2024 or 2012: Déjà Vu at Devil’s Lake?
I've been thinking about how much 2024 is feeling like the infamous drought year, 2012 so far. But I also know that we humans have a way of connecting dots in ways that are not always factual. So, I decided…
DNR Conducts Comprehensive Fishery Survey at Devil’s Lake
Nets installed at Devil's Lake State Park yesterday are part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fisheries program's comprehensive fishery survey, which takes place every 10 years. These nets primarily target northern pike but will also capture panfish and…
An Early Spring at Devil’s Lake State Park 🌿🌞
As the unusually warm weather continues in our part of Wisconsin, things are changing rapidly at Devil's Lake State Park. The lake's ice has receded, leaving only a small frozen shelf in the more shaded area along the south shore.…
Frozen 2024
The sun rose for the first time this winter over a completely frozen Devil's Lake on Jan 14th, 2024. The temp at dawn was -10 to -12. The first ice fisherman was out on the ice just one day later,…
Rethinking Our Pines
We all know that planting trees benefits our environment...usually. Looking back, Wisconsin was the nation's top timber producer between 1890-1899. By the 1920s, logging had decimated Wisconsin’s seemingly endless forests. Reforestation efforts ramped up in the 1930s and 40s. In…
Still Color… Thanks Oaks!
There’s still color out there thanks to the oaks! Oaks, being the tough trees they are, wait to change colors after most other trees. Rather than the flashy hues of maples, oaks go for the warm reds, browns, and russets…
Beautiful Green?
There’s still quite a bit of green out in the forests right now. In fact, the less healthy the landscape, the more green it is! This is because when Wisconsin’s native plants are dormant or preparing for winter, foreign invaders…
Fall Color Report Sept 21 – 28, 2023
A little color, mostly green. Yep, it's going to be a quick report this week! The first place we see colors changing with Devil's Lake State Park each year is around roads and parking lots. These trees not only get…
Fall Color Report #1 – 2023
It's that time of year again! Going forward into October we will be sharing our fall color observations for Devil's Lake State Park & the Baraboo Hills each Thursday as we've been doing for many years now. While the Wisconsin…