Ancient canoes found

Plus: WI gravel biking, record rise in water levels, and rare bird

Author

Forrest Koslowski
May 14, 2026

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Mornin’ to everyone interested in applying for a 2026 elk hunting license (need to do that by May 31). This is the Wiscampsin Weekly, the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

This week’s weekly:

🚲 Granite Belt puts Wausau on the gravel map

🌊 Lakes Michigan and Huron hit record April rise

🦩 African Marabou stork makes a Wisconsin tour

🛶 STORY OF THE WEEK: Ancient canoes found in Lake Mendota reveal secrets

🚲 Granite Belt puts Wausau on the gravel map LINK

  • A new roughly 900-mile gravel cycling network spanning Marathon, Lincoln, Langlade, and Shawano counties officially debuts June 6 on National Trails Day, with Wausau as the base camp.

  • The system leans on existing dairy roads, logging routes, and red granite corridors—what cyclists call "red gold"—with 13 looped trails, 8 trailheads, and roadside signs covering local history, agriculture, and geology.

  • It's part of a statewide push to brand Wisconsin as a gravel cycling destination. Backers point to Vilas County's 160,000 cyclists and $23 million in tourism impact as a sign of what's possible.

🌊 Lakes Michigan and Huron hit record April rise LINK

  • Water levels on Lakes Michigan and Huron surged a record 13.4 inches in April—triple the average—following snowmelt and the wettest April on record for the Upper Midwest.

  • Wisconsin smashed its statewide rainfall record with 6.53 inches on average, and Lake Superior notched its second-biggest April rise on record at 7.1 inches.

  • Despite the jump, most Great Lakes remain within 2 inches of their long-term averages, and levels are expected to stay near normal over the next six months.

🦩 African Marabou stork makes a Wisconsin tour LINK

  • A Marabou stork—a Sub-Saharan African native that grows up to 5 feet tall with a 10-foot wingspan—has been spotted across Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Appleton, and Sheboygan since early May.

  • The bird, first seen near Byron, Illinois, in late April, almost certainly escaped from captivity. It's got an ID band on its leg, but nobody's gotten close enough to read it.

  • Wildlife of Wisconsin rehabbers say it looks healthy and folks should leave it be unless it appears in distress. The DNR says it's not a wild bird, so it's not their gig. Welcome to Wisconsin, big fella.

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🛶 STORY OF THE WEEK: Ancient canoes found in Lake Mendota LINK

Imagine you’re going for a casual recreational dive in Lake Mendota to pick up some old fishing lures, and instead, you bump into a piece of history that’s been sitting there for five millennia. That’s exactly what happened to maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen.

What started as a single discovery in 2021 has blossomed into one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Midwest. We’re talking a cache of canoes—made from elm, oak, and cottonwood—hidden in the silt along what used to be the lake’s ancient shoreline. For the Ho-Chunk Nation, who have lived in Dejope (the Four Lakes region) since time immemorial, these aren’t just artifacts; they’re physical proof of the stories and oral traditions passed down for generations.

The logistics are actually pretty relatable: rather than hauling a heavy dugout canoe miles away when the seasons changed, Indigenous families would weigh them down in chest-deep water and bury them in the mud. It was like a prehistoric seasonal storage unit. When spring hit, they’d wade out, clear the sediment, and be back on the water in no time.

Today, scientists and tribal leaders are working side-by-side to ensure these "time travelers" are treated with the respect they deserve. While we won’t see all 16 hauled to the surface (they’re a bit too delicate for that—think "soggy bagel" consistency), the ones being preserved guarantee to spark even more questions and hopeful discovery down the road.

Now get out 'der.

WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL

Last Week's Trivia Check

We asked why mother does leave their newborn fawns alone in the brush. You guys know your local herd—a leading 43% of you correctly guessed that it's all about scent! We also loved this reader comment that proves the biology works: "On more than one occasion I’ve nearly stepped on one... They listen to their mother and don't move!"

The Correct Answer: Because the fawn is entirely scentless, but the mother is not.

The Takeaway: A newborn fawn has virtually zero scent, making it practically invisible to predators like coyotes or wolves. A mature doe, however, stinks! If she stays nearby, she draws danger right to her baby. So, she leaves it hidden and only visits briefly to nurse.

This Week's Trivia

Turtle crossing season has officially begun in Wisconsin! While most turtles politely hide inside their shells when you approach them on the road, the Common Snapping Turtle chooses violence—standing its ground, hissing, and snapping instead of hiding.

Why is a Common Snapping Turtle physically unable to fully pull its head and limbs inside its shell for protection?

Give it a gut check and click a response below:

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A review from the trail… Appreciate it, neighbor!

Well, how'd we do this week?

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