Readers Write

Fall 2020

Fall 2020

ADD ANOTHER 10 YEARS

A little blurb under “Dateline DNR” on Page 5 of the Summer issue acknowledges Interstate as the Wisconsin Park System’s oldest at 110, but then goes on to say it was established in 1900, which was 120 years ago. If 1900 is correct, then it is the oldest. But I have a T-shirt from Peninsula’s centennial, 1909-2009, which makes it 111 years old.

Kathy Kieper
Mercer

Indeed, our math was off. Interstate was established in 1900, making it 120 years old and Wisconsin’s oldest state park. Land to create Peninsula was purchased in 1909. Good catch, Kathy. Sorry for the confusion — and the poor arithmetic!

MOTHER HEN AND HER POULT

Friends of ours who subscribe to your magazine encouraged me to subscribe as well and submit some photos I took for your consideration. I have attached images of a wild turkey hen who was in our field along with one of her poults. Thank you!

Kim Robel
Cameron

ROWDY DINNER COMPANIONS

I captured these photos of American white pelicans enjoying the spring walleye run on the Fox River in De Pere. Their fishing methods are fascinating. However, they’re not exactly into helping each other or sharing. They take cheap shots to steal from one another. I thought your readers might enjoy seeing them. Pass the tartar sauce.

Adam Jackson
De Pere

WITNESS TO A WATERSNAKE LUNCH

I was recently back home in Wisconsin visiting family and went fishing at Port Andrew on the Wisconsin River near Blue River. I was able to snap a picture of this snake and his lunch. We are subscribers to Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine and thought this would be a great picture for your publication.

Tim Degenhardt
San Diego

DNR conservation biologist Rori Paloski replies: “Thank you for submitting the photo! The snake is a non-venomous common watersnake (formerly called the northern watersnake). As their name implies, they can be found near a variety of water sources including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and even Great Lakes shorelines. Although fish and amphibians make up the majority of their diet, you definitely have to be in the right place at the right time to witness a watersnake actually catching and eating a fish!”

EARTH DAY CONNECTIONS

I grew up in Madison and learned the term eutrophication in junior high. As a high school freshman, I remember the first Earth Day celebration. 1970 was a heady year as in May, anti-war protesters came to high school protesting the American invasion of Cambodia, and in August, UW’s Sterling Hall was blown up by anti-war protesters.

A friend of the family and a mentor of mine was Bud Jordahl. He was considered the primary man behind the scenes for Sen. Nelson, who created Earth Day. Many noted conservationists have connections to Wisconsin such as John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Ding Darling and Warren Knowles. I was blessed to have such an upbringing.

Dean Farr
Crystal Lake, Illinois

OWL UPDATE

So very thrilled to see that my story, along with photos, was published in the Summer issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine (“Your Outdoors”) — thank you so much! I am sharing one with my daughter and sending one to my parents, who live in an independent living facility, quarantined. I’m sure they will enjoy the entire issue.

The owls are still here but nested somewhere outside my property this spring. They have two young ones and are on the night shift already. I hear them call for food, many times at dusk and into the night. … Kind regards.

Lisa Vandervest
Mequon

PHOTOGRAPHY OUTINGS ARE 'PRETTY AWESOME' FOR MOM, TEEN SON

My son and I have been out honing our photography skills since “safer at home” took place in our state. My son, Keegan Knudsen, is 17 years old and has had a tough time not being in school or hanging out with his friends. With our love of nature, we took this time to explore the trails and state parks in our area.

Keegan is a natural at photography and locating wildlife. He has photographed a raccoon, indigo bunting, yellow warbler, red squirrel and barred owls, while I took photos of a deer with newborns and barred owls, including an owlet.

We have had a lot of fun searching and photographing nature together. This has been pretty awesome hanging out with him during this time and a wonderful bond we will continue to share.

Heather Landers
Kaukauna

EAGLE LANDS AT HALF MOON LAKE

I’ve been trying to keep an eye on the birds of prey around Half Moon Lake (Polk County) after a tornado last year. I wasn’t sure if their nests had been damaged and if they’d come back to roost again. Sure enough, they’re back — including this juvenile. I was able to catch it perching on a branch and making a less-than-graceful departure.

Leo Balestri
Milltown

AMERICAN BITTERN IN THE WILD

I wanted to share a photo I took of an American bittern. This is the first time I have seen one in the wild. I took the photo on May 24 near the Sandhill Wildlife Area in Wood County. We were on our way to the refuge area to view the swans that hang out there. Earlier that day, we saw a pair of swans within the wildlife area that had six cygnets with them — I was surprised to see that many cygnets with one pair.

Daniel Morzewski
Wisconsin Rapids

FROG FITS FOR SURE

I snapped this photo of a gray treefrog warming itself up on the roadway at Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls. I moved him to a nearby rock out of traffic. Not sure if it would fit in with your Readers Write section or not.

Sean Kitchell
Stanley

In fact, it fits in perfectly — thanks for sharing!

WATCHING WAXWINGS

My husband, Jim, captured photos of cedar waxwings at Regner Park in West Bend and Ziegler Park in Mayville. Here’s a favorite. We enjoy walking and bird watching at the local parks. We also enjoy sharing our joy!

Bonnie Halper
Kewaskum

GEESE GET THE SPOTLIGHT

Here is a photo I took at Sobieski Flowage in Rusk County. I would really love to get it into your magazine!

Haven Pearison
Hawkins

Wish granted!

BONDING OVER RECYCLING, RESOURCES

My father-in-law, Tim, is a longtime subscriber to WNR and recently got me a year-long subscription to the magazine. Since I first met my husband and began bonding with his family, my father-and-law and I have bonded over our mutual appreciation of Mother Nature.

One of his first gifts to me was a backyard composter. On Saturday mornings when he would take all of the recycling to the center in town, I would ask endless questions about what could and couldn’t be recycled, and Tim would describe the intricacies of the process to me. When he came back, we would birdwatch from the kitchen window and he would tally any new species in his bird book.

I wanted to share that as a Wisconsin transplant and longtime lover of the outdoors myself, I really have enjoyed your publications. Thanks for connecting readers to our state’s amazing natural resources and each other!

Emily Schuler
Milwaukee

The timing of Emily’s letter couldn’t have been better, coming just as magazine editors were planning content for this issue celebrating anniversaries of Wisconsin’s recycling and e-cycling laws. Check out the coverage found in the Fall issue here.