North Shore Morning

Dr. Seth Moore is Director of Biology and Environment with the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. 

The Grand Portage Reservation is located in the extreme northeast corner of Minnesota, on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Cook County. Bordered on the north by Canada, on the south and east by Lake Superior and on the west by Grand Portage State Forest, the reservation encompasses an historic fur trade site on scenic Grand Portage Bay.

The band engages in fisheries and wildlife research projects throughout the year, working with moose, wolves, fish, deer, grouse, and environmental issues. Dr. Moore appears regularly on WTIP North Shore Community Radio, talking about the band's current and ongoing natural resource projects, as well as other environmental and health related issues.  In this segment, Dr. Moore talks about what's been learned about moose mortality since research on the Grand Portage Reservation began in 2009. 

(Photo by Christopher Hynes on Flickr)

Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

Sunspot AR12192, the Andromeda galaxy, Jupiter,  and a Full Beaver Moon on November 6th.

Bats play an important role in our ecosystem and not just on Halloween!  Bats are often misunderstood and currently challenged by white-nose syndrome.  North Shore Morning host Julie Carlson learns more from Steve Robertson, education specialist with the USDA Forest Service, Superior National Forest.

This feature was funded in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, by the NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in conjunction with Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of WTIP and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal resource Management, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program.
 

Chloe and Trina report the lastest news from Birch Grove Community School.

Hello, this is Jon Benson, Recreation Specialist for the Tofte and Gunflint Ranger Districts, with the Halloween edition of the Superior National Forest Update.  Here is what’s going on that may affect travel and recreation on the Tofte and Gunflint Districts of the Forest over this first weekend of November. 
 
Halloween night, you might expect some zombies, ghosts, and goblins out on the roads.  Drive safely; some of those ghouls are likely to dart out into the roadway without looking.  Remember that no motorized use is permitted in the Boundary Waters even during a zombie apocalypse.  We would also like to encourage people to be safe on the roads and plan your transportation options before you go to Halloween parties.  Many costumes may make you appear to be silly, but that is not excuse for acting silly when it comes to drinking and driving.  And speaking of parties, it is likely that people may be planning to recreate on the National Forest this weekend, here are a few tips to help keep you safe while protecting area natural resources: 
 

1.  Be careful with fires.  If you are planning to have a fire, make sure that you remove all fuels surrounding the fire site and make sure the fire is dead out and cool to the touch before leaving the site.
2. Please clean up after yourselves.  If you plan to hang out on the National Forest, please leave the area better then you found it.

 
If any of the parents that are listening could help spread these two messages to your kids, you can help make this Halloween a fun and safe experience.
 
In addition to the trick or treating traffic, you can expect logging traffic in the same areas as last week.  On the Gunflint District:  the Bally Creek Road, Devil Track Road, Ball Club Road, Shoe Lake Road, Greenwood Road, Pine Mountain Road, The Grade, Gunflint Trail, Swamp Lake Road, Cascade River Road, Cook County 7 and Cook County 45 are all being used for hauling.  The Tofte District is currently less busy, with truck traffic on the Mark Lake Road, Caribou Trail, and Cook County 3.  Rifle season for deer hunting starts on November 8^th, so you may see hunters prepping for the season out on the roads.  Before you get carried away with the hammer and screw gun, remember that all deer stands on the National Forest must be temporary and removed at the end of the season. 
 
Fire crews are burning brush piles in gravel pits at several locations through the Forest.  The Caribou, Airport, and Pike Lake pit will, weather depending, be burned this week, and possibly others as well.  There are a few other locations at timber sales that may also have slash burned over the next week.
 
November is our cloudiest and windiest month, and with possible rain and snow, hypothermia is a real concern.  People dress for winter when snow is on the ground, but they may be less likely to think of cold when it still looks like fall.  If you are with someone who gets truly hypothermic, remember that their body is beyond the point of being able to reheat itself.  More layers at that point don’t really help, you need to do something to heat them from the outside - get to a heated vehicle, or bundle with them inside a coat or blanket and use your heat to warm them.  Prevention is best however.  When you head out, make sure your group is prepared for falling temperatures and the possibility of getting wet.  That way you can best enjoy this time of year between bug dope and snow shovels.
 
Have a good Halloween, and until next week, this has been Jon Benson with the National Forest Update.
 

On Sunday November 2^nd the Minnesota Vikings will play the NFL team from Washington D.C. at TCF Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.  A large protest effort is underway highlighting the racism involved in the name and mascot of the Washington 'Redskins’.  The National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media is based in Minneapolis and a main organizer of the 'No Honor in Racism' Rally.  John Morrin, tribal council member of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe, is participating in the protest.  He spoke with WTIP’s Veronica Weadock.
 
