from north to south in the state, some of the best places for viewing can be discovered at Wisconsin’s state parks, trails, forests and recreation areas. Find a state property near you at wiparks.net. The Department of Tourism’s Fall Color Report keeps track of the best leaf-peeping. The color report includes the status for areas around the state, with percentage of fall colors showing and a prediction for peak weeks. Check dnr.wi.gov, keywords “fall colors” for details.

outdoor fun

Outdoor activities
fill fall calendar

Plenty of outdoor activities are planned for October, including fall festivals, trail runs, color viewing, candlelight hikes, wildlife education, Halloween happenings and a whole lot more! Check dnr.wi.gov, keywords “get outdoors,” for a complete and searchable fall calendar. Admission fees may apply and a vehicle sticker is required for entry to most state properties.

Two popular annual autumn events are:

* MacKenzie Center Fall Festival: Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain date Oct. 6), at the nature center in Poynette. Sponsored by Friends of MacKenzie, it includes wildlife tours, a hay maze, gunny sack races, wagon rides and more.

* Horicon Marsh Archaeological Festival: Oct. 12 and 13 at 10 a.m. (ends 5 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday), at the Education and Visitor Center in Horicon. The DNR and Friends of Horicon Marsh organize this event that includes a buck skinners encampment, blacksmith demonstrations, Native American traditions and other educational activities.

bumble bee

Half a million gift for pollinators

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, WisConservation.org, recently received a $500,000 donation to support conservation efforts for native pollinators. The anonymous gift creates a Wisconsin Pollinator Protection Fund to aid native bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles and birds that perform vital pollinator functions. Pollinator numbers have declined due to loss of habitat, disease and other factors. The new fund will support research and monitoring, habitat work and other pollinator conservation efforts. The donors also will match, up to $10,000, additional donations to the fund in upcoming months. Contact the NRF for details.
David Clutter

NRF names new exec director

In other news from the Natural Resources Foundation, the organization has a new executive director, David Clutter, who replaces Ruth Oppedahl. Clutter brings a wealth of experience, including previous work with the NRF as director of WisConservation Corps and Lands programs. Most recently, he was executive director of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy. The nonprofit NRF works to support conservation efforts in the state through public-private partnerships, fundraising, grant programs and other efforts. Highlights of the NRF’s popular field trip program are featured in Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine each spring.

** Fish hatchery open houses ** 

Get a behind-the-scenes look at DNR fisheries activity during fish hatchery open houses! Dates are Oct. 5 at the Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility in Kewaunee, and Oct. 12 at the Root River Steelhead Facility in Racine; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for both. Click here for all the details.

Snapshot 2

Snapshot session planned at Mead

If the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine story about Snapshot Wisconsin in the Fall issue piqued your interest, you may want to check out an Oct. 14 event at the Mead Wildlife Area telling how you can get involved. This growing trail camera program is all about capturing and identifying animal images to help with wildlife management around the state. DNR research scientist Christine Anhalt-Depies, volunteer coordinator for Snapshot Wisconsin, will lead the one-hour session starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Mead Education and Visitor Center in Milladore.
Millers

Latest podcast:
Meet the Millers!

DNR retirees Ed and Sandy Miller are experts on Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, leading tours at the historic spot in Peninsula State Park. They appear in the Fall issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources and now are featured in a new podcast, part of the DNR’s Wild Wisconsin: Off the Record series. Tune in to hear their fun tales of Eagle Bluff Lighthouse!
AIS words

Waterfowl hunters can help fight AIS

Waterfowl hunters are on the marsh, and the DNR and other partners are asking hunters to pitch in to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. Just a few minutes of preventive action can protect Wisconsin's hunting traditions for years to come. Click here to read more about this outreach effort, or check dnr.wi.gov, keywords “AIS efforts.”

deer hunt

Youth deer hunt
this weekend

The 2019 Youth Gun Deer Hunt is Oct. 5-6. Hunters age 15 and under may participate, with an adult 18 and over either accompanying or mentoring them in the hunt. Check here (PDF) for complete youth hunt regulations. For more about mentoring a youth hunt, see dnr.wi.gov, keywords “mentored hunting.”