>> IT'S MEMORIAL DAY

WEEKEND AND WE ARE

HERE AT THE STATE

CAPITOL IN MADISON.

LATER IN THE PROGRAM

WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT

SOME OF THE SPECIAL

SERVICES OUR STATE

HAS PLANNED FOR

TODAY. HELLO,

EVERYONE. WELCOME

TO "IN WISCONSIN."

I'M PATTY LOEW.

THIS WEEK FIND OUT

WHY THE ACTIONS OF

THIS YOUNG MARINE

MADE HIM ONE OF THE

MANY HEROES OF THE

IRAQ WAR.

HE JUMPED ON THE

FIRST HUMVEE AND AS

THEY WENT DOWN THE

ROAD THEY CAME TO AN

INTERSECTION SIMILAR

TO THE ONE THAT'S

RIGHT HERE.

20 MARINES WENT IN.

ONLY 8 CAME OUT.

>> ONE OF THESE

GREEN BAY STUDENTS

SPEAKS ENGLISH AS A

FIRST LANGUAGE, THE

OTHER SPANISH.

FIND OUT HOW THEY'RE

TAUGHT IN THE SAME

CLASSROOM WITHOUT

GOOD GRADES GETTING

LOST IN TRANSLATION.

>> THE BEST THING

YOU CAN LEARN FROM

OTHER STUDENTS, THE

LANGUAGE LIKE

ENGLISH OR THEY

LEARN FROM US IN

SPANISH.

>> AND THIS MAN HAS

DEVOTED YEARS IN

SEARCH OF AN ELUSIVE

PREDATOR.

>> I USUALLY JUST

COME DOWN AND FLIP

STUFF JUST TO SEE IF

I FIND ANYTHING.

>> GET A RARE LOOK

AT THE ANIMAL CALLED

THE FARMER'S FRIEND.

ALL THIS PLUS A LOOK

AT SOME BEAUTIFUL

PRAIRIE PLANTS "IN

WISCONSIN."

>> THE WISCONSIN

VETERANS MUSEUM IS

RIGHT OFF CAPITOL

SQUARE IN MADISON.

AND ON THIS MEMORIAL

DAY WEEKEND WE TAKE

THE TIME TO REMEMBER

ALL VETERANS,

ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO

HAVE GIVEN THEIR

LIVES FOR THEIR

COUNTRY.

THEY'RE NOT JUST

NAMES IN NEWSPAPER

STORIES OR MEMORIES

IN MUSEUMS.

THEY'RE OUR

NEIGHBORS, OUR

BROTHERS, SISTERS

AND FRIENDS.

ANDY SOTH HAS THE

STORY OF ONE OF

THOSE SOLDIERS.

>> AN INTERSECTION

IS THE MEETING OF

TWO ROADS, TWO

POSSIBILITIES.

THIS ONE IS IN

NORTHEASTERN

WISCONSIN, OUTSIDE

THE HOME OF BRIAN

JERABEK.

>> THIS IS WHERE HE

GREW UP.

HE PLAYED HERE,

KICKED THE FOOTBALL

AROUND, FISHED IN

THE POND.

>> THIS WAS HIS

HOME.

THIS IS WHERE HE

LIVED AND PLAYED AND

GREW UP.

>> THIS IS THE ROAD

WHERE HE RAN

MORNINGS BEFORE

DAWN, TRAINING HIS

MIND AND BODY

BECAUSE HE WANTED TO

BECOME A MARINE.

MARINES WHO SERVED

WITH HIM SAID HE WAS

A REALLY SPECIAL

YOUNG MAN AND A LOT

OF THEM QUESTIONED

WHAT HE WAS DOING IN

THE MARINE CORPS

BECAUSE HE WAS SO

WARM AND SUCH A

GENTLE HUMAN BEING.

>> HE BELIEVED IN

SERVING OUR COUNTRY

IN EVERY ASPECT AND

EVERY ELEMENT THAT

HE COULD MUSTER IN

HIMSELF.

HE WAS WILLING TO

GIVE OF HIMSELF

BEFORE HE WOULD TAKE

ANOTHER PATH IN

LIFE.

>> JERABEK HOPED TO

RETURN TO HIS HIGH

SCHOOL AS A HISTORY

TEACHER AFTER

COLLEGE.

