Campsite Closed for Bald Eagle Nesting Reopened In Voyageurs National Park

One of the park’s campsites (N62 Sexton Island) that was affected by temporary closures in May to protect bald eagle nesting pairs is now reopened for public use. The site is now available to be reserved at recreation.gov. The other sites that were closed for Bald Eagle nesting in May remain closed. The closed sites are:

K3 Camel Back Island, Kabetogama K11 Happy Landing, Kabetogama N11 Hamilton Island, Namakan Lake R45 Skipper Rock Houseboat Site, Rainy Lake

VNP natural resource managers follow the conservation management actions of the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Management Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668c, 1940 as amended). Each year since 1992, the park has temporarily closed the land and water areas around active bald eagle nests to visitor use during their critical nesting periods.

www.nps.gov

Bald Eagle Nesting Areas Protected In Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park biologists conducted aerial surveys to determine the number and location of bald eagle nesting pairs present in the park. A second occupancy survey will be conducted in mid-May to check on the status of occupied breeding territories and search for late incubating pairs. The park follows the recommended conservation management actions of the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Management Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668c, 1940 as amended). Each year since 1992, the park has temporarily closed the land and water areas around active bald eagle nests to visitor use during their critical nesting periods. Some eagle pairs nest in late March and early April and others may not initiate nesting until late April or early May.

The closed areas are marked with closure signs and buoys. Specific management recommendations from a two-year research study on the effects of watercraft on bald eagles nesting in Voyageurs National Park are also being applied for the 13th consecutive year.

Park officials are asking both motorized and non-motorized watercraft users to not travel within 200 meters of nests where bald eagles are actively nesting during the closure period (early May through mid-August). Boaters are also encouraged to not stop on the water within the 200 meters near active nesting sites.

The breeding areas around seven (7) of the park’s breeding pairs are temporarily closed to campers and other human activities. After the young leave the nest, these temporarily closed park areas will be reopened for public use.

Seven of the park’s 291 developed day use; camping and houseboat sites are affected by the temporary closures. The closed developed areas are: Kabetogama Lake – Happy Landing Campsite (K-11), Camelback Island Campsite (K-3), Ek Bay Houseboat Site (K-47), and Yoder Island Houseboat Site (K-37); Namakan Lake – Hamilton Bay Campsite (N-11) and Sexton Is. Campsite (N-62); and Rainy Lake – Skipper Rock Houseboat Site (R-45).

If more breeding areas are found with actively nesting pairs that fall within conservation management guidelines after this news release is issued, more park areas may be posted closed.

People play a very important role in protecting nesting eagles and other birds. Individual eagles differ in temperament and tolerance to human and natural activities. Some are easily displaced by human/eagle interactions, whereas others are more accustomed to close interactions with humans. April, May and June are particularly sensitive periods for nesting eagles. Overall, reducing the potential for sustained close human/eagle interactions has been documented to allow greater nesting success of eagles throughout the United States.

www.nps.gov

200 People Help VNPA Celebrate National Parks' Centennial at Surly Brewery

In 2016, the National Park Service celebrates its Centennial anniversary. Voyageurs National Park Association's Centennial Celebration at Surly Brewing's Scheid Hall was an opportunity to celebrate locally during National Park Week, and for guests to learn more about and support Voyageurs.

Over 200 people attended the event on April 18th which included opportunities to interact with park rangers and historical actors (Voyageurs and Kettle Falls Hotel waitresses!), a photo booth, silent auction, and Surly pints and appetizers. Guests had access to Voyageurs National Park's talented natural resource team with interactive opportunities to learn about the aviation program, wildlife research, aquatic biology, native plants and archaeology.

See photos from the event.

“The Centennial is a chance not just to celebrate the past hundred years, but to look to the next hundred," said Voyageurs Centennial Coordinator Doug Lowthian. The National Park Service's Centennial goal is to connect and create the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates.

The highlight of the evening's program was the unveiling of renowned landmark artist Mark Herman’s new Voyageurs print series, the first of its kind to benefit National Parks. These five striking prints showcase the beauty of Voyageurs National Park. Numeric Press will donate 10% of the proceeds from the sales of these prints to Voyageurs National Park Association.

"The room was full of energy. It was exciting to bring together so many people that support our park in so many ways; from park staff and volunteers to visitors and business owners. There were even attendees there who had been involved in the establishment of Voyageurs! We are grateful to our sponsors, guests and National Park Service staff who helped make this event possible. And, we are beyond lucky to have Mark Herman showcase Voyageurs through his art," said Christina Hausman, VNPA executive director.

