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Category: Nature

  • DCMGA Begins Garden Education Series

    The Door County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA, dcmga.org) will hold its 2020 garden education series at Crossroads at Big Creek on Tuesdays at 7 pm starting Feb. 11. All are invited to attend these free programs and enjoy treats provided by DCMGA volunteers. The program topics are “What’s New for 2020” by Kori Zawojski, owner […]

  • 30th Annual Candlelight Ski/Hike/Snowshoe Event at Newport

    Thirty years ago, Newport State Park initiated Door County’s candlelight-ski tradition. This year it will hold its 30th annual candlelight ski/hike/snowshoe event Feb. 8, 5:30-8:30 pm, when a portion of the trail will come alive by candlelight, guiding skiers, hikers and snowshoers into a glowing, magical winter wonderland. Park staff and Newport Wilderness Society volunteers […]

  • Wild Wisconsin Podcast Features Bald Eagles

    The Wild Wisconsin: Off the Record podcast is back – wherever you get your podcasts – with new inside voices on Wisconsin’s outdoors. The latest episode, “Call It a Comeback: Bald Eagles Soaring in Wisconsin,” explores the miraculous comeback of bald eagles in Wisconsin and across the country. Wild Wisconsin host Katie Grant talked to Rich Staffen, […]

  • Winter Seed Sowing Class

    The Door County Seed Library will offer – and Jennifer Davis will present – a Successful Winter Seed Sowing class Jan. 18, 10-11 am, at the Sturgeon Bay Library. Davis has been happily practicing winter sowing techniques since 2010 and will share how to get started on this simple and addicting gardening method. No registration is necessary […]

  • Enjoy Hikes and Ski for Free at Crossroads

    Enjoy the crisp, winter air during a forest habitat hike at Crossroads at Big Creek’s Ida Bay Preserve on Jan. 17, 3:30 pm. Learn about the preserve’s woodland habitats during a gentle, hour-long walk through the winter forest. Meet at the Zenith Street entrance, and dress for the conditions. Ski for Free will continue Jan. […]

  • Something for Everyone at Upcoming Sport Shows

    Sport-show season is about to kick off, providing an excellent opportunity for those who love the outdoors to stoke their passions indoors for a few hours. Two shows get underway in the area next week: the All-Canada Show Jan. 16-19 at the Oneida Radisson Conference Center in Ashwaubenon, and the WBAY Boat Show Jan. 17-19 […]

  • Winter Hiking Advice (for People Who Don’t Go Winter Hiking)

    I thought it would be a good idea to do a winter hike during a big snowfall. I imagined it would be quiet, sparkling, mesmerizing. And it was quiet – but also dark and gray and creepy. The first mistake I made was not planning ahead. I had intended to do a snowy hike after […]

  • Ski for Free, Hike at Crossroads

    Crossroads at Big Creek’s 2020 educational theme is habitats, so throughout the year, Crossroads will offer programs featuring the habitats of its three preserves and Door County. Head to Crossroads on Jan. 11, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm; and Jan. 12, 1-3:30 pm, for Ski for Free, when Crossroads and Door County Silent Sports lend, free […]

  • 2020 Fish Tales Lecture Series

    Four invited speakers will present the science of Great Lakes fisheries during the 2020 Fish Tales Lecture Series at the Collins Learning Center at Crossroads at Big Creek. The monthly lecture series will address the latest science on the impact of invasive species on Lake Michigan fisheries and movement of favorite game fish in Green […]

  • Hiding Out: Bears and Wolves on the Door Peninsula (Yes, they’re here, but they’re rarely spotted)

    Somewhere in the woods of Door County, or deep in a swamp, a black bear is foraging for food right now. Fortunately for most of us, it’s unlikely we’ll ever run into it.  “Wolves and bears are scared of people – very secretive,” said Mike Neal, a conservation warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. […]

  • Season’s First Ice Offers Limited Fishing Opportunities

    It’s still too early for offshore exploration, but cold December air has allowed cautious anglers some early ice-fishing opportunities.  Door and Kewaunee County lakes have been attracting walk-on attention from those seeking panfish and other species. Clark and Kangaroo offer bonus pike and walleye, and Krohn’s near Algoma has stocked trout. All offer largemouth bass. […]

  • Ski for Free, Solstice Campfire at Crossroads

    Join Crossroads at Big Creek and researcher-in-residence Emily Rux for an archaeological workshop Dec. 20, 2 pm. Rux will conduct an open lab so participants can clean and sort the artifacts unearthed at The Cove and Ida Bay Preserve (or just watch). No experience is necessary. Meet in the lower level of the Collins Learning […]

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    DNR Listens to Anglers, Boosts Salmon Stocking

    Anglers hungry for more salmon, steelhead and brown trout got an early Christmas present last week when the DNR announced it would significantly increase stocking levels. The agency’s new three-year plan shoots for 1.2 million chinook salmon stocked annually starting in 2020. This is up 50 percent from the more than 800,000 stocked annually since […]

  • Natural Christmas Ridges

    Natural Christmas Event at Ridges Sanctuary

    The Ridges Sanctuary (RidgesSanctuary.org) in Baileys Harbor will once again hold its annual Natural Christmas event Dec. 14, 3-6 pm. Spend a few hours this holiday season surrounded by the natural beauty of The Ridges Sanctuary. Stroll down the softly lit Hidden Brook Boardwalk, enjoy an outdoor campfire, and music in the beautifully decorated Kaye […]

  • Christmas Bird Count on December 14

    Crossroads at Big Creek will again participate in the Sturgeon Bay portion of the annual Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 14. Email Charlotte Lukes at [email protected] to participate.  Crossroads will be open for those who want to spend a short time participating in the count, and volunteers are welcome to sit inside the Collins Learning […]

  • Take a Safe Walk on the Wild Side as Hunts Continue

    Those heading outdoors to enjoy the snow should remember that firearm deer hunts continue through Dec. 15 and are on again Dec. 24 – Jan. 1. Keep yourself, your family, friends and pets visible by wearing bright colors. Though not required unless you’re hunting, blaze orange is always a good choice. In an effort to reduce […]

  • Learn the History of Christmas Trees at Crossroads

    Join Crossroads at Big Creek’s researcher-in-residence, Emily Rux, on Dec. 6, 2 pm, for an archaeology workshop. She’ll conduct an open lab so that participants can experience cleaning and sorting the artifacts that have been unearthed at The Cove and Ida Bay Preserve (or just observe). No experience is necessary. Meet in the Collins Learning […]

  • Plenty of Deer in Wisconsin, but a Record?

    Not by a long shot There’s no doubt that many Wisconsin hunters love to rip on the Department of Natural Resources’ deer-population estimates, and that’s one of the reasons why the agency got away from making them public during Gov. Walker’s tenure. Even if the scientific data backed them up – and they almost always […]

  • Enjoy Scents of the Season at Crossroads

    Crossroads at Big Creek’s Collins Learning Center will be closed for Thanksgiving on Nov. 28, but the restrooms and trails will remain open. Join a Crossroads naturalist Nov. 29, 10 am, for a gentle walk through the Big Creek preserve to enjoy the air and work off some of that Thanksgiving dinner. Dress for the […]

  • Hunters Geared Up for 23 Days of Blaze Orange

    Wisconsin’s most treasured hunting tradition will begin Saturday: opening day of the nine-day gun deer season. Regulated deer hunting began with the first closed season in 1851 (Feb. 1-June 30), though Native Americans could hunt year-round. The first bag limit was in 1897 – two deer per season – and a resident license cost $1. Estimated […]