 

Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

A partial eclipse of the sun on the 23rd, the Capella multi star system, and Halloween.

The Lutsen Mountain Ski Patrol is preparing for a new season, and that involves training for new and returning volunteers.  North Shore Morning host Sherrie Lindskog  spoke with veteran ski patrol member Mark Abrahamson on North Shore Morning.
--------------------------
National Ski Patrol at Lutsen Mountains Wants You !
Educational and Training Opportunties for all 16 years and older

• The Patrol provdes on the mountain safety, stabalization and treatment of injuries and medical conditions, and transport to skiiers and snowboarders at Lutsen Mountains, one of the best ski areas in the Midwest.
• Benefits: Pass benefits for the Patroller include options for additional passes or season passes for family members under the age of 18, living at home.
• Additional benefits: include discounts and the wonderful camraderie of a great family of Patrollers. It gets you outside and on the slopes all winter.
• The Outdoor Emergency Care Course on-line version will be starting in the next month, taught by Mark Abrahamson and National Ski Patrol instructors. Skills and scenario training will occur on the mountain this winter. In addition the Patrol has skilled trainers for ski skills and toboggan handling.
• To learn more please consdier attending our Annual Training session "Referesher" Saturdy October 25th at the Lutsen Mounatins Main Chalet "Rosies" at 7:30 . Breakfast and lunch are on us. You will meet the Patrol and get a taste of who we are and what we do. We love doing it and you could too.!

For more information please contact Mark Abrahamson at [email protected] or 218-387-1125.

Hi again; this is Matt Riederer, Timber Sale Administrator for the Tofte Ranger District, with the Superior National Forest Update.  For the week of October 17^th, here is what’s going on that may affect travel and recreation on the Tofte and Gunflint Districts of the Forest. 
 
The road construction on Highway 61 is finally starting to come to an end, with more and more pavement daily.  But - for a while longer, be patient and plan a little extra time when coming up from the south.  Once you have arrived on the Forest, you can expect logging traffic in the same areas as last week.  On the Gunflint District:  the Bally Creek Road, Devil Track Road, Ball Club Road, Shoe Lake Road, Greenwood Road, Pine Mountain Road, The Grade, Gunflint Trail, Swamp Lake Road, Cascade River Road, Cook County 7 and Cook County 45 are all being used for hauling.  The Tofte District is currently less busy, with truck traffic on the Mark Lake Road, Caribou Trail, Cook County 3, The Grade, and the 4 Mile Grade.  There are still people stopping to look at the fall colors, as well as people pulled over for hunting, so watch out for vehicles parked along the side of the road. 
 
If you smell some smoke in the air, and you are not near a campfire, it might be from one of our Forest Service fire crews burning a slash pile.  Burning slash piles is an important part of reducing hazardous fuels, and it also helps to prepare harvested areas for reforestation.  The temperatures are getting pretty cool at night and the threat of a wildfire is low; but if you are planning on burning brush yourself, be sure to get the appropriate permit, and choose a day with good burning weather.  Remember it is illegal to burn trash in a fire in Minnesota - and generally frowned upon to burn your marshmallows.
 
The Tofte and Gunflint campgrounds are preparing for winter.  That means that water is being turned off, docks are being removed from boat landings, and trash pick-up is ending.  This is not the end of the camping season, though.  Campgrounds are still open to use; and fall can be a great, bug free time to be outdoors.  Just remember to please pack out what you pack in.  Fall can also be a great time to camp in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  Again, please remember that even though you do not have to pay for a permit after October 1^st, you still need to fill out a self-issued permit before you go.  This helps us keep track of how many people are using the wilderness.  Self-issued permits are available at the Tofte and Gunflint Ranger Stations or at the Boundary Waters entry points.
 
Have a great week in the Forest.  Maybe try something different, go on one last canoe trip; or take advantage of our moonlit and longer nights, and go for a night hike.  And if you have any questions about where to go or what to do, stop by the Ranger Station.  We’re open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and we’ll be happy to help you enjoy your time on the Superior.  Until next week, this has been Matt Riederer with the Superior National Forest Update.

On the Nature of Teaching is a new monthly segment on WTIP highlighting how we teach and learn in the natural world.
Located near Finland, Minnesota, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center was founded in 1971.  Wolf Ridge naturalist and educator Peter Harris shares thoughts on experiential learning, the science of learning and how to pass it on.