District 3A Representative Rob Ecklund and staff from both Senator Franken and Klobuchar's offices attended the event, along with National Park Service staff, outdoor enthusiasts, Voyageurs National Park Association's board of directors, business owners from the park's gateway communities, sponsors, and VNPA members.

Voyageurs National Park Association would like to thank Lisa Giebink and Roy Son for donating their time and talents to photograph the event, event sponsors and auction donors, as well as Surly Brewing Co. for donating the event space.

Thank You Centennial Partners & Sponsors!
Arrowhead Lodge and Resort Crane Lake Visitor & Tourism Bureau Gateway General North Country Inn Oveson's Pelican Lake Resort & Inn Pine Tree Cove Resort City of Ranier Woodsport Cottages		International Dental Arts Joe's Sporting Goods Minnesota Wild Morgan's Mercantile Northland Fishing Tackle Numeric Press Thorne Bros. Urban Boatbuilders West Photo

Tourism to Voyageurs National Park Creates Over $18 million In Economic Benefit

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 238,313 visitors to Voyageurs National Park in 2015 spent over $18 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 301 jobs in the local area. “Voyageurs National Park welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Acting Superintendent William Carlson. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides. We also feature the park as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and all that it offers. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service, and it’s a big factor in our local economy as well. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service.  The report shows $16.9 billion of direct spending by 307.2 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 295,000 jobs nationally; 252,000 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $32 billion.

According to the 2015 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (31.1 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.2 percent), gas and oil (11.8 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.8 percent).

To download the report visit go.nps.gov/vse.

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in Minnesota and how the National Park Service works with Minnesota communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/MINNESOTA.

Senate Votes to Make America’s Most Important Conservation and Recreation Program Permanent

Conservation leaders from across the country today celebrated the passage of legislation in the US Senate that would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The provision was included in the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which passed the Senate on a vote of 85-12. Today’s Senate action marks the first vote in history by either the House or the Senate to make the landmark conservation law permanent, meaning that, if the bill is enacted into law, every future generation will continue to enjoy the enduring values and unmatched majesty of our national parks, forests, wilderness, coastlines, mountains, working lands, rivers, historic sites and recreation areas. In addition, the Senate voted decisively against the harmful Lankford amendment that would have placed unnecessary restrictions on land conservation and significantly weakened LWCF’s central conservation mission. The amendment was defeated on a bipartisan vote of 34-63.

LWCF is the only federal program dedicated to the continued conservation of our national, state, and local parks, forests, wildlife areas, and wilderness. From irreplaceable civil war battlefields to key public outdoor recreation access to working forests, this program has long been at the heart of efforts to protect the lands and waters that sustain public recreation, economic vitality, and community character all across America. More than 1,000 conservation organizations from every state in the union have made permanent LWCF reauthorization the centerpiece of a multi-year advocacy campaign.

As the House and Senate work to resolve differences between their two energy bills, the LWCF Coalition, of which Voyageurs National Park Association is a member, will work with Senate and House Campions on both sides of the aisle to ensure that LWCF’s permanent reauthorization is signed into law this year.

About the Land and Water Conservation Fund The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, signed into law on September 3, 1964, established a dedicated and permanent means for the conservation and protection of America’s irreplaceable natural, historic, cultural and outdoor landmarks. LWCF is the only federal program dedicated to the continued conservation of our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, wilderness, civil war battlefields, as well as creating and developing state and local parks. It is rightly characterized as America’s most important conservation program. LWCF does not use any taxpayer dollars – it is funded using a small portion of revenues from offshore oil and gas royalty payments. Outdoor recreation, conservation and historic preservation activities support 9.4 million jobs and contribute more than a trillion dollars annually to the U.S. economy.

Voyageurs Celebrates National Park Week with Special Jr. Ranger Day Event

In celebration of National Park Week and the National Park Service’s 100th Birthday, Voyageurs invites you to participate in an afternoon of free family-friendly activities and earn your Centennial Junior Ranger badge!  Details here.

Voyageurs National Park Seeks Artwork for the 2016 Kids Art Show to celebrate National Park Week

  Children in kindergarten and first grade may create a birthday card in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service. Children in second through sixth grade are invited to participate by creating a drawing and writing a short passage related to this year’s theme:

Find Your Park – Protect Your Park!

