Friends of
Schmeeckle Reserve
Vol. 7, Issue 3
Fall 2020
‘Round the Reserve
2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle
friendsofschmeeckle@gmail.com
715-346-4992
Photo courtesy of TK Images, LLC
A successful year for the Friends By Jerry Lineberger Friends Board President As we looked back on the accomplishments of the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve over the past year at our recent annual meeting (on Zoom!), I was amazed. My mind had been focused on the past six months and the events that have so changed our lives. As you have no doubt noticed, trail Jerry usage in the Lineberger Reserve has increased significantly over last year. What you may have forgotten, like I did, is that Sept. 13, 2019 was the grand opening of the Pankowski Friends Amphitheater! We hosted about 500 Friends in a light drizzle (yes, I remember I said it was not rain, according to the radar . . . and that I mistakenly introduced Chancellor Bernie Patterson as See President, Page 3
The first wedding in the Pankowski Friends Amphitheater was celebrated on September 19! Joe and Jb Kotlowski met each other for the first time in Schmeeckle.
Navigating the pandemic By Jim Buchholz Schmeeckle Reserve Director With striking fall colors, bustling trails, and ongoing construction on the trailhead project, Schmeeckle is one of those places where you can go and forget that we are in the middle of a global crisis. Jim Buchholz Yet, like for most entities, COVID-19 continues to challenge the way that we operate and provide services.
The visitor center has been closed to the public since March, which means a major loss of sales from our gift shop and rental fees from our meeting room. Large gatherings like Candlelight Hike Festivals, concerts, and weddings have been cancelled, further reducing revenue. Sadly, some nature centers will not reopen their doors after the pandemic is over. Schmeeckle won’t be one of them, however, thanks to the generous support of our Friends and volunteers! In fact, the pandemic has offered a unique opportunity to reimagine how the natural area will continue to thrive See Director, Page 2
Friends of Schmeeckle Board of Directors president
Jerry Lineberger UWSP, Retired vice president
Ron Zimmerman Schmeeckle Reserve, Retired treasurer
Rick Rothman UWSP, Retired secretary
Barbara Dixson UWSP, Retired student representatives
Will Scheder Natasha Trush Michael Gross UWSP, Retired Bernard Hlavac Sentry Insurance, Retired Jackie Meyers Stevens Point Area YMCA Mike Orella UWSP, Retired Nancy Ross Indiana University, Retired Melissa Ruether Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education Timothy Taschwer TKE Educational Foundation, Retired Chris Thompson Ascension St. Michael’s Hospital Rick Wyman Kickapoo Valley Cheese Co., Retired
Contact Us Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve 2419 North Point Dr. Stevens Point, WI 54481 715-346-4992 friendsofschmeeckle@gmail.com www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle
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The Roy and Margaret Menzel Pavilion, part of the Green Circle Trailhead project, is nearing completion. The towering stone fireplace, native stone columns, glulam beams, and cedar shingle roof will create a unique gathering space for students, community members, and visitors.
Director, From Page 1 in a post-pandemic world. While gathering sizes are still limited, people are coming together in safe, socially distanced ways. The trails have seen a 40 percent increase in use since the pandemic started in March. Our first two weddings, with reduced attendance, have taken place at the Pankowski Friends Amphitheater this fall, and the space is being heavily used by student groups and classes. We are excited to bring back the popular Family Nature Program series with special procedures in place to keep everyone safe. Generous donations from Friends members and grants awarded to the Friends group have allowed us to hire our largest student Ecological Restoration crew ever. You can see their hard work in the piles of brush and dying invasive buckthorn around the lake. Work also continues on restoring oak savanna areas near the visitor center and the Berard Oaks, a partnership
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the university’s Forestry discipline. The pandemic has created numerous opportunities for students and community members to volunteer closer to home. Construction on the Green Circle Trailhead, which includes a beautiful picnic shelter, all-season restroom, and concrete gathering plaza, will be completed by the end of October. This will serve as a prominent gateway to the trails of Schmeeckle, while providing a unique space for community members and visitors to gather. While the pandemic continues to impact our everyday lives, Schmeeckle remains a place where you can escape to nature and leave your worries behind. With Friends like you, we will ensure that the Reserve continues to be a sanctuary for people and nature, regardless of what the world throws at us.
Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve
President, From Page 1 Bernie Sanders). Adam Greuel and Friends provided a soundtrack for the evening that made everyone smile and dance. We hosted a record 5,000 attendees for the fall 2019 Candlelight Hike. This will be our last “mass gathering” until the pandemic is better under control. The Annual Friends Writing, Art and Photography Contest received a record number of entries. I was touched by the passion each winner conveyed when they explained how the Reserve has moved them to create their art. We also were honored by donations from the Ceplina family and Jackie Meyers and Steve Faber, who gifted their land adjacent to the Reserve. The boardwalk through the donated area is now identified as the Neighbors’ Trail. Thank you to both families for your generosity! One of my favorite parts of the week is the collegiality we have each Tuesday morning with the gathering of the volunteer trail crew. Over the last year, the group has worked to clear invasive buckthorn, remove hazardous trees, and clean storm damage on the trails. The firewood generated by this weekly activity is placed in the visitor center parking lot near a donation box, which was donated by Barking Dog Exhibits. We have collected over $700 in the short time the collection box has been installed! New this year was the creation of a Life Membership
Fall 2020
category, at the request of Friends’ members and through the hard work of Board member Tim Taschwer. We have been amazed by the response. Since June, 43 individuals and couples have joined as Life Members. All proceeds go to a Friends endowment fund at the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin for the future benefit of the Friends and the Reserve. In May, construction began on the Green Circle Trailhead Project. This improvement to Schmeeckle Reserve is the result of a partnership between Portage County and UW-Stevens Point. The Friends group is a financial supporter and primary coordinator of the project.
“Why,” I am asked occasionally, “are the Friends doing all these projects?” We believe that the improvements and upgrades supported by the Friends will create a better Reserve for future generations. As a parent and a grandparent, I feel it is important for us to do things for those who come after us, much like planting trees that we will never see grow to maturity. We are blessed to live in a place that allows us the opportunity to be “in” nature. We need space to renew when life is full. Our lives are full. Schmeeckle Reserve is there to help you reflect on what matters most. Thank you for being a Friend.
Jerry Lineberger celebrates the successful felling of a hazard tree around the lake. The volunteer Tuesday Trail Crew has been cleaning up storm damage, removing hazardous trees, and controlling invasive species throughout the Reserve.
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Family Nature Programs have returned this fall UW-Stevens Point students in the capstone environmental interpretation course at Schmeeckle are presenting 10 public programs through midNovember on a variety of topics such as raptors, mushrooms, and spiders. Programs are for all ages. When the series was canceled last spring due to COVID-19, students created videos of their programs instead. “We’re pleased to bring this series back this fall in a safe way,” said Megan Espe, Schmeeckle outreach coordinator and instructor for the capstone course. “The students are excited to have the opportunity to develop and share their programs with Schmeeckle visitors.” All programs are held outside on the Schmeeckle trails. Registration is required, and attendance is limited to 25 people. Masks are required. E-mail schmeeckle@uwsp.edu to register for the programs. Programs are also being recorded and shared on the Schmeeckle Reserve YouTube page. Visit youtube.com/SchmeeckleReserve to view the videos.
UWSP student Regina Lobner presents her “Birds Fly South” program on Oct. 6.
In addition to the Family Nature Program series, students will be creating short Nature Notes videos on a variety of topics through mid-December. Those also will be shared on YouTube.
