Ice Out: The Seasonal Rhythm of the Northwoods
Ice Out: The Seasonal Rhythm of the Northwoods In the Northwoods, spring is not a date on a calendar. It is a sound. It is the deep, tectonic groaning of...
Best Old-Growth Hiking Trails in Oneida County
Best Old-Growth Hiking Trails in Oneida County Oneida County contains several rare remnants of the massive pine and hemlock forests that once covered...
Spring Migration of Birds in the Northwoods
Spring Migration of Birds in the Northwoods Spring migration brings millions of birds through Oneida and Vilas counties. These movements along the...
Firefly Magic: The Science and Struggle of the Northwoods' Favorite Insect
Deep beneath the Oneida County snowpack, sitting dormant in the frozen leaf litter, next summer's light show is waiting. While the flashing "lightning bugs"...
The Northern Shrike - Identifying Oneida County’s Winter Assassin
The Butcher's Territory: Identifying Oneida County’s Winter Assassin The Northern Shrike is a master of deception. It wears the soft gray plumage and "bandit...
The "User-Fee" Future: Minocqua’s New Road Strategy
The "User-Fee" Future: Minocqua’s New Road Strategy The 0.5% Premier Resort Area Tax (PRAT) launching in Minocqua on July 1 is more than a local policy...
Northwoods Curiosities: Why Trees Explode in Deep Cold
Northwoods Curiosities: Why Trees Explode in Deep Cold If you are outside during a deep cold snap, when temperatures hit twenty below zero, you might hear...
Northwoods Walleye Reality
The 2026 Northwoods walleye fishery stands at a definitive crossroads. The walleye (Sander vitreus) faces unique pressures reshaping the Wisconsin...
January Ledger: The Deep Freeze
The January edition of the Northwoods Ledger is live. This issue explores survival during the coldest month. We examine the historic deep freeze of 1996. We...
Where do Great Horned Owls Nest?
While most birds are just trying to survive the February cold, the Great Horned Owl is starting a family. These tough predators are the earliest nesters in...
Why Do Pine Trees Produce Yellow Dust Clouds?
In June, a stiff breeze can send massive yellow clouds drifting from the treetops, coating cars, decks, and lake surfaces in a fine powder. It looks like...
Why Is the River Water Brown?
Visitors often mistake the dark, tea-colored water of Northwoods rivers for being dirty. It isn't pollution; it's tannins. Much of the Northwoods is covered...
The Civilian Conservation Corps in WI
If you have hiked a trail, camped in a state park, or driven a fire lane in the Northwoods, you have likely used something built by the Civilian Conservation...
Wisconsin Deer Harvest 2025
Wisconsin Deer Harvest 2025: State of the Herd 2025 The Crossroads of the Northwoods Whitetail **By The Northwoods Ledger ** The 2025 Oneida County deer...
Why Do Frozen Lakes Groan?
Anyone who has spent time on a frozen lake in winter has heard the eerie sounds of deep groaning and sudden cracks echoing across the ice. While it might...
Why Do Snowbanks Look Blue?
In late winter, snowbanks often take on a blue tint, especially where they've been piled up by plows or packed down over time. This phenomenon isn't just a...
Why Do Loons Call More in Late Summer?
If you've spent time on the lakes in August, you may have noticed loons calling more often, especially at dusk. As fall approaches, loon families begin...
The Mail Order Brides of the Northwoods
In the late 1800s, the Northwoods was filled with loggers, trappers, and railroad workers, but hardly any women. Isolated in rough frontier towns, men turned...
Why Do Lightning Bugs Glow?
As June evenings settle in, tiny green flashes begin to appear over meadows, marshes, and forest clearings. Fireflies are back. Fireflies use their flashing...
Why Are Barns Red?
If you drive through the Northwoods or anywhere in rural America, you'll notice most old barns are red. While many assume it was just a stylistic choice, the...