National parks are important places that need to be protected and cared for so future generations can enjoy them for the next 100 years. Students are encouraged to draw a picture that illustrates how they can help protect their park and write a short passage to accompany their drawing.

All entries will be on display at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center during National Park Week, April 17-23.

To participate, students can locate the art show template on the park website at www.nps.gov/voya/learn/kidsyouth/kids-art-show.htm. Be sure to include the student’s name, grade, school, and teacher. Artwork can be dropped off at Voyageurs National Park Headquarters, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. Artwork may also be mailed to:

Kids Art Show Voyageurs National Park 360 Highway 11 East International Falls, MN 56649

The deadline to participate in the art show is Thursday, April 14, 2016.

National Park Week is proclaimed each year by the President of the United States to recognize and celebrate our national parks. America’s National Park System contains living examples of some of the best things our nation has to offer—magnificent natural landscapes and places that reflect our heritage.

Another winter has concluded

With the swift onset of warmer weather, snow conditions have quickly deteriorated. All park ice roads are no longer open. All snowmobile, ski, and snowshoe trails are no longer open. The Sphunge-Kab Sledding Hill is not open. All stakes, signs, and warming huts have been removed from trails and lake surfaces. Cross-country skis may no longer be borrowed from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, but snowshoes will be issued as future snow conditions allow.  If travel onto frozen lake surfaces is necessary, use extreme caution. Slush, cracks in the ice, and open water have all been observed.  No more Winter Ice and Trail Conditions Reports will be issued this season.

Voyageurs National Park Cautions Visitors - Unsafe Ice Conditions

Voyageurs National Park staff strongly urges visitors to stay off the ice due to the inconsistent weather that is causing freezing and thawing conditions. These freeze-thaw conditions create an inconsistency in ice thickness and quality making ice travel hazardous and unsafe. Snowshoe and cross country ski loans at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center have stopped for the season.

Voyageurs National Park Winter Ice and Trail Condition Report

All park ice roads are no longer open. All snowmobile, ski, and snowshoe trails are no longer open. The Sphunge-Kab Sledding Hill is not open. With the swift onset of warmer weather, snow conditions have completely deteriorated. All stakes, signs, and warming huts will be removed from trails and lake surfaces by the end of this week. If travel onto frozen lake surfaces is still necessary, use extreme caution. Slush, cracks in the ice, and open water have all been observed.

Cross-country skis may no longer be borrowed from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, but snowshoes will be issued as future snow conditions allow.

Another winter season has concluded. Thanks to all park maintenance staff and gateway community snowmobile clubs, International Voyageurs, Ash River – Kabetogama Snowdrifters, and Voyageur Trail Society, that helped to make it a success.

This is the last Winter Ice and Trail Conditions Report of the season.

Snowmobile Trails International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Not Open Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Not Open Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Not Open Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Not Open Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Not Open East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Not Open

Rainy Lake Ice Road – Not Open

Kab - Ash Ice Road – Not Open

Ski Trails Echo Bay Ski Trail – Not Open Black Bay Ski Trail – Not Open Tilson Connector Trail – Not Open Kab-Ash Trail – Not Open

Snowshoe Trails Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail – Not Open Blind Ash Bay Trail – Not Open Oberholtzer Trail – Not Open Sullivan Bay Trail – Not Open

Snowshoe Hikes Offered at Voyageurs National Park

Gather your family and friends on Saturday afternoons and join a park ranger for guided snowshoe hikes in Voyageurs National Park from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Saturday, February 13, 2016 Saturday, February 20, 2016 Saturday, February 27, 2016 Saturday, March 5, 2016 Saturday, March 12, 2016 Saturday, March 19, 2016

Participants should meet inside the Rainy Lake Visitor Center to start the program. Bring your own snowshoes or borrow a pair free-of-charge from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. No fee or registration is required to attend. Participants may need to car caravan to the hike’s starting location.

Snowshoe hike destinations will depend on wind, weather, and ice road conditions. Call the morning of the snowshoe program, (218) 286-5258, to find out the expected destination. Possible destinations include: the Oberholtzer Trail, the Black Bay Hiking Trail, Rainy Lake City, Bushyhead Island, and other locations off of the Rainy Lake Ice Road.

Afterwards, visitors are invited back to the visitor center to warm up with a cup of cocoa, view exhibits, watch the park film, and look through the Jefferson National Parks Association bookstore.