Fall 2020 Family Nature Program Schedule All programs start at the Pankowski Friends Amphitheater near the Schmeeckle visitor center, unless otherwise noted. Space is limited. To register for a program, please e-mail schmeeckle@uwsp.edu
Finding Fungi with this Fun-guy Wednesday, Oct. 21, 5-6 p.m. You may not like to eat them, but you may love to look at them! Explore Schmeeckle to find a variety of mushrooms from Fragile Gilled to coral-like. They’re here just waiting to be found and admired. Underwater Wonders* Saturday, Oct. 24, 3-4 p.m. Mayflies and scuds and snails, oh my! Get your hands wet and explore aquatic invertebrates within Schmeeckle and what makes them so important to our ecosystem. *Meet at the John Joanis Memorial near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Maria Drive. 4
Into the Arachnid-Verse Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5-6 p.m.
Preparing for Winter Saturday, Nov. 7, 3-4 p.m.
With their eight creepy-crawly legs, spiders strike fear in many of us. Are they out to get us, or do we misjudge them? Explore the world of Schmeeckle’s spiders and find out whether they can be your friend or your foe.
As we slip on our coats and crank up the heat, Schmeeckle’s critters are burrowing underground and changing their fur color. Explore how wildlife are stashing food and slowing down to survive our harshest season.
The Competitive Hunter Game Show Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-5 p.m. Bring your talons as we dig in to see if owls or hawks are the strongest raptors. As we compete in eyesight, hearing, stealth, and speed activities, we’ll put to the test who is truly the ruler of the raptor world. Halloween costumes optional but encouraged!
The Cold-Blooded Lifeblood of Schmeeckle Saturday, Nov. 14, 3:30-4:30 p.m. In springtime, Schmeeckle buzzes, hops, and slithers with life. But where do frogs, turtles, and salamanders go as winter draws near? Explore the special talents that help them survive the winter and how they tell us our environment is healthy.
Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve
‘Herping’ yields fun discoveries Hello, Friends of Schmeeckle! My name is Cooper Thompson and I want to tell you about some of Schmeeckle’s lesser known inhabitants . . . herps! What are herps you ask? Well, “herps” is a broad term for reptiles and amphibians. With COVID, my family and I have been spending a lot more time outdoors, and Schmeeckle is one of our favorite places to go. A hobby that we have picked up is searching the nooks and crannies of the forest for these interesting creatures (called “herping” by some). When we find something interesting, my parents take pictures, and then we let the animals go on their way. My parents also say it’s important to put any disturbed logs and rocks back exactly where they were; they are the animals’ homes after all.
My brother and I have been keeping a list of all the herps we have found this year in Schmeeckle. So, if you are walking through and enjoying Schmeeckle, keep your eyes and ears open for some of its smallest and least seen creatures. Amphibians: • Blue-spotted Salamander • Spring Peeper • Green Frog • Wood Frog • American Toad • Gray Tree Frog Reptiles: • Painted Turtle • Garter Snake • Red-bellied Snake
Cooper shows off a red-bellied snake, above, and a blue-spotted salamander, below, that he found in Schmeeckle.
Cooper is the son of Chris and Kaila Thompson, members of the Friends for 7 years. Chris has also been a Friends board member for the past 3 years.
