Popular Ely Bear Researcher Denied Permit
Bear feeding at the North American Bear Center in Ely. Photo by Michael Lore via Flickr. Lynn Rogers, who has studied black bears in northern Minnesota for 46 years, was recently …
Environment/Ecology/Nature
Peculiar Spring Ice-out Recapped
The final 2013 ice out dates have been recorded for the lakes in the Quetico Superior. For many, even those that have reliable records back over 50 years this was a …
Ontario Endangered Species Act Weakened
The Ontario Provincial Cabinet announced May 31st its approval of several exemptions for industry under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). Many environmental organizations are incensed at the this government action. …
Researchers Call for Isle Royale Wolf Management
Three scientists have published an op-ed in the New York Times calling for the National Park Service to not let Isle Royale’s wolf population disappear. There are now so few wolves on the remote Lake …
Longtime Sawbill Resident and Wilderness Advocate Bill Hansen YouTubes Two Lynx
Bill Hansen, whose parents began Sawbill Canoe Outfitters in 1957 and who has built his outfitting business into one of the most respected in the BWCAW, had the pleasure of spotting …
Moose Population Holding Steady in Voyageurs National Park
Photo by Steve Wall via Flickr The moose population in Voyageurs National Park remains steady, according to a Park Service study released Tuesday. Aerial surveys conducted in late February indicate a …
Just How Late Will Ice-out Be?
The stubborn winter of 2013 seems to be baffling scientists and old-timers alike, but just how late will this year’s Quetico-Superior’s ice-out be? Following an extremely early ice-out in 2012 might …
Early Reports on Minnesota Moose Study Inconclusive
The Minnesota moose population has plummeted by 50% in just two years. In an attempt to discover what is causing this dramatic decline, this winter the DNR began an aggressive research …
Northern Forests Threatened by Global “Worming”
In the March 25 Minneapolis Star Tribune, Lee Frelich, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Forest Ecology notes that the lowly earthworm, often thought of as a friend to …
Minnesota Senate Panel Voted Today in Favor of 5-year Moratorium on Wolf Hunts
Although still a long way from suspending the hunt, this vote is seen by the St. Paul Pioneer Press as a victory for the opponents of wolf hunting in Minnesota. On …
The Minnesota Wolf Hunt: A Spiritual Perspective
The most visible opposition to the recently completed new Minnesota wolf hunting season was ecological. How could a animal go from the endangered list to the target of sport hunters in …
Warming Water and Invasive Species Changing the Character of Quetico-Superior Lakes
The Lake Superior summer water temperatures are increasing more rapidly than regional air temperatures. According to an article in the Ely Timberjay, the surface water temperatures of Lake Superior increased approximately …
Minnesota Moose Population Drops by a Third in One Year
According to Saint Cloud Times reporter Glenn Schmitt, MN DNR aerial survey results last month indicate a 35 percent drop in the northeast Minnesota moose population from the previous year and …
EPA Issued Rule to Cut Haze over BWCAW
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park will both get added protection from haze under a new ruling from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to the EPA, …
Boreal Owls Invade After All
Earlier blog post to the contrary, it appears as if the winter of 2012-13 is the year of the Boreal Owl in the Quetico-Superior region. In the last week, there have …
Get the Lead Out
Despite a howling northwest wind and sub-zero temperatures across the Quetico Superior wilderness, many people are dreaming of warmer days and are making their summertime recreational plans. Fishing in the clear …
Boreal Owl Invasion Fails to Meet Expectations
Boreal owls are extremely rare resident birds in Minnesota. The first nesting pair was not recorded until 1978. But every once in awhile, due to the boom and crash cycles of …
Climate Change and the Quetico Superior Wilderness
The St. Paul Pioneer Press warns that climate change will have a serious impact on the Midwest. Because the Quetico-Superior region is at a crossroads of forest communities: the boreal forest …
Russians Plan a Draconian Wolf Hunt
On January 15, 2013, the Russian Siberian republic of Yakutia will begin a war on wolves. Of the estimated 3,500 wolves in the area, the Republic plans to kill 3,000 of …
Texting to Help DNR Study Minnesota Moose
A new study will give researchers a better chance at determining when and where Minnesota moose are dying. The species was selected for added protection by the DNR at the end …