DNR: Cougar Sighting 'Undetermined'

A cougar was "seen coming and going out of an abandoned barn numerous times" by an elderly woman, according to the Caledonia Conservancy's Facebook page. However, the DNR said they couldn't make a determination.

DNR: More Private Wells Contaminated With Molybdenum

DNR officials urge private well owners in Caledonia, Oak Creek, Franklin, Muskego, Raymond and Norway to test their wells after finding high levels of molybdenum during a recent study of area groundwater.

High levels of molybdenum were found in homes in Caledonia and Oak Creek near the We Energies Oak Creek Power Plant several years ago, but now more wells have been identified, a DNR official said. The DNR recently tested for molybdenum in 153 private wells in Franklin, Muskego, Norway and Raymond and found high levels of the element in 44 of the wells in those areas too. A well at Raymond School tested at 101 micrograms per liter while the state groundwater standard is 40, according to a story in the Journal Sentinel and the DNR report. Eric Nitschke, director of the southeast region of the DNR in Milwaukee, said the big takeaway from the DNR’s report is that more private well owners need to test their water and the DNR needs more data to …

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Wisconsin's First Wolf Hunt Fuels Lawsuit

More than 10,000 applications for wolf hunt permits have been submitted for a season that the Wisconsin Humane Society and others say shouldn't involve hunting dogs without more rules in place.

Concerned for the safety of hunting dogs brought along during Wisconsin's first wolf hunt this fall, the Wisconsin Humane Society has joined other groups in a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resoures and Natural Resources Board. The lawsuit, filed in Dane County Circuit Court, asks the court "to stop the DNR from authorizing the use of dogs for wolf hunting until reasonable rules are established to protect dogs from injury or death, according to a press release from the society. Other plaintiffs include outdoorsmen, hunters, volunteer trackers, and other Wisconsin animal welfare organizations. When the state passed a law permitting the hunt, it included use of dogs for tracking and trailing — and it directed the DNR to …

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First-time Fishing Licenses for $5

The DNR is offering a special deal for first-time buyers of fishing licenses this summer. It's a great opportunity to try fishing for the first time, or to get back into it if you haven't done it in a long time.

MADISON – Wisconsin’s $5 first-time buyer resident fishing license or a one-day fishing license may be just the ticket for fun for family, friends and visitors gathered for the long July 4th holiday, state fisheries official say. “These new licenses are a great, inexpensive way to get your family, friends and visitors out on the water to have fun and give fishing a try,” says Mike Staggs, Wisconsin’s fisheries director. “You can buy and print off the licenses at home through our online licensing center at dnr.wi.gov or go to one of more than 1,300 bait shops and other license agents near you. Let the fun begin!” New this year, anglers who have never purchased a fishing license -- or who haven't purchased a fishing license in 10 years -- …

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No Burn Order for All Racine County Parks

Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig issued a no burn order Thursday because of the danger of campfires or cooking fires turning into something hotter and much more dangerous.

Campers looking forward to a night of roasted marshmallows or folks looking to cook out during a picnic at a Racine County park are going to be disappointed. Because of the extremely dry conditions at most parks and the state Department of Natural Resources declaring a "very high" fire danger, Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig Thursday issued a burn ban at all Racine County parks. “Preventing the spread of unwanted fires in Racine County parks and campgrounds for the safety of campers and others is of utmost priority,“ Ladwig said. The DNR definition of "very high" fire danger means conditions are dangerous for fires that start and spread quickly and are very difficult to control. Signs will be posted that say: Dangerous fire conditions …

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Report: Oak Creek Power Plant Out of Service

Other We Energies power plants still in operation.

One of the two new coal-fired power plants We Energies built in Oak Creek will be shut down for repairs, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The newspaper reported that a problem that could lead to turbine corrosion was detected during an inspection in October. The second plant is still operating, as is the original power plant built in the 1950s and 1960s. Click here for the entire report. Speaking of We Energies, the company posted an update on the bluff collapse clean-up on its blog last week. The post includes a photo showing a dramatic change in the area where the collapse happened. We Energies says significant progress has been achieved, and added that new estimates have the amount of material that went into Lake…

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DNR: Residents Can Help Resolve Coyote Issues

Making a lot of noise and showing dominance over your yard can go a long way.

Homeowners worried about coyotes can utilize a few simple tips that are surprisingly effective to help keep coyotes at bay. After a Mount Pleasant resident's beloved dog was killed by a coyote last month, the state Department of Natural Resources issued a coyote alert for Racine County. But according to Tim Lizotte, area wildlife supervisor for Southeast Wisconsin, coyote reports are about average for the year. "We usually get one or two a week, and that's been about the same for this year," he said. "Coyotes are our number one nuisance animal call." Paul Vance lives in Mount Pleasant. On Facebook he wrote, "We live right off 90th street by the new village hall and can hear them at night." Sturtevant resident Cathryn DiPietro said she sees…

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UPDATE: The Turkeys That Terrorized Erie Street In Caledonia Are No More

They caused a pretty big raucous and made the Village President (and others) pretty mad, but the Caledonia Police solved the problem.

UPDATE: During a Village Board meeting on Dec. 6, 2011, Village President, Ron Coutts, received a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon from a resident, who was poking a little fun at him for his intolerance of turkeys in his yard. While Coutts gave the bottle back, he explained to the audience how the turkeys had become a nuisance. ORIGINAL STORY: Two wild turkeys that chased people into their garages and caused traffic back-ups in the 5800 block of Erie Street won’t be a problem anymore. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a permit to the Caledonia Police Department to shoot the birds on Saturday morning. Ron Coutts, the Village President, told Toby Schey, the chief of police for Caledonia, last week that the turkeys had …

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DNR Raises Air Quality To Red

But here's what you need to know about air quality numbers.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has elevated the air quality index to red, which means people may have health effects from breathing in the air. While the index says the pollutants range between 150 to 200 for Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, the number represents an average for pollutant levels over the past 24 hours. Jerry Medinger, supervisor of the transportation and monitoring team at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said the pollutant levels are already dropping, but they likely won’t lower the air quality index until 11 p.m. “That’s a problem we have in reporting,” Medinger said. “You have to wait for 24-hour average of pollutants before you do any reporting. You may have had hours of …

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Smoky Haze From Minnesota Fire Increasing Hourly, DNR says

As smoke from a Minnesota wildfire flows across Wisconsin, state agencies are fielding calls from concerned residents about the smell.

Sussex Fire Chief Colin Curtis woke up this morning to the smell of smoke. He then started driving around the Sussex area to see if anyone might be conducting some sort of “burn pile,” on a day he said was much too windy for something like that. That's when he received the information about smoke from a Minnesota wildfire migrating over Wisconsin and into Illinois and even Michigan. The U.S. Forest Service is requesting additional assistance in controlling and extinguishing the 60,000-acre Pagami Creek fire.  Local fire departments and law enforcement agencies all across metro Milwaukee are fielding phone calls from concerned residents regarding the smoky haze, and Department of Natural Resources Air Monitoring Section Chief Bart …

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