Seasonal habitat for wildlife Ephemeral ponds, also called vernal pools, aren’t what most people think of when they think of wetlands. These temporary ponds are, however, some of the most important wetlands for a variety of wildlife. They fill in the spring…
The North American River Otter is a semi-aquatic mammal found only in North America. River otters are larger than most people imagine, growing to four feet long (including their tail) and weighing more than 25 pounds. They feed primarily on…
The Friends are thrilled to introduce our membership to two Northland College student interns who are working at Beaver Hollow over the summer session. They are assisting with the installation of the last section of boardwalk, conducting forestry projects, and…
The water level in the marsh at Beaver Hollow is the lowest it has been in the last decade. The cause of this water level drop is the extended drought conditions in far northern Wisconsin. The Bayfield peninsula is currently…
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” ~John Muir The boardwalk at Beaver Hollow was dedicated to Thomas D. Frizzell on July…
In the spring of 2017, Tracy Hames, wetland hydrologist and Executive Director of Wisconsin Wetlands Association, led a group of Friends' members on an assessment tour of the North Pikes Creek's headwaters. In the top photo, Tracy is explaining why…
The headwaters' region of North Pikes Creek is an expansive area comprised of marshes, ponds, shrub thickets, and wetland forests teeming with wildlife, including 32 rare, threatened, and endangered species of birds and mammals. The wild and wet nature of…
You've more than likely seen purple loosestrife growing in road ditches, wet meadows, marshes, and along river and stream banks. It may look pretty, but it is invasive everywhere it is found in North America! Purple loosestrife was brought to…
There's no such thing as bad weather - only bad clothing, according to the Norwegian maxim,“Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!” This is oft repeated throughout Scandinavia, where people grow up with a unique relationship with nature. Children are…
In the past fifteen months, Friends of the North Pikes Creek Wetlands’ volunteers have worked diligently to install infrastructure on a one-acre portion of the Friends’ conservation property. This area, aptly named Beaver Hollow, serves the outdoor educational and recreational…