Bogs and Beavers

This class will take place on May 30, 1-3p.m. with Susan Knight at the Trout Lake Station, and on June 6, 1-3p.m. with Jenna Malinowski at the Mercer Community Center, with a field trip. By signing up for this class, you register for both sessions!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The June 6 session of this class has been rescheduled to June 20, 1:00-3:00p.m., at the Mercer Library.

Bogs: Gems of the Northwoods

with Susan Knight

Northern Wisconsin bogs are peatlands typical of many wetlands around the world at high northern latitudes. We find these bogs throughout the Northwoods, and they are easy to spot on a topographic map of the area. They tend to be wet, cold, acidic, low in oxygen and nutrient-poor. Because of all these conditions, they share a unique flora, including several carnivorous plants, orchids and other unusual plants not found in many northern Wisconsin habitats. Also because of all these conditions, decomposition of dead organic matter is very slow, and they accumulate and store a tremendous amount of carbon. This is critically important to limiting the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. For those willing to get their feet wet, they are fun to visit and are remarkably free of mosquitoes.

Beaver Management in Wisconsin: Past, Present and Future

with Jenna Malinowski

Jenna Malinowski is a wildlife biologist who sits on the Furbearer Advisory Committee, Beaver Task Force, and is active in the Wisconsin Trappers Association. Jenna will spend an hour presenting on beaver biology, history, ecological impacts, population status, economic considerations, habitat management and beaver damage management currently outlined in the Wisconsin DNR Beaver Management Plan. She will discuss current research on the relationship between beavers and cold stream management, trapping research, and techniques for managing nuisance beaver. The presentation will be followed by a field trip to an active beaver lodge and beautiful wetland created by our beloved ecosystem engineers.

Instructors: Susan Knight and Jenna Malinowski

Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.

Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 892-3982 or (715) 476-2881.

Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.