HIS LOVE OF HISTORY

CAME FROM HIS LOVE

OF COUNTRY, SO FIRST

HE CHOSE A DIFFERENT

PATH.

WHEN THAT TOOK HIM

TO IRAQ, TO A PLACE

CALLED RAMADI, A

STRONGHOLD OF THE

IRAQI INSURGENCY.

>> MEN WERE PINNED

DOWN IN THE

EUPHRATES RIVER.

HE HAD JUST COME

OFF.

HE HAD ASKED THE

SERGEANT TO GO

ALONG.

THE SERGEANT TOLD

HIM TO STAY BEHIND,

NO, STAY BEHIND.

RYAN SAYS, NO, MAKE

ROOM, I'M COMING.

SO RYAN JUMPED ON

THE FIRST HUMVEE.

AS THEY WENT DOWN

THE ROAD ALONG WITH

TWO OTHER HUMVEES

THEY CAME TO AN

INTERSECTION SIMILAR

TO THE ONE THAT'S

RIGHT HERE AND 20

MARINES WENT IN AND

ONLY 8 CAME OUT.

>> AND NOW THIS

INTERSECTION IN

NORTHEASTERN

WISCONSIN IS LINKED

FOREVER TO THAT ONE

THOUSANDS OF MILES

AWAY.

THIS POND IS TO THE

EUPHRATES RIVER,

THIS LAWN WHERE HE

THREW A FOOTBALL TO

THAT SPOT WHERE HE

LOST HIS LIFE.

>> RYAN WAS THE LAST

MARINE STANDING ON

HIS GUN.

WE KNOW THAT HE WAS

HIT FIVE TIMES, KEPT

HIS MACHINE GUN

GOING, SAVED THE

LIFE OF 8 OTHER

MARINES UNTIL THE

FATAL SHOT.

>> HERE THE JERABEK

FAMILY BUILT A

MEMORIAL TO RYAN AND

THE OTHER MARINES

THAT FELL THAT DAY.

>> PRESENT ARMS.

>> IT WAS DEDICATED

IN THE FALL OF 2004.

IT WAS HERE A YEAR

LATER THAT THE

JERABEKS RECEIVED

RYAN'S POSTHUMOUSLY

AWARDED BRONZE STAR.

>> BUT HE WASN'T

THERE FOR THE

MEDALS.

HE WAS THERE TO DO

HIS DUTY AND COME

HOME.

WE'RE PROUD OF HIM.

I HOPE THE STATE OF

WISCONSIN IS PROUD

OF HIM.

>> WHAT HE DID IS AN

EXTRAORDINARY ACT OF

COURAGE.

BUT KEN ALSO SEES IT

AS AN ACT OF

KINDNESS.

>> IT'S HARD.

HE WAS SUCH A WARM,

SPECIAL YOUNG MAN,

SO TALENTED AND SO

LOVING.

HE ALWAYS HAD A HUG

FOR EVERYBODY.

HE NEVER HAD

ANYTHING BAD TO SAY

ABOUT ANYTHING.

HE'D ALWAYS BE OUT

TO HELP SOMEBODY.

THAT WAS EVIDENT ON

THAT DAY.

HE COULD HAVE STAYED

BEHIND.

HE COULD HAVE STAYED

BEHIND.

BUT HIS BROTHERS

WERE IN TROUBLE AND

HE JUMPED ON THAT

HUMVEE WITHOUT

HESITATION AND WENT

INTO COMBAT AND LOST

HIS LIFE.

>> RYAN JERABEK'S

LIFE JOURNEY WAS CUT

TRAGICALLY SHORT,

BUT THE MEASURE OF

LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS

IN ITS LENGTH, BUT

IN THE WAY IT

INTERSECTS WITH

OTHERS.

>> HOW MUCH LOVE HE

HAD FROM OTHER

PEOPLE, HOW PEOPLE

THOUGHT ABOUT HIM,

HOW MANY LIVES HE

TOUCHED AND IS

CONTINUING TO TOUCH.

>> HE LOVED WHAT HE

WAS DOING.

HE LOVED HIS BROTHER

MARINES AND HE GAVE

HIS LIFE TO PROTECT

HIS BROTHER MARINES.

AND ALWAYS IN HIS

HEART WAS THE

THOUGHT OF

PROTECTING US.

>> AS LONG AS I'M

ALIVE, I'LL KEEP

THIS ALIVE AND KEEP

IT GROWING SO THE

PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN

AND THE NATION DON'T

FORGET THE

SACRIFICE.

