Letters To The Editor

CRANES RETURN TO REVITALIZED CREEK

These sandhill cranes have returned to revitalized Indian Creek, formerly an unsightly concrete-lined channel, flowing through Fox Point. Their creaky ancient calls are now often heard in this northern Milwaukee County community.

Christel Maass from Fox Point, WI

MEMORIES OF FIELD TRIPS PAST

After reading through the Spring issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources, I decided to submit a few notes of what we did at the school forest many years ago. I am writing from my wheelchair at the nursing home, and I hope you can read what I have written. Old fingers don’t work so good.

The short item that caught me was a note of what (Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin) field trips there would be to explore the great outdoors. We had one trip while at school — a freshwater spring, creek, the Wisconsin River, thick cover, overhead conifers, soil smell and temperature, open fields.

Each group had to make observations and record all ways each stop could be measured or made some impact on the students and any things that might be used by wildlife. We had six thermometers, so we had six groups. Each group had a kitchen knife for soil checks, the thermometer and a clipboard. Discussion and comparison completed the lesson.

Al Curtis from Merrill, WI

A few weeks after writing to us, Al Curtis died in Wausau at the age of 94. His obituary noted he was director of the Merrill School Forest and was a "conservationist, environmentalist and a social activist … (who) enjoyed hunting in Vilas County, fishing in Lake Superior, trapping, camping and traveling.” Thank you, Al, for your many contributions to Wisconsin’s natural resources.

TICK TIP

In response to the article “Summer Safety in the Outdoors” (Summer 2023), I was quite surprised at the advice to dispose of a tick — put it in alcohol or flush it down the toilet. When hiking or camping, who has alcohol on hand to put a tick into or a toilet to flush it down? What an unnecessary waste of water.

A much better way is to stick the tick onto a piece of tape, fold the edges over so it can’t escape and dispose of it in the trash. A roll of tape is easy to add to your pack for environmentally safe disposal.

Margie Novak from Kennan, WI

WINGED BEAUTY

Just wanted to send you this. Zoom in on the wings, magnificent nature.

Robert Hilbert from Madison, WI

HISTORY LESSONS

In the article “Something to Celebrate” (Fall 2023), it states Governor Dodge State Park is named for Henry Dodge, first governor of Wisconsin. Dodge was the first territorial governor. Odd fact was he was also the last territorial governor. Nelson Dewey has the honor of being the first governor of the state of Wisconsin.

I have lived all of my 84 years in Wisconsin, and I love your magazine. I learn something about our state in each issue.

Allen Knop from Madison, WI

Thanks for the email, Allen. Dodge indeed was governor of the Wisconsin Territory on two separate occasions — 1836-41 and 1845-48. He was governor during the period featured in another Fall issue story, “Back to Belmont,” about Wisconsin’s First Capitol site, and also when Wisconsin miners were known as “badgers,” noted in the “All About Bucky” story. So there’s plenty of related history in the Fall issue!

CLARIFICATION

The Richard Bong State Recreation Area, featured in the Fall issue, is in Kenosha County. The mailing address is Kansasville, which includes Racine and Kenosha counties.

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