Great Lakes conservation in question

PLUS wardens recruited, bats, and PCB cleanup

Author

Forrest Koslowski
April 03, 2025

In partnership with

Mornin’ to everyone buying a fishing license for the new year starting April 1 (just $20 to fill ‘da freezer)! 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:

👮🏻‍♀️ DNR recruiting wardens for 2026

🦇 Bats are rebounding from white nose syndrome

📈 Results from the world’s largest PCB cleanup on Fox River

🌊 STORY OF THE WEEK: Who will care for the Great Lakes with Canada/US tensions?

👮🏻‍♀️ DNR recruiting wardens for 2026 LINK

  • The DNR is accepting applications for its 2026 class of conservation wardens from April 10 through May 6, with about 10 full-time positions available.

  • No prior law enforcement or outdoor recreation experience is required, as the DNR provides comprehensive in-house training for new hires.

  • A virtual webinar on April 22 will offer insights into the hiring process and training program, with additional resources available on the DNR’s website.

 🦇 Bats are rebounding from white nose syndrome LINK

  • White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has severely impacted bat populations in WI for nearly 20 years, is showing signs of slowing, with Wisconsin bat numbers stabilizing and even growing in recent years.

  • Bats play a crucial role in pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal, benefiting agriculture and ecosystems by reducing harmful insects and supporting plant growth.

  • Alyson Brokaw, author of The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats, encourages the use of bat boxes to provide safe roosting spaces and suggests visiting Texas' Bracken Cave to witness a breathtaking "bat tornado" emergence.

 📈 Results from the world’s largest PCB cleanup on Fox River LINK

  • The Lower Fox River is improving following the world’s largest cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a $1.3 billion effort, but fish consumption advisories will remain in place for at least two to three more decades due to lingering contamination.

  • Despite posted warnings, many people continue to fish in the river, often unaware of the risks posed by PCBs, which have been linked to serious health issues like cancer.

  • Similar PCB removal efforts are underway in Milwaukee’s rivers and Lake Michigan shoreline, with lawsuits ongoing against Monsanto for its role in PCB pollution.

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🌊 STORY OF THE WEEK: Who will care for the Great Lakes with Canada/US tensions?

For decades, the U.S. and Canada have played nice when it comes to the Great Lakes, jointly managing the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem.

But the Trump administration just disinvited two Canadian leaders from a White House summit on the shared conservation of the Great Lakes. Why? - To read the rest of the story, sign up for the Wiscampsin Membership.

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