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May returns sound to the Northwoods. Songbirds fill the new leaves. Spring peepers claim the wetlands. This edition of the Ledger tracks the traditions that mark the end of the deep frost.
The May Edition
Northwoods History: In the late 1800s, lake sturgeon were so common that Wisconsin bars served them as free snacks to keep customers thirsty.
The Early Forager: A guide to finding morels, fiddlehead ferns, and ramps.
In the Kitchen: How to make ramp compound butter to preserve the pungent flavor of spring for months.
Opening Weekend: A look at the annual ritual of chasing walleye on local waters like Lake Tomahawk.
Nature Watch: Black bear cubs are emerging for their first foraging trips. Baltimore Orioles are returning to backyard feeders.
Funding the Research
Our investigative reporting only exists because of our paid subscribers. This work requires significant time and research that your support makes possible:
The 10 Percent Trap: Our analysis of how state logging laws impact local town budgets.
The Ice Toll: A blueprint for regional power grid resilience.
DNR Deficits: How funding gaps change our local fisheries management.
Beat the Frost: A thermal guide for Northwoods gardeners.
Vilas County Zoning: The ongoing dispute over the Snyder Road gravel pit.
The 2026 Musky Rules: A high stakes bet on the future of Northwoods fishing.
The Autopay Culture: How bureaucratic blind spots drain county budgets.
Oneida County Broadband: A blueprint for leveraging the final five percent of coverage.
Highway 45 Purchase: How this land deal ended forest fragmentation in Land O' Lakes.
If you value this reporting and want to ensure it continues, please consider becoming a paid member.
You just read issue #88 of Northwoods Ledger. You can also browse the full archives of this newsletter.