Learn more: http://www.nps.gov/voya/learn/news/snowshoe-hikes-offered-at-voyageurs-national-park.htm

Mike Ward to Become Superintendent of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

Mike Ward, who has served as the superintendent of Voyageurs National Park for the past seven years, has accepted a new position as superintendent at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis.  Ward has served in the Midwest Region of the National Park Service for his entire 32-year career. Voyageurs National Park Maintenance and Facility Manager William K. Carlson has been named acting superintendent at Voyageurs. In announcing the appointment, Midwest Regional Director Cam Sholly said, "Mike has the right blend of experience to take the helm at the Arch. He has a proven track record of leading complex operations and building strong coalitions with partners and communities.”

"Mike and his family are members of VNPA and he has always gone above and beyond to find ways to make our partnership with the park grow and have greater impact. His collaborative focus has left a great legacy here," commented Christina Hausman, Executive Director of Voyageurs National Park Association.

Ward commented in the International Falls Journal that he counts many highlights while serving as Voyageurs' superintendent.

“The headquarters, additions to ice roads, implementation of the reservation system, work with the International Joint Commission that is culminating, the sewer project, beefing up snowmobile operations, the bike trail, the new tour boat... the list goes on,” he said. “Mostly, I appreciate and am humbled by the partnerships and relationships that were nurtured and created.”

Prior to serving at Voyageurs, Ward spent 16 years in the St. Louis area at Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site as superintendent and facilities manager, and began his career in 1983 at Lincoln Home National Historic Site in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois.

In 2009, Ward received the MWR Director’s Award for Natural Resources as Superintendent of the Year for his work related to air quality at Voyageurs. In 2002, he was a co-recipient of the John Wesley Powell Prize for Preservation from the Society for History in Federal Government.

In 2000, he was a co-recipient of the Cultural Resources 2000 Award from the NPS Director for leading, training, & developing a day labor crew into skilled historic preservation experts who served 27 parks in project support.

He has been married to Betsy Carlson-Ward since 1993 and has a son, Connor who attends the University of Minnesota, and a daughter Libby who just started high school. The Ward family will miss the beauty of the north woods and the wonderful people they have met in Minnesota, but are happy to be returning closer to extended family.

Army Corps of Engineers Funding Moves Voyageurs Sewer Project Forward

Great news for the communities and waters of Voyageurs National Park! The final piece of funding for the Island View Sanitary Sewer Extension Project fell into place on Wednesday when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers committed $4.5 million to complete the project that will prevent untreated wastewater from seeping into Rainy Lake.The Island View effort is estimated at $17 million in total. The project is part of the larger Voyageurs National Park Clean Water Project that additionally includes separate sewage systems on Lake Kabetogama, Ash River and Crane Lake.

The interconnected waterways of Voyageurs National Park provide an unparalleled opportunity to explore the north woods lake country. Unfortunately, those waters are being negatively affected by human impact such as wastewater from existing developments throughout the region. Currently it is estimated that somewhere between 41% and 84% of existing septic systems neighboring Voyageurs are unreliable due in large part to the area's rocky shorelines that prohibit traditional systems from properly filtering wastewater.

The new system will pipe wastewater directly from homes, cabins and resorts into a central treatment plant, much like urban treatment facilities.

A letter co-signed by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Al Franken, and U.S. Reps. Rick Nolan, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Collin Peterson and Tim Walz sent a letter to the corps urging it to support the effort. This federal funding provides the final piece of the puzzle; combined with state and local funds, it will allow construction on the Rainy Lake portion of the Voyageurs National Park Clean Water Project to begin as early as this summer. Work has moved ahead on Crane Lake and is about to begin on Kabetogama.

Acting Superintendent Bill Carlson commented, "The park very much appreciates the great amount of time and effort that the Voyageurs National Park Clean Waters Joint Powers Board has put into this project. It will not only be a benefit to the gateway communities from an economic standpoint, the project will also enhance visitor enjoyment through improved water quality within the park. This has been a rather unique collaboration involving several public and private entities to bring this important project to fruition."

Bemidji Pioneer: "Voyageurs sewage project gets Corps cash: Final $4.5 million will help build Rainy Lake project east of I-Falls"

International Falls Journal: "Federal money moves IV sewer forward"

"National Parks Adventure" IMAX film comes to St. Paul

"National Parks Adventure" opens March 4 at the Science Museum of Minnesota Omnitheater. Get tickets here.