>> AT 18 RYAN

JERABEK WAS THE

YOUNGEST WISCONSIN

SOLDIER KILLED IN

IRAQ.

RYAN'S MEMORIAL IS

ON THE JERABEK

FAMILY PROPERTY, BUT

THEY ENCOURAGE THE

PUBLIC TO VISIT.

YOU CAN FIND

DIRECTIONS TO IT ON

OUR WEB SITE AT

WPT.ORG/INWISCONSIN.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND

OUT ABOUT THE

MEMORIAL DAY

SERVICES TAKING

PLACE HERE AT THE

CAPITOL.

>> WE LIVE IN AN

INCREASINGLY GLOBAL

AND CONNECTED

SOCIETY, A WORLD IN

WHICH WE HAVE ALMOST

INSTANT ACCESS TO

EVENTS IN IRAQ AND

WHERE WISCONSIN

CORPORATIONS CAN DO

BUSINESS WITH

FOREIGN COMPANIES

HALF A WORLD AWAY.

IT'S A WORLD WHERE

OUR CHILDREN WILL

NEED SKILLS THEIR

GRANDPARENTS NEVER

DREAMED OF.

HERE'S HOW ONE

SCHOOL IN GREEN BAY

IS HELPING ITS

STUDENTS MEET THAT

CHALLENGE.

>> DANZ ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL IN GREEN BAY

LOOKS LIKE MOST

OTHER SCHOOLS IN

WISCONSIN AND FOR

5TH GRADERS MARSHALL

AND DIEGO THIS

HISTORY CLASS IS

PRETTY MUCH LIKE ANY

OTHER, WITH ONE

IMPORTANT

DIFFERENCE.

WHAT MAKES THIS

CLASS SPECIAL IS

TODAY ALL THEIR

CLASSES WILL BE

TAUGHT IN SPANISH.

TOMORROW THEY WILL

ALL BE TAUGHT IN

ENGLISH.

ONE DAY IN SPANISH,

THE NEXT IN ENGLISH.

IT'S ALL PART OF AN

INNOVATIVE LANGUAGE

PROGRAM.

>> THE PROGRAM IS

CALLED THE TWO-WAY

DUAL IMMERSION

PROGRAM.

THE GOAL OF THE

PROGRAM IS TO HAVE

THE CHILDREN GO

THROUGH THE PROGRAM

ENTERING AT

KINDERGARTEN AND BY

THE END OF 5TH GRADE

BE FLUENT IN BOTH

ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

>> THAT CONSTANT

EXPOSURE ALL DAY

LONG REALLY DOES

SPEED UP LANGUAGE

ACQUISITION.

>> THE DUAL

IMMERSION PROGRAM IS

DESIGNED TO TEACH A

SECOND LANGUAGE TO

BOTH NATIVE ENGLISH

SPEAKERS LIKE

MARSHALL AND NATIVE

SPANISH SPEAKERS

LIKE DIEGO.

>> IT'S FUN BECAUSE

YOU'RE NOT JUST

DOING ONE THING.

IT'S KIND OF BORING

TO DO THE SAME

THINGS.

>> THE BEST THING IS

YOU CAN LEARN FROM

OTHER STUDENTS THE

LANGUAGE THAT LIKE

ENGLISH OR LIKE THAT

THEY LEARNED FROM US

IN SPANISH AND ALL

THAT AND WE LIKE ARE

LIKE A WHOLE

COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

>> THAT'S NOT TO SAY

THE PROGRAM DOESN'T

PRESENT CHALLENGES

TO THE STUDENTS.

>> THE THINGS LIKE

THE WORDS ARE

DIFFERENT ON THE

GAMES AND IT'S

JUST -- IT'S KIND OF

CONFUSING SOMETIMES.

>> THE HARDEST THING

IS THAT SOMETIMES WE

LEFT OFF IN A LESSON

THAT WE WANTED TO

FINISH IN THAT

LANGUAGE AND THEN

THE NEXT DAY WE HAVE

TO DO IT IN THE

OTHER -- IN THE

DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.

>> THE BILINGUAL

DUAL IMMERSION

PROGRAM STARTED AT

DANZ ELEMENTARY FIVE

YEARS AGO.

