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 …
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A Lingering Haze Over the Boundary Waters
Haze Over Voyageurs National Park. Photo courtesy MPR.org The clear skies of the Boundary Waters are sometimes compromised by haze. The Environmental Protection Agency is concerned that Taconite mines on the …
2013 Poll Indicates Public Opposition to Sulfide Mining Exceeds Support
48% of Minnesotans polled oppose sulfide mining in northeast Minnesota while 39% favor it. Results of the January, 2013 poll, sponsored by Minnesota Environmental Partnership, were the first to demonstrate that …
Local Musher Wins Beargrease
Nathan Schroeder from Chisholm, MN won the nearly 400 mile sled dog marathon which started Sunday, March 10, and ended Wednesday, March 13. This is the second John Beargrease victory for …
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 …
Finnish Musher Wins WolfTrack Classic
The Duluth News Tribune reports that Musher Jennifer Freking of Finland won Sunday’s 10-dog, 60-mile WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race from Ely to Cook, MN. It was the 5th annual running …
20,000 Plan to Attend Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin
March 8-10 are the dates for one of the world’s biggest paddlesport shows, Rutabaga’s Canoecopia. Hundreds of vendors and dozens of presenters converge on the Alliant Energy Center and for three …
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, …
Obama Writes Letter for Ely Time Capsule
How’s this for a little Friday fun: A time capsule being buried in Ely, MN will include a note from President Obama expressing his hope that balance can be struck between …
No More Minnesota Moose Hunt, For Now
Moose hunting in Minnesota has been canceled indefinitely. The decision comes after the state’s moose population has dropped by more than half since 2010, and 35 percent since last year. …
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 …
Reminder: Summer BWCAW Permits Available Starting Today
Reservations for all entry points can be made on a first-come, first-served basis starting today. Reservations can be made online www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. With over 1,500 miles of canoe routes, nearly 2,200 …
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 …
The Heart Of the Continent Partnership Meets February 8-9 in Duluth
The next quarterly meeting of the Heart Of the Continent Partnership will be held February 7-8, 2013 at the Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, MN. The Heart of the Continent Partnership …
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 …
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Postponed
Lack of snow has forced organizers of the John Beargrease Sled Dog marathon to postpone the event. The event has been rescheduled for March 10. The combination of scant snowfalls this …