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Mornin’ to everyone wondering about the history of Black Bear attacks. 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:

🐻 Bear with head stuck in jar freed

🏄🏻 Why wake surfing boats should stay in deep water

⛵️ Apostle Islands National Lakeshore named Best Place to Travel in 2025

🌲 STORY OF THE WEEK: Dane Counties “Most Remarkable” Trees

🐻 Bear with head stuck in jar freed LINK

• You can’t make this up—a young black bear spotted with a plastic jar stuck on its head across northern Wisconsin was safely captured and freed near Cable after traveling nearly 50 miles over the course of a week.

• After being sedated by USDA Wildlife Services, the jar was removed with no major injuries found, and the 70-pound bear was released into a safe, food-rich forest to recover—seen immediately snacking on wild berries.

• The successful rescue relied heavily on public sightings, and officials thanked residents for their timely reports that helped track and ultimately save the bear.

🏄🏻 Why wake surfing boats should stay in deep water LINK

• Uh oh—A new University of Minnesota study finds wake boats in surfing mode significantly disturb lake bottoms at depths of 9 to 14 feet, and researchers recommend they only operate in waters 20 feet deep or more to minimize environmental impact.

• Using sensors, cameras, and drones, researchers observed wake boats stirring up sediment, uprooting vegetation, and suspending nutrients that can degrade water quality and fuel harmful algal blooms.

• As wake surfing’s popularity grows, so does the controversy—59 Wisconsin communities have already passed local restrictions, and a coalition of groups is now pushing for statewide regulations to protect lakes from further damage.

⛵️ Apostle Islands National Lakeshore named Best Place to Travel in 2025 LINK

• Named one of Travel + Leisure’s best places to visit in 2025, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore offers sea caves, historic lighthouses, sandy beaches, and the laid-back charm of Bayfield and Madeline Island.

• Visitors can explore by kayak, ferry, cruise, or charter boat, with highlights including Devil’s Island’s dramatic cliffs, Stockton Island’s “singing sands,” and Raspberry Island’s restored lighthouse.

• From boutique stays like St. James Social to camping on 18 of the islands, plus fresh-caught whitefish, local cider, and the famed Bayfield Apple Festival, the area delivers a quintessential Lake Superior summer getaway.

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WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL

Only 5% of you got last week's poll correct! Here's a fun fact: During Abraham Lincoln’s visit to the Wisconsin State Fair in 1859, he ended up sleeping on a cot at the end of an office counter, separated by only a screen for privacy. This happened because his train arrived in Milwaukee after midnight, and the room reserved for him had already been given away.

A review from the trail… Happy to help! Watch out for skeeters