Narrated by Academy Award® winner Robert Redford, “National Parks Adventure” takes audiences on the ultimate off-trail adventure into the nation's awe-inspiring great outdoors and untamed wilderness. Immersive IMAX® 3D cinematography takes viewers soaring over red rock canyons, up craggy mountain peaks and into other-worldly realms found within America’s most legendary outdoor playgrounds. Join world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker, adventure photographer Max Lowe and artist Rachel Pohl as they hike, climb and explore their way across America’s majestic parks – including Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Yosemite, and Arches – in an action-packed celebration that will inspire the adventurer in us all, and highlight how important it is that we protect these treasured landscapes.

Winter in Full Swing at Voyageurs National Park

February 12, 2016 Winter is in full swing at Voyageurs. Get outside and explore your park with a range of winter activities.

Always check the park's website for the most up-to-date winter ice and trail conditions.

Every Saturday February 13 through March 19, park rangers will lead guided snowshoe hikes from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. These 2-hour hikes will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturdays through March 19th and are a perfect way to explore the park with family and friends! Afterwards, you can warm up with complimentary cocoa and explore the visitor center. Bring your own snowshoes or borrow a pair. No reservations or fees required.

All of the park’s snowmobile trails are open and staked as recent weather conditions have laid down enough snow and ice for riders to explore. Now is the perfect time to come and ride some of the most iconic snowmobile trails in the United States.

It's the season of the ice highways at Voyageurs National Park. The ice roads on both Rainy and Kabetogama are open. Recently, the Park Service added a new loop to the Kabetogama Ice Road around Sphunge Island to provide access to the Sphunge Island Sledding Hill.

Did you know Voyageurs National Park has an official sledding hill? The Sphunge Island Sledding Hill is open and accessible from the Kabetogama Lake Ice Road complete with picnic tables and a fire ring. The sledding hill consists of a small hill for younger children and a larger hill for older children and adults. This is the perfect place to spend a sunny winter afternoon with the kids.

The Tilson, Echo and Black Bay Ski Trails are open, packed and tracked and the Kab Ash Trail is open as well!  Trails in Voyageurs and the surrounding area offer cross-country skiers marvelous scenery and solitude. Skis can be borrowed free of charge from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center.

Inaugural Heart of the Continent Science Symposium Will Share Canoe Country Research

A cross-border scientific conference will debut in March in International Falls, Minnesota. The meeting will offer an opportunity for researchers from throughout northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Ontario and from several fields to share their findings with colleagues and the public. The symposium, organized by the Heart of the Continent Partnership, seeks to improve understanding of natural and cultural resources; raise awareness of threats and management challenges; and promote collaboration among scientists, managers, and other stakeholders.

The event will take place over two days after the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum. The evening of Thursday, March 10, there will be a social gathering and poster session. The next day will feature plenary speaker Dr. Erik Beever and several short presentations, about 8-10 minutes each, with time for questions and answers.

Dr. Beever is a research ecologist for the U.S. Geological Society’s Rocky Mountain Research Station in Bozeman, Montana. He will present “Understanding How Ecological Disturbance Influences Biological Diversity in Protected Areas: The Rules Aren’t What They Used to Be!” Beever has worked throughout the western United States investigating how humans and land interact.

People interested in presenting or including a poster should send their contact info, title, 250-word abstract, oral or poster to: HOCPScienceSymposium@gmail.com. The submission deadline is January 18, 2016. For more information, visit the symposium website or Contact Steve Windels (steve_windels@nps.gov; 218-283-6692), Pooja Kanwar (poojaskanwar@fs.fed.us; 218-626-4354), or Chris Stromberg (hocp@heartofthecontinent.org) for more information.

Click here to learn more http://www.heartofthecontinent.org/heart-of-the-continent-science-symposium/

Voyageurs National Park Winter Ice and Trail Conditions Report

Trail crews have been finding adequate ice to mark additional trails this week. The remainder of the green trail from Ash River to Crane, the blue trail on Sandpoint, and the purple trail from Rainy to Kettle are now open and staked. The yellow trail from Ash River to Kettle Falls will not be staked quiet yet due to a couple of beaver ponds that do not have sufficient ice. There is a barricade placed at Kettle for the yellow trail until we open that trail. Trail conditions along the lake surfaces are rough with little to no snow. Several pressure ridges have formed on Kabetogama Lake. These pressure ridges have been marked and are safe to cross at designated crossings along the trail system. There is also a 200-yard section of frozen, yet broken-up ice on the east end of Kabetogama Lake where caution signs have been placed.