Friends celebrate 7th year at annual appreciation event The Friends group held its 7th annual Member Appreciation Celebration on Sept. 29 via Zoom. More than 50 members gathered to celebrate the past year’s accomplishments, hold a business meeting, recognize volunteers, and hear guest speaker Ron Zimmerman share his inspirational recollections of being the first director of the Reserve. Friends volunteers were recognized for their generous service, including: • Trail Crew: Bill Fisher, Mike Gross, Jerry Lineberger, Benjy Longworth, Tom Mihm, Mike Orella, Rick Rothman, Anthony (Jim) Smith, Gary Speckmann, Dick Steffensen, Ron Zimmerman • Native Gardens: Kim Fisher, Jill Trochlell Ziehr • Bird Viewing Area: Chris Thompson • Gift Shop: Sunshine Buchholz • Friends Trailblazer Award: Nisha Fernando Friends board members were also elected. Board members Jackie Meyers, Nancy Ross, and Chris Thompson were re-elected for three-year terms. Rick Fall 2020
Wyman was newly elected for a three-year term. Will Scheder and Natasha Trush were elected for one-year terms each as UWSP student representatives. Board member Ron Zimmerman was elected for a two-year term as vice president. Board Treasurer Rick Rothman provided a financial report on the organization’s standing. Highlights include: • Current balance is $91,083 for general Schmeeckle Friends projects, $7,044 in the amphitheater account, and $168,162 for the Trailhead Project. • Total revenue this year was $103,866 compared with $91,130 at this time last year. • Life membership revenue was $52,100, all invested in the Friends Endowment fund at the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin. The endowment total is $69,860. If you missed the annual celebration, watch it online at youtube.com/SchmeeckleReserve. 5
Thank you to our new and continuing Friends! New Members: Scott Adamski Suhyoon Bae Tom and Sue Baldischwiler Kathy Celer Joseph and Leslie DeBauche Susan DeMuth Tom and Patty Dreier Connor Duffy Christin and Andrew Komassa Michael LeClair and Janet Smith Charles A. Long Greg and April Miller Connie R. Page Mark Patrick Dennis Peissig John and Kathleen Schmidt Rich and Carolyn Sommer Tony Zblewski Bill Zimdars Renewing Members: Barb Alm Margaret Bau Sue and Paul Bergh Santha Bickford Victoria Billings Samantha and David Birkenkamp Kathryn Buatti Judy Cable Anderson Erin Cherkauer Joseph R. Clark Randy and Patricia Cray Timothy Decker Jim and Barb DeWeerd Catherine Dugan David and Lynn Eckholm Alan Engebretson Suzanne Fee Susan Foote-Martin Becca, Edith and Aloysius Franzen and Troy Rickert Linda Froehlich Nicole Garrity Gurdon Hamilton Christopher, Gretchen, Henryk and Greyson Hamp 6
Gregg and Kathy Hansel Milo Harpstead Kent and Mary Heaverlo Bernard and Mitzi Hlavac William and Julie Hlavac Sarah and Brad Hughes Gerry and Maureen Janz Joyce and Pete Kasson George and Sonja Kung Sue Kwarciany Brenda Lackey and Cathy Scheder Janet Langton Megan Lineberger Ralph and Marcia Locher Dan and Donna Marx Dieter Marx Eric Marx Paul and Sandi Mroz Meryl Nelson Dan and Ann Newhouse Elise and Tom Olk Sandra Orgish Paul and Becky Otto Nancy Page Joe Passineau Jack and Cynny Porter Ralph and Sharon Reniewicki Jan Roberts Jan Ronchetto
July 22-Oct. 20, 2020 Brenda Ryther Mike and Becky Schmidt Tom and Lynda Schrader Barbara Sellhausen Dorothy Semple Donna Smith Marti and Greg Sowka Sybil Strupp Kirby Throckmorton Maria and Casey Trader Betty Trainer Fran Vollrath Dustin and Mariah Wolf Kurt Zimdars Special Donors: Bernard and Mitzi Hlavac, for Friends gift memberships Jerry Lineberger, for Friends gift memberships Dan and Donna Marx, for Friends gift memberships Mike and Linda Orella, Friends donation Rich and Carolyn Sommer, Friends donation Heath Stoltz and Jennifer KiefferStoltz, Friends donation
A special thank you to the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society and Adelle & Kevin Spaay for their generous annual donations of bird feed. It takes a lot of seed and suet to keep our hungry birds (and squirrels!) fed throughout the year. Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve
Thank you to our founding Life Members! Beginning in May, the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve now offers a special Life Membership option. The donation is invested in the Friends Endowment Fund held at the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin. The fund earns interest in perpetuity to benefit the Friends and the Reserve. We have been humbled by the incredible response to this campaign, and we encourage you to consider joining others who have made this enduring commitment.
