As the 2024 winter season unfolds in northern Minnesota, many organizers of annual winter events, including the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, find themselves facing a difficult decision.

Less than four weeks before the anticipated annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon started, the board of directors made the tough call to cancel the event due to a lack of snow.

In this week's Outdoor News Podcast episode, host Kalli Hawkins speaks with the President of the John Beargrease, Mike Keyport about the tough decision to cancel the race. Keyport also shares that given the cancelation, mushers are moving north in search of snow to prepare for the Iditarod.

Awaiting Winters Arrival & John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Canceled

Trout opener for lakes outside of the BWCA is this Saturday, January 13, and it sure will be a cold one. 

The National Weather Service is projecting wind chill values of -28 temperatures for trout opener in Cook County and regions across Northern Minnesota. The colder temps will help with variable ice conditions on many inland lakes. In this week's episode of the Outdoor News Podcast, host Kalli Hawkins speaks with local Conservation Officer Kylan Hill about the outlook for the  trout opener weekend, and a recap of the Dec. 30 BWCA trout opener. Also, Kylan Hill reflects on his time serving as conservation officer in Cook County as he prepares to move to the metro area at the end of the month.

Trout Opener Outlook & Local DNR Conservation Officer Kylan Hill Leaving Cook County

Minnesotan's love to talk about the weather and this winter has certainly been one for discussion. 

In this week's Outdoor News Podcast, host Kalli Hawkins talks with Joe Moore, a meteorologist with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service based in Duluth about snowfall and temperature data in northeastern Minnesota, El Nino, and the outlook for the remainder of the 2024 winter.

Winter Unveiled: December 2023 Statistics & Outlook For Remainder of 2024

A 2022 project to replace the Stairway Portage wooden staircase in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has won national recognition.

Superior National Forest officials announced on Tuesday, Jan. 24, that the Stairway Portage Replacement project in the BWCA was awarded the 2023 National Wilderness Award for best use of ‘traditional skills and minimal tool leadership.’
The Stairway Portage Replacement project involved replacing the two sets of wooden staircases between Duncan Lake and Rose Lake in the BWCA with stone steps, or ‘rock check dams.’ The project also involved replacing a smaller stairway portage between Flyer and Gotter Lake west of Round Lake in the BWCA.

In this week's episode, Outdoor News Podcast host Kalli Hawkins speaks with project manager Cathy Quinn to learn more about the significance of the national award.

BWCA Stairway Portage Project Wins 2023 National Wilderness Award

The warmer El Nino temperatures & conditions is influencing lake ice formation on Lake Superior and many of the other Great Lakes. This year, Lake Superior experienced approximately 10 percent ice coverage, compared to an average 30 percent. 

In this week's Outdoor News Podcast, host Kalli Hawkins speaks with Jay Austin, a professor of physics and astronomy with the Large Lakes Observatory and the University of Minnesota - Duluth about the relationship between warmer air temperatures and Lake Superior ice formation and the resulting ecological and cultural impact.

Lake Superior Experiences Minimal Ice Formation This Winter

Canada Lynx research is ongoing in Northeast Minnesota and the Superior National Forest. In this week's Outdoor News Podcast, host Kalli Hawkins speaks with Ron Moen, senior wildlife biologist at UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute about the current status of Canada Lynx.

Northeast Minnesota Canada Lynx Research & Status

With the minimal snow conditions and warmer temperatures experienced across much of northern Minnesota this winter, fire management officials at the U.S. Forest Service and Minnesota DNR are keeping a close eye on the upcoming fire season. 

Forest Service officials estimate that wildlife activity will occur 
earlier in the spring, lasting longer into the fall, and involves more intense, difficult-to-control large wildfire activity. 

In this week's episode, host Kalli Hawkins speaks with Nick Petrack, the Superion & Chippewa National Forest Fire Management Officer for an outlook for the 2024 season.

U.S. Forest Service Provides 2024 Wildfire Outlook For Northeast Minnesota

Minnesota’s moose population remains relatively stable, following the results of the 2024 moose survey in northern Minnesota. 

After wrapping up the moose survey in early Feb., the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said the recent population estimate is approximately 3,470 animals. 

Nancy Hansen, the Minnesota DNR’s area wildlife manager in Two Harbors, said the number is not a “highly precise population estimate.” Still, it gives the DNR an overall sense of the current status of moose in northern Minnesota. 

The 2024 results are a 5 percent increase from the estimated 3,290 moose in the 2023 population survey.

In this week's Outdoor News Podcast host Kalli Hawkins speaks with Nancy Hansen, the Minnesota DNR’s area wildlife manager based in Two Harbors, about the 2024 moose population survey and ongoing moose habitat improvement efforts in northeastern Minnesota.

Moose Population Remains Relatively Stable In Northern Minnesota

As electric vehicles become increasingly prevalent nationwide, including along the North Shore, numerous fire departments are enhancing their training protocols and acquiring advanced extinguishing tools as the lithium-ion battery poses unique challenges for firefighters. 

In recent weeks, the Grand Marais Fire Department added a new extinguishing tool to the repertoire to prepare for an EV fire in Cook County, thanks to the expertise of a skilled Grand Marais resident. Matt Stone, owner of UniMoose Enterprises, built an EV extinguishing unit for the Grand Marais Fire Department that resembles an elongated sprinkler system. 

In this week's episode we learn how rural fire departments are adapting to the challenges of battling EV fires.

Fire Departments Adapt to Battling Electric Vehicle Fires With New EV Extinguishing Tools

The prevalence of spruce budworm across northeastern Minnesota, particularly in the Superior National Forest, is increasing. 

Efforts are ongoing in northeastern Minnesota to monitor, manage, and mitigate the impact of the spruce budworm, a native insect that feeds on the needles of spruce and balsam fir. 

In this week's episode, host Kalli Hawkins is joined by Brian Sturtevant, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service, who provides an in-depth look at spruce budworm.

Brian Sturtevant shares insights into the life history of spruce budworm and the ongoing forest management practices and research in northeastern Minnesota. Sturtevant has over two decades of experience studying spruce budworm. He dedicates his research to exploring the interactions between human land use and management and natural disturbance processes within the Superior National Forest and the Midwest.

Mitigating & Monitoring Spruce Budworm in Northeastern Minnesota

WTIP is the community radio station serving Minnesota's North Shore. We share a variety of outdoor news content from the region, including Lake Superior, Isle Royale and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. From fishing and hunting to environmental issues, this locally-produced podcast covers important outdoor news relevant to our broad community of listeners.

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