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Letters To The Editor
CARRYING ON THE COMMITMENT
I just finished reading “Inside the DNR” (spring 2024). Organizationally, it has changed substantially since I worked there in the early 1980s, but I suspect the commitment of staff has not changed at all.
Environmental management is more complicated today than it was in my time. The problems are more complex, the laws more convoluted and the public more questioning. As if that weren't enough, the stakes are also higher, with a lot riding on how well these experts can do their jobs.
Fortunately for the people of Wisconsin, their DNR has long been known for its commitment to excellence, and I suspect that is as true today as it was when I worked there (I was a planning analyst). I currently reside in Illinois, but it’s pretty clear where my roots remain.
Jon Grand from Lake Bluff, Illinois
WHOOPING CRANE SIGHTING
We spotted whooping crane 38_17 on Feb. 24 in a farm field with two sandhill cranes. We submitted the picture to savingcranes.org to find out who she was. I just thought you would be interested.
Kathleen Janik from Oconomowoc, WI
Thanks for sharing, Kathleen! It's good to hear about 38_17, a female whooping crane from a 2017 parent-reared cohort, according to the International Crane Foundation, savingcranes.org, where observers can report whooping cranes. Your sighting around Dodge County is consistent with past updates for this bird, part of the Eastern Migratory Population of federally endangered whooping cranes.
WONDERING ABOUT WISH-CYCLING
In the spring magazine, you indicate, “Thicker plastic bags, such as those for dog food and water softener salt, should be thrown in the trash.” I have thought “film”-type plastics, meaning under about 5 mil thickness, are recyclable if they’re pristine clean.
My “wish” is a good video of a bag recycling plant operation that shows exactly how incoming materials are handled and separated, along with a concrete list of acceptable material types and thicknesses. If we as recycling consumers don't have the data and details to understand the why of recycling guidelines, we will continue to be wish-recyclers — we need data and education.
Doug Carlson from Eau Claire, WI
Jennifer Semrau, DNR waste reduction and diversion coordinator, clarifies that some thicker plastic bags may be acceptable at plastic film/bag drop-off locations if labeled as #2 or #4 polyethylene or if the “How to Recycle” label identifies the bags as suitable for “store drop-off.” Not all bags/film are labeled with a resin identification code.
As for concrete recycling instructions, Semrau points to the website dnr.wi.gov/topic/recycling/bags.html for direction but adds, "There's a very long list of nonacceptable bags, too many to list. So, we try to hone in on the acceptable bags. That’s largely because when deciding what to recycle, it is better to miss a potentially recyclable bag than to include a nonacceptable one. If a worker at a plastic bag recycling program sees nonacceptable material, they may throw away the entire 'bag of bags.' This is worse than one acceptable bag not getting recycled.”
EARLY RISER
On March 12, I was on my floating dock in Presque Isle. I noticed a large snapping turtle head sticking out of the open water along shore, coming up through a hole in the submerged ice. It had its eyelids closed and didn’t move in the hour or so I was in the area.
By the next afternoon, there was more open water and the turtle was back. It put its head under water and turned to look at me. The nose came up blowing bubbles. The eyes were open.
It was amazing to see it wake up from winter in the mud. It was also kind of disheartening to see this ritual of spring happening on March 12 in northern Wisconsin.
Keith Bassage from Presque Isle, WI
GOOD VIBES FROM LUCK
I want to compliment you on the winter edition. It’s chock full of stories that are interesting and cover many subjects. I’ve always liked the magazine, but this issue is special. Bravo to all involved!
Mark Peacock from Luck, WI
Write in by sending letters to DNRmagazine@wisconsin.gov or WNR magazine, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.