Through Oct. 20, 2020 In addition to all of the Friends of regular membership benefits, Schmeeckle a Life Membership is always Reserve current, with no annual renewal. Life Member names will be listed on a recognition plaque in the visitor center. Life Members also receive a welcome gift basket with travel mug, keychain, notebook, magnet, and tote bag. To become a Life Member, visit uwsp.edu/schmeeckle and click on “Friends.”
LIFE MEMBER
Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Life Members Jerry Lineberger Jerry Kasdorf and Myung Sun Jung Timothy Taschwer Dave and Karen Henneghan Bob and Mary Mosier Jack Hurrish and Joan Karlen Kay Wohlbier Tony Anday Chris Schmelling Dallas and Edith Pankowski Meg Erler Michael and Patricia Dombeck Nancy Ross James and Nancy LaMar Rick and Sarah Wilke Steve and Sue Bergin Jackie DeKay John and Dori Jury Marjorie “Jan” Lutz Richard and Lois Wetzel
Kendra Liddicoat and Brian Barringer Nisha Fernando Ron and Donna Zimmerman Michael and Beverly Gross Janet Langton Rich and Carolyn Sommer Marti and Greg Sowka Betty Trainer Santha Bickford Dan and Donna Marx Ralph and Marcia Locher Connie R. Page Mitzi and Bernie Hlavac William and Julie Hlavac Sarah and Brad Hughes Susan Foote-Martin Jack and Cynny Porter Margaret Bau George and Sonja Kung
Protecting and enhancing Schmeeckle Reserve for future generations...
Fall 2020
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Forest restoration project continues to evolve Research Update By Barbara Dixson Friends Newsletter Editor Many of us vividly remember the storm of June 12, 2017. It took down hundreds of trees around the southwest corner of Schmeeckle’s Lake Joanis. Clearing fallen trees looked like an infinite project, so Schmeeckle Director Jim Dr. Mike Buchholz Demchik consulted with UWSP forestry professor Mike Demchik and former Treehaven ecologist Kevin Burns to develop the Lake Forest Habitat Restoration project. The project aims to restore the southwest corner of Lake Joanis to beauty and vitality, to serve as a demonstration for forest restoration, to offer opportunities for student learning, and to welcome the community into the process. It’s a long-range plan, as forest restoration projects must necessarily be, and thus the first couple of years, Demchik explained, are the “ugly phase.” Many visitors had questions when the formerly wooded site was cleared. Now, though, three years in, it’s easy to appreciate the open beauty of trees, plants, and winding trail, and to anticipate the more complex foliage to follow. The plan is to have a combination of trees, grasses, and wildflowers, Demchik said. Cottonwoods, a number of which 8
Mike Demchik (right) leads a group of his students in planting native grass seed and tree seedlings in the Lake Forest Restoration Area in 2018.
survived the storm, will go in the center. These trees drop limbs in a wind, but they’ll be fine away from the trails. Nearer the trails, white pines and spruces are doing well. Grasses, including native grasses like Canada bluejoint, have sprung up since the canopy disappeared and are thriving. Forbs like blue flag iris and American burnweed have returned even in open areas, lovely spots of summer color. Schmeeckle’s deer are charming and abundant, which makes them a challenge to young trees and plants. Thus within the restoration an area measuring 100 by 100 feet is enclosed in an 8-foot deer exclosure fence, and inside grow some of the plants most susceptible to becoming deer dinner, such as white cedar, aspens, and a variety of wildflowers. Invasive species like buckthorn and Canada thistle also challenge the young plants; these are sprayed. Students have been involved in the restoration from the beginning.
When the trees were cut, Demchik and Burns led students in a lumbermilling activity, the sort of handson experience needed to ground textbook information about forestry and prepare students for their postUWSP lives. On the day before a 33-inch snowstorm, students planted trees and seeded native grasses in the area—the trees thrived, despite being hidden under snow heaps. Students have planted, mulched, put up cages around trees in open areas, and done ongoing maintenance, getting a thorough grounding in applied forestry skills. And the community has stayed involved too, as when Rotary members and Portage County employees planted 28 trees in the deer exclosure. Schmeeckle Reserve is “an amazing resource” for student learning, Demchik said, and a key reason that UWSP “is the ideal university for forestry.”
Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve
Contest seeks Schmeeckle-inspired art, photos, writing Schmeeckle visitors who have been inspired to take photos, create art, or write about the natural area are invited to submit their work for the 7th annual Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Writing, Art, and Photo Contest. This year the Friends are adding a new category to continue building community while we all must be socially distant: rock art! The Friends host the contest to raise awareness of the Reserve and the Friends group, which supports the natural area. Entries are due December 11, 2020, with a virtual reception in January 2021 to celebrate and recognize winners and other entries. All entries will be displayed on the
Schmeeckle website. Submissions must be accompanied by a 75–100 word statement describing how the entry was inspired by time spent in Schmeeckle Reserve. All ages are welcome to participate. For the full entry guidelines and submission form, contact the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve at friendsofschmeeckle@gmail.com.
Friends Endowment gifts eligible for tax incentives By Michael Gross Friends Advancement Committee Chair Friends President Jerry Lineberger and Reserve Director Jim Buchholz document the importance of the Reserve to the Stevens Point and UWSP communities in this challenging year. Unfortunately, funding for Mike Gross the Reserve has declined dramatically, threatening management and programming. The Friends have stepped up in many ways to bridge this shortfall, thanks to your memberships and contributions. Fall 2020
The Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Endowment Fund will provide a reliable and perpetual source of income. All of the proceeds from Life Memberships grow the fund, and since May, 42 individual and joint Life Members have made this commitment. If you have the inclination and ability to make a significant contribution to the Friends Endowment, this is the year to do it. With careful planning in conjunction with your tax professional, unique tax savings abound in 2020 thanks to the Cares Act. Here are two opportunities for this year only: • If you take the standard deduction on your income tax return, you can donate up to $300 (for individual filers) or $600 (for joint filers) to a
qualified charity, such as the Friends Endowment Fund. This provides you with an “above the line” deduction for the donation in 2020. Because the deduction is not itemized, your donation directly reduces your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), and the full standard deduction is still available to you. • If you itemize deductions, the Cares Act allows you to deduct up to 100% of your AGI. Theoretically, you could contribute equal to your AGI and have zero income tax liability. Your contributions will help protect and enhance this unique community natural area for generations to come.
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Sharing Schmeeckle with the next generation Hello, Friends of Schmeeckle! Everyone should have a special place they can go that is just for them. Maybe it’s a book store. Maybe it’s a special vacation spot. Maybe it’s the corner of your backyard. For me and my family, it’s Schmeeckle Reserve. No matter the time that’s passed (thanks, COVID-19), our special place is Schmeeckle Reserve. As a Stevens Point native, I grew up coming to Schmeeckle. A special day as a kid would consist of going to feed the ducks in Lake Joanis, walking the trails, and then heading to the A&W stand for a frosted mug of root beer. As I got older we’d ride the Green Circle with friends, and then head to Wooden Chair. I recall the bumps riding over the boardwalks, and the sweet, earthy smell of the pines as we tried to make our “best time yet.” My mom had a special vision for a gathering spot in Schmeeckle when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. We’d walk what was Moses Creek when it was just a razed bed of mud. Maybe one day there would be grasses and deer there. A swing perhaps. Maybe. One day. Fast forward to 2020. Every time we’re home, and it’s still home, we come to Schmeeckle Reserve. My son’s first sled ride was on the trails of Schmeeckle “Why I Love the Reserve” is a regular feature in the Friends newsletter. If you would like to be interviewed for this feature, please contact Barbara Dixson at barbaradixson@gmail.com 10
Samantha Lineberger Birkenkamp (right) and her mother, Susan Lineberger, who passed away in 2011.
