Wildlife Matters

Tamarack trees, like many of us, could live anywhere in Wisconsin but prefer the Northwoods.

Recently a listener from Harshaw submitted this question to our Curious North series: What's up with the tamarack trees? They seem to be dying. Is it the rising water levels, or something else?

In today’s Wildlife Matters the Masked Biologist sheds some light on what might be causing tamarack tree mortality.

This week’s Wildlife Matters springs from a Curious North question.

Kaye Jaeger from the town of Crescent asks: We love the loons on our lake. We also love the eagle that flies over regularly. Is there anything we can do to prevent the eagle from eating the baby loons?

To respond to Kaye's question, the Masked Biologist contemplates the interactions of two charismatic Northwoods wildlife species: bald eagles and loons.

Since March, we've been getting questions in as part of our Curious North series.

Jaron Childs from Tomahawk recently asked: What signs can we look for to help assess the health of a lake, river, or forest in northern Wisconsin?

The Masked Biologist answers his question for this week's Wildlife Matters.

What follows is a very brief answer to a very complex question about how to evaluate habitat health.

The Masked Biologist dedicates today’s Wildlife Matters to all the mothers out there, human and animal.

You probably polluted a water body today—we all did.

In today’s Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist takes a look at pharmaceuticals and personal care products and their detrimental impacts.

Spring is a busy time of year for Wisconsin’s wildlife.

Here is the Masked Biologist with a few springtime wildlife tips for this week’s Wildlife Matters.

Did you know that Earth Day has its roots in Wisconsin?

The Masked Biologist takes a glimpse back at the origins and early years after the original Earth Day in this week’s Wildlife Matters.

Happy Earth Day! How familiar are you with the establishment and early years of Earth Day? I thought perhaps I would share some insight from someone who knew it far better than I, earth day founder and Senator from Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson, in his own words.

Black bears are easily one of our most intriguing wildlife species up here.

A few weeks back an anonymous listener from the Rhinelander area submitted a question to our Curious North series: What time of year do bears come out of hibernation?

In this week's episode of Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist answers that question and more, as he discusses some of what is going on in the life of a bear as it emerges from winter.

As our state loses numbers of hunters, it also loses the license revenue that funds wildlife management. This is the topic the Masked Biologist tackles in this week’s Wildlife Matters.

Sometimes politics and natural resources can come together for the good of all people.

In this week’s Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist reflects on the life and legacy of John Dingell.

When you think of the benefits of living up north, do you include tall trees and clear water? The Masked Biologist does, and that is the topic of this week’s Wildlife Matters.

We all had to spring forward recently, a move that extends the afternoon daylight.

In this week’s Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist examines the impact of photoperiods on living things including us.

Is it time for Wisconsin to take drastic measures to attempt to get a handle on chronic wasting disease?

Our commentator the Masked Biologist examines a proposal called “Payment for Positives” in this week's Wildlife Matters.

UPDATE: After this commentary was recorded, we were notified that Josephine Mandamin passed away on February 22nd, 2019, at the age of 77.

Have you heard of the water walkers? Neither had the Masked Biologist, as he shares in this week’s Wildlife Matters.

Depending on how you look at it, maybe groundhog day has come and gone, and maybe it hasn’t.

In this week's episode of Wildlife Matters, the Masked Biologist takes a peek into the den of the groundhog.