TEACHERS WHO WERE

PULLING CHILDREN OUT

OF THE CLASSROOM FOR

INDIVIDUALIZED

LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION

BEGAN SEARCHING FOR

A BETTER WAY TO

TEACH.

>> BEFORE WE HAD THE

PULL OUT PROGRAM AND

WE TOOK THE KIDS OUT

OF THE CLASSROOM.

ADD A TEACHER I WAS

FEELING REALLY -- IT

WASN'T A GOOD

FEELING TAKING THEM

OUT.

AND SELF-ESTEEM WAS

VERY LOW FOR THOSE

KIDS.

OTHER CHILDREN WERE

MAKING FUN OF THEM

BECAUSE THEY WERE

NOT SMART TO BE IN

THE CLASSROOM WITH

THEM.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF

THE REASONS WHY WE

STARTED TALKING

ABOUT INTEGRATION.

>> MANY TEACHERS

LIKE EVA OLAVE SAY

THEY'VE DISCOVERED

BENEFITS THAT GO

BEYOND LANGUAGE

LEARNING.

>> PEOPLE FROM MY

CULTURE SOMETIMES

IT'S SEEN AS -- AND

SOME OTHER PEOPLE

SEE HISPANICS

SPEAKING SPANISH AS

SOMETHING NEGATIVE

AND MANY TIMES OUR

NATIVE

SPANISH-SPEAKING

STUDENTS FEEL

EMBARRASSED TO SPEAK

SPANISH OR ASHAMED

THAT SPANISH IS

THEIR SECOND

LANGUAGE, AND WHAT I

SEE HAPPENING IN

THIS PROGRAM IS THAT

THEY GET TO SEE

THEIR NATIVE

ENGLISH-SPEAKING

PEERS LEARNING

SPANISH AND THEY GET

TO FEEL PROUD ABOUT

LIKE THEIR HERITAGE,

THEIR CULTURE AND

THE LANGUAGE THAT

THEY SPEAK.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN

BENEFITS TO OUR

NATIVE ENGLISH

SPEAKERS IS THAT

THEY ARE LEARNING

ABOUT A DIFFERENT

CULTURE.

THEY'RE LEARNING

ABOUT SOMETHING A

MORE GLOBAL SOCIETY.

AND THAT

UNDERSTANDING

BRIDGES

RELATIONSHIPS.

IT EXPANDS THEIR

FRIENDSHIPS.

AND IT BUILDS

CONFIDENCE.

>> IT'S NICE BECAUSE

LIKE WHEN -- 'CUZ IF

YOU KNOW ENGLISH AND

THE OTHER PEOPLE

NEED TO HELP THEM,

IT KIND OF MAKES YOU

FEEL GOOD ABOUT

YOURSELF LIKE, OH, I

KNOW THIS, I CAN

HELP THEM.

>> ACCORDING TO THE

TEACHERS, THE

SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE

AND CULTURE HAS ALSO

FOSTERED FRIENDSHIPS

AND UNDERSTANDING.

>> I SEE THEM

WORKING TOGETHER, A

LOT OF FRIENDSHIPS

AND THAT IS GREAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

IT'S THE SOCIAL PART

THAT I SEE IS VERY

UNIQUE, WHAT I SEE

IN THIS PROGRAM.

IN THE ACADEMIC I

SEE THE KIDS

LEARNING.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING

BEHIND, WHICH IS THE

CONCERN OF ANY

PARENT AND TEACHER.

>> RATHER THAN

FALLING BEHIND,

TEACHERS BELIEVE

THAT STUDENTS IN THE

BILINGUAL IMMERSION

PROGRAM ARE DOING AS

WELL OR BETTER THAN

STUDENTS IN A MORE

TRADITIONAL SETTING.

>> THE CHILDREN ARE

SCORING AT OR ABOVE

THEIR PEERS ON THE

STANDARDIZED TESTS

THAT WE TAKE.

AND RESEARCH SAYS

THAT THAT WILL

HAPPEN, AND WE HAVE

PROOF.

WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF

THAT SUCCESS.

>> THE

ADMINISTRATORS AND

TEACHERS AT DANZ

SCHOOL HAVE FOUND

THAT THE DUAL

IMMERSION PROGRAM

DOES REQUIRE SOME

ADDITIONAL

RESOURCES.

>> THE EXTRA COSTS

THAT WOULD BE

INVOLVED IN

IMPLEMENTING THIS

WOULD BE TEXTBOOKS.

