Bear Named Hope Confirmed Dead
The black bear known to a devoted Internet following as Hope has been confirmed dead, shot by a bear hunter near Ely, MN as had been speculated.
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Well-Known Bear Missing Near Ely
A yearling bear whose birth in the wild in 2010 was broadcast via web-cam on the Internet may have been killed by a hunter recently near Ely.
Forest Service Explains Early Fire Strategy
With the Pagami Creek Fire currently 30% contained, Forest Service officials took time to explain why they let the lightening-caused fire burn prior to the day it blazed across 80,000 acres of forest in a matter of hours.
Pagami Creek Fire 23% Contained
The Pagami Creek Fire that has burned more than 93,000 acres of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and adjacent forest is now 23% contained according fire officials.
Weather Keeps BWCAW Fire From Growing
Wet weather in northeastern Minnesota over the weekend helped firefighters in their battle with the Pagami Creek fire which raced across the Boundary Waters last week and continues to threaten the area.
As BWCAW Fire Slows, Recriminations Flare
After a second day in which weather conditions allowed a growing team of firefighters to hold ground against the fire burning in the Boundary Waters, frustration over the Forest Service’s initial response to the blaze has flared.
Weather Slows Advance of BWCAW Fire
Cooler weather on Wednesday that included rain and even some snow showers helped slow the advance of the Pagami Creek fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness which has consumed more than 100,000 acres of forest.
BWCAW Fire Largest in Minnesota Since 1918
The Pagami Creek Fire, which has so far consumed some 100,000 acres of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness forest, is the largest forest fire in Minnesota since 1918.
Pagami Creek Fire Nearly Quadruples in Size
Fanned by gusty northwest winds, the Pagami Creek Fire nearly quadrupled in size yesterday, charring Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness forest from Lakes One and Two in the north to just north of Clearwater Lake in the south.
Pagami Creek Fire in BWCAW Expands
The Pagami Creek fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has expanded to consume more than 4,000 acres of forest, prompting closures of some areas of the BWCAW near Ely.
Quetico Named a Top World Destination
Quetico Provincial Park was named one of the world’s top-10 boating destinations by the travel guide publisher Lonely Planet.
Burning Used to Reduce Fire Danger
Superior National Forest officials are using intentional burns to reduce the danger posed by a small, lightening ignited fire near Lake One and Lake Two in the Boundary Waters east of Ely, Minnesota.
State Mineral Lease Sale Delayed Again
A council of top Minnesota government officials has again delayed the sale of a set of northeastern Minnesota mineral exploration leases on properties where the state holds the mineral rights but private individuals own the surface land.
Moose Researchers Issue Dire Warning
Researchers have issued a dire warning that moose could be largely absent from northeastern Minnesota after 2020 without stronger measures to address problems facing the iconic animal.
Wildfire Grows in Boundary Waters
A lightning-caused wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that smoldered for a week has grown to 130 acres and is now being closely monitored by U.S. Forest Service officials.
MN DNR Concerned by Aggressive Bears
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging caution over recent incidents of aggressive or threatening behavior by black bears in the Ely area.
Wolf Commnet Period Re-Opened
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is re-opening the comment period on its proposal to remove endangered species protection from gray wolves in the western Great Lakes states.
Ballast Treatment Strategy Advances
A technique to kill invasive aquatic species found in the ballast water of Great Lakes ships made its real-world debut on a vessel traveling from Gary, Indiana to Duluth, Minnesota recently.
Oil Spill Impact on Loons, Pelicans Studied
A major, mutli-year study to determine the impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Minnesota’s loon and pelican populations is underway, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced yesterday.
Moose Also Struggling in Canada
Moose populations on the Canadian side of the Quetico-Superior region’s international boundary are also showing long-term declines according to aerial surveys by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.