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The time is now for cross-country skiing! CLICK HERE to check the status of your favorite trail on the DNR's ski trail conditions report.
Want to get outdoors, get exercise and enjoy great views this winter? How about learn more about — and help out — Wisconsin’s amazing wildlife and their habitats? Check all these boxes when you join in a volunteer workday at one of dozens of State Natural Areas. Workdays typically occur on Saturdays and run 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers need no prior training and are provided equipment on site. Helping cut and burn brush is a common activity at this time of year and is important to help fight invasive plants and boost native plant growth. State Natural Areas conserve the best of Wisconsin prairies, forests, wetlands and other habitats that provide refuge for 90% of rare plants species and 75% of rare wildlife species. Click here to see a list of SNA workdays and sign up to receive notices for them.
Candlelight events continue
Jan. 31 — Red Cedar State Trail
Feb. 1 — Copper Culture, Blue Mound, Mirror Lake, New Glarus Woods and Peninsula State Parks; Kettle Moraine-Northern Unit, Flambeau River and Black River state forests
Feb. 7 — Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area
Feb. 8 — Lake Wissota, Newport, Devil’s Lake, Lake Kegonsa, Wyalusing and Copper Falls state parks; Kettle Moraine-Pike Lake Unit and Brule River state forests; Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Feb. 15 — Brunet Island, Interstate, Merrick, Rib Mountain, Willow River and Governor Thompson state parks
Feb. 21 — MacKenzie Center
Feb. 22 — Hartman Creek State Park; Hank Aaron State Trail
Feb. 29 — Council Grounds State Park
March 14 — Big Foot Beach State Park
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Help endangered resources
with tax form donation
Tax filing season is upon us, and Wisconsin residents can once again help the state's rare wildlife and plants by donating to the Endangered Resources Fund on their state income tax form. Gifts are doubled by the state and go directly to conserve rare species and State Natural Areas through the work of DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program. Look for the “donations” section on your tax form (line 35a on Form 1) or your tax preparation software, or tell your tax preparer you want to donate. Learn more about the conservation work of NHC staff, partners and volunteers in the program’s 2019 Field Notes (PDF), which appeared in the Winter issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.
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OutWiGo! for
cold-weather fun
Enjoy an afternoon of outdoor fun with OutWiGo Snow! from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Willow River State Park in Hudson. Activities include hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, with free equipment available, first-come, first-served. Plus, there will be campfire cooking and s'mores! All ages are welcome; $5 admission (cash only) for 18 and older. A Wisconsin State Park System vehicle admission sticker is required, available on site. And share your photos using #OutWiGo on DNR’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Sturgeon spearing on the Lake Winnebago System opens Feb. 8.
It runs for 16 days or until harvest limits are met. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.
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Eyes on eagles
Bald Eagle Appreciation Days is Feb. 28-29 in Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi River, where roosting opportunities and open water for feeding support eagle activity in winter. In Wisconsin, 71 of 72 counties — all but Milwaukee County — now have documented active eagles nests. For more from DNR on eagles in the state, click here.
Wildlife poster contest for kids
There’s still time for fourth through sixth graders to enter the DNR’s second annual Keep Wildlife Wild poster contest. The initiative aims to ensure Wisconsin's wildlife stays safe and healthy. Poster entries will be accepted until Feb. 14 and must:
* Contain the words “Keep Wildlife Wild 2020” with the theme, “A young wild animal's best chance for survival is with its mother!
* Consist of original artwork of Wisconsin native wildlife.
* Fit on 8½" x 11" paper.
* Be submitted individually; no team efforts.
Winners will be selected for each grade level and announced April 5-11 during Keep Wildlife Wild week. See 2019 winners and learn more at dnr.wi.gov, keywords “Keep Wildlife Wild."
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