OUR STUDENTS HAVE

ALL THEIR TEXTBOOKS,

SOCIAL STUDIES, MATH

JOURNALS IN SPANISH

AND ENGLISH.

EVERYTHING IS

PRESENTED IN BOTH

LANGUAGES.

SO THAT IS AN

ADDITIONAL COST, BUT

A BENEFICIAL ONE.

AS AN ENGLISH

TEACHER, MY PARTNER

AS A SPANISH

TEACHER, SHE WOULD

BE WORKING ANYWAY AT

THE SCHOOL PULLING

THESE STUDENTS OUT

FOR ENGLISH SUPPORT.

NOW WE ARE BOTH

TOGETHER IN THE SAME

CLASSROOM.

WE'RE JUST PUTTING

ALL OF OUR RESOURCES

TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM

WORKING TOGETHER.

>> AS PARENTS AND

TEACHERS PREPARE

CHILDREN TO SUCCEED

AND THRIVE IN A MORE

COMPLEX SOCIETY,

INNOVATION LIKE THIS

PROGRAM AT DANZ

ELEMENTARY MAY

PROVIDE THEM WITH

THE TOOLS THEY WILL

NEED IN THE FUTURE.

>> MY DAD ALWAYS

TELLS ME IF YOU

STICK WITH IT AND

GET OLDER, YOU GET A

JOB, YOU CAN HAVE

ANY JOB YOU WANT

BECAUSE YOU'RE

BILINGUAL AND YOU

CAN SPEAK TO

ANYBODY.

>> LIKE MARSHALL WAS

SAYING MY PARENTS

SAID I LEARNED BOTH

LANGUAGES.

WHEN I'M OLDER I CAN

GET A GOOD, GOOD

JOB.

>> OUR CHILDREN ARE

GROWING UP IN A MUCH

MORE GLOBAL SOCIETY

THAN SOME OF US GREW

UP IN AND THIS JUST

PREPARES THEM FOR

SUCCESS IN THE

FUTURE.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO

GO.

>> THANKS TO

PRODUCER DEAN THOMAS

FOR THAT REPORT AND

WISCONSIN PUBLIC

RADIO REPORTER PATTY

MURRAY FOR NARRATING

IT.

>> THIS IS THE TIME

OF YEAR WHEN MANY OF

US ENJOY THE WARMER

WEATHER GETTING OUT

AND TAKING A HIKE.

WHILE SOME OF US

ENJOY THE SCENERY,

OTHERS ARE LOOKING

FOR EXERCISE.

ONE MAN HAS A

TOTALLY DIFFERENT

AIM ALTOGETHER.

HE'S IN SEARCH OF AN

ELUSIVE ANIMAL THAT

CAN REACH 8 FEET IN

LENGTH.

JOANNE GARRETT HAS

MORE.

>> JOSH KAPFER IS

LOOKING.

>> I USUALLY JUST

COME DOWN AND FLIP

STUFF JUST TO SEE IF

I FIND ANYTHING.

>> LOOKING HARD.

FOR SNAKES.

>> IT'S SO HARD TO

RESIST.

>> KAPFER IS A PH.D.

CANDIDATE AND AN

INSTRUCTOR AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF

WISCONSIN IN

MILWAUKEE.

>> OH, COME ON.

>> AND A

HERPETOLOGIST.

>> WHEN YOU'RE

FLIPPING THESE

PIECES OF TIN,

THERE'S SUCH

ANTICIPATION.

LIKE WILL THIS BE

THE ONE THAT THERE'S

A SNAKE UNDER.

AND THEN WHEN

THERE'S NOT ONE,

IT'S LIKE, OH MAN,

SKUNKED.

>> I'M OUT HERE

LOOKING FOR

BULLSNAKES.

>> THIS IS THE SNAKE

IN KAPFER'S SIGHTS,

THE BULLSNAKE.

IT'S THE SUBJECT OF

HIS 3-YEAR DOCTORAL

RESEARCH PROJECT.

>> A BULLSNAKE IS A

LARGE CONSTRICTOR

FOUND IN WISCONSIN,

THE LARGEST SNAKE

SPECIES IN

WISCONSIN.

IT CAN APPROACH 8

FOOT.

THE LARGEST

INDIVIDUAL IS

NEARING 6 FOOT,

WHICH IS AN

IMPRESSIVE SNAKE.

