Bat surveys help Quetico assess population of insect-eaters and prepare for disease
Research in Canadian canoe country wilderness seeks to understand species that call it home and may be threatened by deadly fungus.
Parks & Regions
Quetico-Superior waterways are part of prestigious Canadian river system
More than 150 miles of lakes and rivers along the Ontario-Minnesota border are included in Canada’s program for celebrating and protecting its most precious rivers.
Forest Service finalizes plans to cut and burn 17,000 acres near the Echo Trail
Superior National Forest officials recently concluded the lengthy development of a plan to manage significant swaths of public land near and in the Boundary Waters.
New recreation facilities coming to southeastern Voyageurs National Park
Mukooda Lake project will upgrade campsites, create a new hiking trail, develop a day use picnic area, and expand dock capacity for visitors.
Wolves in Voyageurs National Park to be featured in PBS program
Footage of a wolf den recorded by scientists studying the animals in northern Minnesota’s National Park is included in a special episode of PBS Nature.
Birdhouses will help researchers study boreal bird challenges
Study will start in earnest this spring as scientists plan to put transmitters on chickadee chicks and watch where they go.
Living Relicts – The North Shore’s Intriguing Disjunct Flora
The north shore of Minnesota is home to several rare plant species that are usually found much further north or in high altitudes and are separated from their normal ranges. These wildflowers, mosses and lichens are living ‘relicts’ of the past…
Prehistoric copper mines and long human history earns Isle Royale national historic designation
Designated the entire chain of islands recognizes thousands of years of indigenous connections and creates opportunity to tell new stories.
Watch: Forest Service releases new videos for Boundary Waters visitors
Replacing the previous video that was required viewing for permit-holders, a new series of three short videos is updated in strategy, style, and content.
Scientific symposium will share international research from across the Heart of the Continent region
Duluth event will feature presentations from scientists studying a broad range of topics in northern Minnesota and Ontario.
Boundary Waters permit reservation system reopens in wake of earlier failure
After crashing on its first day at the end of January, the system that lets people plan wilderness trips re-launched successfully, though a key Congressman is seeking to force the Forest Service to bring back the lottery for motorized trips.
Researchers will track Isle Royale moose movements for first time in decades
Advanced tracking collars will give scientists an intimate look at the animals’ lives on the wild Lake Superior island.
Less ice cover on Lake Superior could reduce key fish species
Ripple effect of climate change may make it harder for cisco to reproduce and survive, causing problems for lake trout and other species that depend on the cold-water fish.
“The BWCA is at stake” says former supervisor of Superior National Forest
“We must stop the political do-over on the Twin Metals mine. Experience shows that pollution is probable. It may be catastrophic.”
New BWCAW permit system fails on first day, reservations remain unavailable
The web site used to reserve Boundary Waters permits apparently could not handle the traffic of eager wilderness users seeking to reserve permits for this year’s quota season.
Quetico creativity: Park seeks artists for wilderness residency program
Deadline is March 31 to apply to live and work in the Ontario wilderness park at a rustic studio or travel by canoe.
Camping in Quetico-Superior country this winter?
The hardy souls that winter camp in the Boundary Waters and Quetico need to be as conscious of wilderness rules as their summer counterparts. Their reward: the freedom to explore corners of the wilderness that are inaccessible in any other season…
How do wolves hunt beavers?
How do you catch a semi-aquatic rodent that spends very little time on land? Turns out, with patience and a lot of waiting. Researchers use GPS-collars to reveal a predator-prey relationship…
Canada considers request to name Quetico lake after wilderness scientist and advocate
Anyone with knowledge of a small lake in Quetico is invited to offer input on proposal to rename it after Miron “Bud” Heinselman, who advanced scientific knowledge of the boreal forest and pushed for its protection.
Teenagers invited to enter wilderness essay contest for a chance to win a “no parents” Boundary Waters trip
An essay contest for high school students seeks to encourage outdoor experiences and promote paddling to a new generation.