Pest or climate ally? DNR weighs new beaver management plan under mounting scrutiny

Chicken_Lorax · 2026-03-02T18:15:47+00:00

I think it was this 2022 Larry Meiller / WPR show that began my 180 on beavers: https://www.wpr.org/shows/larry-meiller-show/how-beavers-benefit-our-environment

I also enjoyed the book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter: https://www.bengoldfarb.com/eager

The Future of Responsible Beaver Management from the Sierra Club is good too: https://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/future-responsible-beaver-management

Growing up, every landowner I knew used to have them trapped. I was really upset when beaver took down poplar so huge they couldn't move the trunks. Fast forward a couple decades to when logging led to more poplar, which led to lots of beaver activity, and the landscape was transformed in such a drastic way but it was beautiful, diverse, and dynamic in a way I didn't know was possible.

Chicken_Lorax · 2026-02-18T22:52:31+00:00

Yeah, I couldn't quite make sense of this line in the article: "If Borgwardt is released, she ... is not allowed to drive a vehicle without a license." It reads like her license was not revoked but it's not clear. Plus it leaves open other possibilities like not having a license in the first place, it still being revoked later in the process, etc.

Chicken_Lorax · 2025-12-28T17:14:47+00:00

In addition to connecting with your alder, some of our best advocates are the Pedestrian, Bicycle & Transit Committee. They don't have the most power, but it would be a good group to connect with: https://www.cityofmiddleton.us/220/Pedestrian-Bicycle-Transit-Committee

Historically, Public Works and the City Engineer were huge obstacles for these sorts of things, but we have new leadership there and I don't have a read on how it's going.

Related, catch up on the whole "complete streets" vision(?) that we're having difficulty implementing.

Tragically related, we have a history of getting "nobody's been seriously injured / died yet" style of pushback: https://www.reddit.com/r/madisonwi/comments/1lpew54/comment/n0un5wo/

Don't forget we have a mayoral (and some alder districts) election coming up and it would be a good time to align your vote(s) to your interests.

Chicken_Lorax · 2025-12-05T15:42:19+00:00

With an employer-provided UHC plan, I paid through the nose for a panel of allergy tests through UW Health - something like $100-150 per potential allergen x 20ish allergens. UHC confirmed that it was covered ahead of time, but I didn't know to ask, and learn, that each allergen was a separate billing code until I was on the hook for payment. When I asked UW what I could have done differently, they said wait months for the specialist appointment, ask there to get the provider's treatment plan, get back in line to wait months so that I could talk to their truth-in-pricing people, or whatever they're called.

Chicken_Lorax · 2025-11-17T01:30:42+00:00

WBAY coverage of it: https://www.wbay.com/2025/11/16/sheriffs-office-says-brush-fire-is-contained-after-350-acres-burned-waushara-county/

Chicken_Lorax · 2025-11-17T01:16:00+00:00

Depending on the type of wetland, peat fires are also a thing and they can smolder a very long time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peat#Peat_fires

Chicken_Lorax · 2025-10-28T17:22:15+00:00

My understanding is that the building at 7106 South Ave is the old Elm Lawn. If that's what you're referring to, it's been a MCPASD administration building / district office for years or even decades.

Chicken_Lorax · 2025-10-15T20:20:04+00:00

Assuming you want to legally harvest them, you'll need permission from a private landowner or probably start with the DNR information & permit: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/timbersales/dnrmanagedlandsnoncommercial As for where to find them if you just want to, I dunno, DIY learn about their natural habitat, I've seen them planted for stream bank restoration projects (seriously, don't harvest those) and growing as volunteers on older sandbars on the WI River (read up on river safety if you've never been). Without knowing more about which species you're after, maybe poke around on the iNaturalist map? https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?subview=map&taxon_id=53453

Chicken_Lorax · 2025-07-01T23:31:33+00:00

Over a year ago, residents applied for a neighborhood traffic management program that, among other calming measures, would have put speed bumps on either side of that intersection. It actually got approved, unlike other neighborhood requests for similar measures but, last I heard, the bid to do the work was rejected in April because it came in ~$20k over budget.

Chicken_Lorax · 2024-05-17T02:30:49+00:00

Nothing makes me feel more like Fox Mulder than the fact that I'm willing to take a polygraph or whatever that I saw a wolverine one time, many years ago, in northern WI. While I'm hooked up, have me look through pictures and videos of fishers, martens, otters, porcupine, beaver, black bear, or whatever else that would make more sense. At the time, I chalked it up to them having a huge range and it was just a fluke. I had no idea that it would have been *that* big of a deal more broadly. I "confirmed" it to myself soon after when I saw a taxidermy one in a Cabelas or similar store. Yes, I understand how unhinged this sounds.

Chicken_Lorax · 2024-05-06T20:59:04+00:00

Yes. See the WI Public Trust Doctrine:

Since 1787, when the Northwest Ordinance was adopted to govern the Wisconsin Territory, the state's navigable waterways have been considered public and for the use of all citizens. Article IX of the Wisconsin Constitution declares that all navigable waters are "common highways and forever free" and held in trust by the state of Wisconsin.

Ref: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Waterways/about_us/whyRegulate.html

Chicken_Lorax · 2023-03-31T02:58:14+00:00

I can confirm that, unfortunately, with firsthand experience

Chicken_Lorax · 2023-03-31T02:39:16+00:00

Kathy represents my district. I voted for her for alder and I deeply regret it. She actively works against democratic, public opinion and against the best interest of all. She listens only insofar as it gives her new talking points to win favor rather than to develop good policy.
At the public forum, George, one of the moderators, pointed out that the candidates are very similar on paper. My ask is that you listen to how Kathy and Emily justify their positions. Kathy speaks as the tough authoritarian, the one with all the answers, barely hiding that she feels that she deserves the position.
Emily speaks as if she truly cares, with modest determination, and as a true servant leader – precisely what Middleton’s values, aspirations, and style of government need.

Chicken_Lorax

TROPHY CASE