Throughout the park, there is slush forming in the bays so please use caution.

This winter season, the most up-to-date information regarding Voyageurs’ ice and trail conditions will be posted each Wednesday to the park’s Facebook page (VoyageursNPS) and on the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/winter-ice-and-trail-conditions.htm.

Future winter ice and trail condition press releases will be issued only during major changes in trail conditions.

IRA Charitable Rollover is back – Permanently

Did you know you can donate to Voyageurs National Park Association through your IRA? IRA owners over 70 ½ again may make direct transfers from their IRAs to qualified charities including Voyageurs National Park Association. Congress and the President late last week enacted tax legislation making the IRA rollover permanent. IRA charitable rollovers – direct transfer of up to $100,000 per year - are tax-free and not included in adjusted gross income. An IRA rollover may fulfill part or all of your required minimum distribution (RMD). The rollover provision is retroactive for all of 2015; any direct transfers made during this year qualify. There is still time for a 2015 transfer – you need to act soon.

Thank you for your generous support!

Monarchs and Milkweed

By Justin Olson How far would you travel for your family? Every September, monarch butterflies begin their arduous journey from the North Woods of Canada and Voyageurs south to over-winter in Mexico. These tenacious insects with a wingspan of only 3 ½ to 4 inches will fly nearly 3000 miles. While the fall journey is undertaken by just a single generation of monarchs, the spring journey is much more involved. It will often take 3 to 5 generations of monarchs to reach the North Woods. Unfortunately, this difficult trip is becoming even more so, due to the loss of milkweed – their sole food source – along their migration corridor.

Mature butterflies will lay eggs in the spring on available milkweed plants, then over a period of 4-5 weeks, these eggs will hatch, caterpillars will grow significantly while eating milkweed, metamorphosis will occur, and the butterfly will continue north. Pesticides have taken a toll on milkweed growth throughout this corridor. This decline of milkweed is directly correlated to the decline of monarchs, nearly 90% over the last couple decades.

Many organizations, communities, and individuals have taken it upon themselves to help stop this decline, by planting milkweed in their own lands and gardens. At Voyageurs, we have seen a resurgence of milkweed in our own Ethno-botanical Garden. In 2013, this garden, dedicated to native plants, had a few milkweed plants successfully grow. This number increased in 2014, and significantly increased this year. And with this growth in milkweed, we have been excited to see an increase in monarch caterpillars and butterflies in our garden.

Sometimes in our travels, we can all use a little bit of help. With the continuing success of native plants in the Ethno-botanical Garden, Voyageurs is doing its best to help the monarch’s annual journey.

How Do Wolves and Beavers Interact in Boreal Ecosystems?

By Steve Windels, PhD, Voyageurs National Park Wildlife Biologist Voyageurs National Park is unique in that our park maintains a very high density of beavers in addition to white-tailed deer and moose that wolves like to prey upon.  Beavers are generally a ‘safer’ food source for wolves than deer or moose which can kick or gore an attacking wolf.

However, beavers have evolved behaviors to protect them from predation by wolves and other predators, such as constructing lodges with underwater entrances.  Given the importance of both wolves and beavers to Voyageurs National Park, how do these two species interact throughout the park and over the course of the year?  How do changes in the abundance of one species affect the other, and consequently affect other parts of the ecosystem like moose or beaver-created wetlands?

Voyageurs National Park staff in cooperation with Northern Michigan University (NMU) initiated a study in 2015 to answer some of these questions.  Tom Gable, a masters student at NMU working on the project, has been logging many hours this summer investigating wolf kill sites and collecting wolf scat as a means to understand wolf diet throughout the season.

Austin Homkes is a volunteer working closely with Tom.  Together they have collected more than 2000 wolf scats this summer - that is a lot of poop!  But the information they glean from these ‘scats’ and other information they get from kill sites will tell us a lot about how wolves hunt beavers, the role of wolves in regulating beaver populations, and the importance of beavers to wolf diet throughout the spring-summer-fall period when beavers are most vulnerable to wolves.  As part of Voyageurs National Park's wolf monitoring program, we plan to continue the work into the future to examine this fascinating and important dynamic.

Watch as a park researcher walks through a wolf-killed beaver site (only small traces of the beaver remain), discussing its significance. To date, 22 wolf-killed beaver sites have been located in the park area.