his grandkids value time together, in 2012. We visit the Moses Creek community space, and nature at overlook several times a year. My Schmeeckle. It’s not mine to pass kids swing on “Grandma Suzi’s down, though. It’s ours. All of ours swing.” They pick the best rocks to pass down. and sticks they can find. They Enjoy your memories with toss them in the creek. In spring your family at Schmeeckle. Pass they see how many “peeper” them down to your kids, to your frogs they can spot. In years past grandkids. They won’t forget them. they’ve sat in the game warden’s old-time pickup truck at the visitor They’ll treasure them. Schmeeckle is truly a gift that you’ll come back center. They’ve chosen T-shirts to for the rest of your life. proclaiming they “pee in the woods” (boy mom here) from the Samantha Lineberger Birkenkamp has gift shop. They’ve found and rebeen a Friends member for 7 years. hidden painted rocks and met old She is the daughter of Jerry Lineberger, family friends at the beautiful new president of the Friends group. amphitheater. I love coming to Schmeeckle. As a mom, I feel as if I’m passing something down to my boys. Something my parents took the time to pass to me. Something my mom had the foresight to pass to her grandchildren she didn’t get the chance to meet. And my dad, Samantha’s sons, Milo and Isaac, at the Moses “Geepa,” is working Creek overlook, funded by the Lineberger family. really hard to make sure Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve
Hi Friends, it’s me, Walden, the Schmeeckle Kids Ambassador. This is the first article I ever wrote and researched by myself (usually my Mom does the writing for me). We see lots of squirrels when hiking at Schmeeckle, and I wanted to tell you about them! There are more than 200 species of squirrels in the entire world. All squirrels are mammals, which means they have hair, are warm blooded, and have live babies (don’t lay eggs). Squirrels have a great sense of smell. Through their sense of smell, squirrels can detect which nuts have been invaded by insects. They eat those nuts but do not hide them. There are two species of squirrels that you will likely see at Schmeeckle. The best place to see them are at the bird feeders behind the visitor center. They love to eat the bird seed (which doesn’t make the birds very happy!). Eastern Gray Squirrels • Diet: Omnivore (they eat plants and meat, just like me) • Size: 18 to 21 inches • Weight: 1 to 1.75 pounds • Habitat: Hardwood forests Eastern gray squirrels help plant trees in the forest. They hide more food than they eat, and the extra seeds grow into trees. They eat nuts, acorns, seeds, fruits, Fall 2020
Don’t try this at home, kids! Walden gets up close and personal with an eastern gray squirrel at Schmeeckle.
bulbs, flowers, and farm crops. Something interesting is they also eat frogs, insects, and bird eggs. They can live up to 12 years (that’s older than me!). Gray squirrels aren’t always just gray either. They can have different colored fur, just like people have different colored hair. You might see a “gray” squirrel with black or even blonde fur!
that’s why they are called a “red squirrel.” I hope you learned some interesting things about the two most common types of squirrels found at Schmeeckle. Here’s a challenge for you – try to find at least two of each kind of squirrel next time you visit Schmeeckle.
Red Squirrels • Diet: Omnivore • Size: 11 to 14 inches • Weight: 0.4 to 0.6 pounds • Habitat: Pine forests Red squirrels are much smaller than gray squirrels, but they are feisty! They will often chatter at you if you get close. They eat seeds, bark, nuts, fruits, mushrooms, and pine seeds. They also sometimes eat baby birds, insects, mice, and rabbits. WAIT, HOLY COW, THEY EAT RABBITS? Yep, rabbits. Red Squirrels have a red coat. I guess
A red squirrel eats seeds out of a “squirrel-proof” feeder in Schmeeckle’s bird viewing area. 11
Parting View: Fall colors over the Cattail Marsh boardwalk The fall colors were particularly vivid this season in Schmeeckle, especially around the edges of wetlands. Trail use in Schmeeckle has increased by nearly 40 percent since the beginning of the pandemic. Save a stamp (and printing costs)! Switch to our e-newsletter format by contacting us at schmeeckle@uwsp.edu 2419 North Point Drive Stevens Point, WI 54481
Schmeeckle Reserve Friends of