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A young bear looks down from a high perch in an aspen tree.
Bear registrations drop sharply, as anticipated
REGIONAL—Fewer bear hunters are reporting success this year as abundant wild food sources appear to have given the advantage to the bears. As of Sept. 13, hunter registrations statewide … more
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Paddle, picnic, and play on National Public Lands Day
VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK— National Public Lands Day is set for Saturday, Sept. 24, and the Voyageurs Conservancy has organized a number of family-friendly outdoor activities to mark the … more
A female belted kingfisher sits on a birch snag in a beaver pond. Note the rusty-orange coloration on portions of the bird’s breast. In the vast majority of bird species, it is the male that is more colorful, but the belted kingfisher is a notable exception. The females are also equally noisy and nearly as aggressive in defending their territory as males.
Kingfisher, noisemaker
No one would ever call a belted kingfisher shy. Their piercing rattle-like call is among the loudest of any bird in North America and it’s commonly heard here in the North Country, particularly … more
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Thick rice lined both sides of the Vermilion River last Sunday. A good crop on the river is largely an exception as the crop in most places is poor.
Rice crop generally poor in most parts of the region
REGIONAL— The quest for wild rice has been more challenging this year than most, but ricers have found a very harvestable crop along the Vermilion River, north of the Gold Mine Camp. As … more
Six Ely area students had the chance to canoe in the Boundary Waters recently, thanks to a grant from the Friends of the Boundary Waters.
Ely students experience the wilderness in their backyard
THE BOUNDARY WATERS— While all kids who grow up in Ely live on the edge of America’s most popular wilderness area, it doesn’t mean they all get to experience the wilderness … more
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The undersides of a nice haul of golden chanterelles.
A fungi fantasy
Here in the North Country, a wet summer typically means two things: happy frogs and happy fungi. Since I don’t eat frogs, it’s the fungi that have been getting most of my attention. And … more
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Wild rice crop running behind schedule
REGIONAL— The wild rice season has officially been open for nearly three weeks, but the rice harvest has been slowed by the later-than-usual ripening of the wild grain. While the season opens … more
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Trumpeter swans have become a common sight in Minnesota thanks to a very successful reintroduction program beginning in the 1980s.
It appears drought impacted most waterfowl populations
REGIONAL— Last year’s extreme drought across much of northern Minnesota appears to have impacted waterfowl populations heading into this summer’s breeding season. Based on spring … more
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Bill Rom with his latest Explorer’s Club flag in recognition of his recent trip down the Winisk River in northern Ontario, which he completed in July.
Adventure’s in his DNA
REGIONAL— Bill Rom was sporting a bushy gray beard recently when we sat down to talk on the deck of his Burntside Lake summer residence. It was a sign that his sense of adventure had gotten the … more
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A mother bear and her cub rest in the morning sun. This year’s abundant berry crop should limit the take of female bears.
Advantage goes to bears as season opens Sept. 1
REGIONAL— What a difference a year makes. Last year in late August, area guides were eagerly awaiting the Sept. 1 start of the bear hunting season. With the region then in extreme drought, … more
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Deer lottery application deadline set for Sept. 8
REGIONAL— If you’re hoping to snag one of the few antlerless tags being offered in northern St. Louis County for this fall’s regular firearms deer seasons, you’ll need to … more
A DNR crew member operates the recently-purchased air boat on Big Rice Lake. Cutting blades that hang out the back below the water line, slice off the leaf stems of the pickerel weed, setting the stage for a possible recovery of wild rice.
Big hopes for Big Rice
BIG RICE LAKE— For much of this summer, the roar of an airboat engine has regularly broken the sounds of nature that normally dominate the shores of this remarkable lake, tucked away in the … more
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Drillers installing a new well at The Rock.
A short history of water on The Rock
You would think that when you live on an island and are surrounded by water that there couldn’t possibly ever be a problem with, well, water. Only here’s the rub. It’s all in the … more
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New federal law will invest in public and private forests
REGIONAL— With President Biden’s signing of the Inflation Reduction Act on Tuesday, the media has focused much of its attention on the big ticket items in the bill. Those include … more
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Fishing guide Matt Snyder with a 54-inch musky he caught on Vermilion nearly ten years ago. He’s concerned about changes he’s seen in the number and behavior of muskies on the lake.
Different perspectives on Vermilion’s musky outlook
LAKE VERMILION— It’s been good times for musky anglers here this summer, but could trouble be on the horizon? Matt Snyder, a longtime fishing guide who specializes in Lake Vermilion … more
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Ruffed grouse numbers may be up this fall, even though the population is supposed to be in the declining phase of its ten-year cycle.
Outlook for fall grouse harvest appears promising
REGIONAL— The region’s ruffed grouse population is in the declining phase of its roughly ten-year cycle. But someone forgot to tell the grouse. For over 70 years, the cyclical ups and … more
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Zebra mussels confirmed in the Embarrass Mine Pit
REGIONAL— The presence of zebra mussels has been confirmed in the Embarrass Mine Pit, near Aurora, by the Department of Natural Resources. A U.S. Forest Service employee contacted the DNR after … more
Mark Haarman with a buckthorn sprout he dug out, roots and all.
Battling buckthorn
REGIONAL— Mark Haarman is a man with a mission. For years, Haarman, who lives near Ely, has been waging war against an invasive shrub that has the potential to fundamentally reshape the forests … more
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A view of the Milky Way looking north on Namakan Lake.
Voyageurs to host three-day stargazing event
REGIONAL— The National Park Service and the Voyageurs Conservancy are celebrating the natural wonder of Voyageurs National Park’s night skies with the park’s second annual summer … more
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County board delays action on dispersed camping rules
REGIONAL- County commissioners recently delayed acting on proposed rules regulating dispersed camping in St. Louis County’s state tax-forfeited properties and county-owned lands, asking for … more
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Brrett Vetterkind, of Somerset, Wis. hoists a 51-1/2 inch musky he caught late last week on Lake Vermilion.
Monsters of the reef
LAKE VERMILION— For years, musky were known as “the fish of 10,000 casts,” but that no longer applies, at least on Lake Vermilion when the musky action heats up.Just ask Scott … more
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A DNR x-ray reveals the lead sinker (see pointer) that killed this loon.
Is a state ban the only way to get the lead out?
When we think about the changes we can make to lessen our impact on the environment, tossing our lead-based fishing tackle and making the switch to non-lead alternatives would seem to be well up on … more
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Harvest trimmings and kitchen waste can go right back into the garden, where it contributes to better soil.
Compost the easy way—directly in the garden
Don’t toss those imperfect lettuce leaves, onion tops and strawberry tops into the trash. Instead, convert them into compost right in the garden. Worm and pile composting are great ways to … more
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It appears that the area is experiencing one of the best blueberry crops in the past few years. Last year’s drought prompted many plants to kick seed production into overdrive and that means this year’s berry crop is looking plentiful.
Berry Bonanza
After back-to-back berry busts, it appears the summer of 2022 is headed for a berry bonanza, and that’s good news for bears and berry pickers alike. Credit last year’s drought. Just as … more
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Vermilion loon count shows decline in adults
LAKE VERMILION— Volunteers here recorded a total of 193 loons during the annual loon count, a hefty decline over last year’s numbers and the lowest overall count in several years. This … more
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