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Mornin’ to everyone keen on making the Apostle Islands a National Park (jury is still out from us). 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:

🥾 Wisconsin nears completion of its portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail

🐺 Wolf population about 1,200, estimates say

 🌳 Rescinding the Roadless Rule in Wisconsin

🧪 STORY OF THE WEEK: Can nanobubbles save Wisconsin lakes from blue algae?

🥾 Wisconsin nears completion of its portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail LINK

• Wisconsin just got 317 more acres for the North Country National Scenic Trail, moving the state closer to being the first of eight to finish its section of the 4,800-mile hiking route.

• The land deal shifts 30 miles of trail off roads and into forests, linking Pattison State Park to Douglas County Forest while protecting wetlands, the Black River, and a vital 50-mile wildlife corridor.

• Trail planners now face the next big challenge—designing a bridge over the Black River—with volunteers and fundraising paving the way for hikers to enjoy uninterrupted, wild Wisconsin miles.

🐺 Wolf population about 1,200, estimates say LINK

• Wisconsin’s wolf pack is holding steady at around 1,200 animals, with new tracking models showing the population is healthy, widespread, and bumping up against the state’s natural carrying capacity.

• The DNR’s latest winter survey logged 564 track routes covering 18,000+ miles, confirming that prime wolf habitat is filling up, with survival rates and even vehicle collisions now shaping population limits.

• While biologists call the pack stable, politics remain anything but—with lawmakers and tribes divided over harvest rules, federal protections, and what comes next if wolves are ever delisted again.

🌳 Rescinding the Roadless Rule in Wisconsin LINK

• The Rule at a Glance: Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has kept bulldozers and large-scale logging out of 44.7 million acres of public backcountry—while keeping them wide open for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and bird-watching.

• Wisconsin’s Stake: The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest holds about 69,000 acres of inventoried roadless land that could lose protections if the rule is rolled back.

• What’s Next: USDA has launched a public comment period (through Sept. 19, 2025), with a final decision expected in late 2026—giving Wisconsinites a chance to speak up for their forests and favorite wild places.

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WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL

41% of voters are right on the money. October 20th is when predictions say it will be peak fall colors in southern Wisconsin!

A review from the trail… Just as long as you ain’t partaking in either while driving, guy!