>> 6 FEET.

BULLSNAKES ARE BIG.

BUT ELUSIVE.

KAPFER CURRENTLY HAS

RADIO TRANSMITTERS

LIKE THESE.

>> THIS IS WHAT THE

TRANSMITTERS LOOK

LIKE.

THIS IS THE WHIP

ANTENNA.

>> SURGICALLY

IMPLANTED IN 14

SNAKES.

THE TRANSMITTERS

HELP, BUT THE BULK

OF THE SNAKES IN HIS

RESEARCH ARE FOUND

BY EYEBALLING.

>> I SHUDDER TO

THINK HOW MANY

SNAKES I'VE JUST

WALKED PAST HERE

>> BULLSNAKES ARE

BIG AND ELUSIVE AND

IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT

BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY

EAT, LOTS OF

RODENTS, INCLUDING

RATS, WHICH IS WHY

THE SNAKE IS OFTEN

CALLED THE FARMER'S

FRIEND.

THEY CAN SAVE

FARMERS SIGNIFICANT

SUMS IN RODENT

CONTROL.

>> A SINGLE

BULLSNAKE CAN SAVE

THE AVERAGE FARMER

$400 A YEAR.

YOU FREQUENTLY FIND

THEM IN AGRICULTURAL

SETTINGS.

AGRICULTURE ATTRACTS

RODENTS, WHICH

ATTRACTS BULLSNAKES.

>> BUT ITS NUMBERS

ARE DECLINING.

IT'S LISTED AS A

PROTECTED SPECIES IN

WISCONSIN, WHICH

MEANS IT CAN'T BE

CAPTURED, POSSESSED

OR KILLED WITHOUT A

SPECIAL PERMIT FROM

THE DEPARTMENT OF

NATURAL RESOURCES.

THE BULLSNAKE IS

SELDOM SEEN AND

LITTLE STUDIED.

>> VIRTUALLY NOTHING

HAS BEEN DONE ON

THIS SNAKE IN THE

UPPER MIDWEST AND

IT'S ON THE DECLINE.

>> KAPFER'S RESEARCH

IS CRITICAL TO

GAINING BASIC

INFORMATION ABOUT

THE BULLSNAKE.

IT'S RESEARCH THAT

REQUIRES A LOT OF

LEG WORK.

>> ESSENTIALLY THIS

IS THE BEST WAY TO

LOOK FOR SNAKES, IS

TO COME TO AN AREA

WHERE YOU THINK

THERE MIGHT BE

SNAKES AND JUST WALK

AROUND HERE AND

THERE AND HERE AND

THEN BACK THERE.

>> THE SITE OF

KAPFER'S STUDIES IS

A DRY PRAIRIE IN THE

SOUTHERN PART OF THE

STATE, MUCH OF IT

OWNED AND MANAGED BY

THE NATURE

CONSERVANCY.

>> THIS LOOKS LIKE A

PRIME SPOT.

>> IT'S A GREAT

PLACE FOR

BULLSNAKES, NOT SO

MUCH FOR HUMANS

LOOKING FOR AN EASY

HIKE.

>> THIS THICKET IS

ACTUALLY VERY TAME

COMPARED TO SOME OF

THE VEGETATION THAT

I HAVE TO PUSH

THROUGH, RASPBERRIES

UP TO YOUR CHEST.

THERE COULD BE A

TIMBER RATTLE SNAKE,

DEER TICKS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO

COMPLAIN.

HOW COULD THIS NOT

BE BETTER THAN

SITTING IN AN OFFICE

ALL DAY?

BUT AT THE SAME

TIME, THERE ARE DAYS

WHEN YOU'RE UP TO

YOUR CHEST IN

RASPBERRIES AND YOUR

ARMS ARE BLEEDING

AND YOU THINK WHAT

AM I DOING THIS FOR?

BUT THAT'S HOW YOU

SEE COOL STUFF, IS

BY WALKING AROUND

AND FINDING THINGS.

>> COOL STUFF.

>> WE'RE GETTING

CLOSER NOW.

>> HERE'S AN

EXAMPLE.

>> OH, LOOK AT THAT.

LOOK IT, LOOK IT,

LOOK IT, LOOK IT.

LOOK AT THAT.

THIS IS A FEMALE

ORNATE BOX TURTLE.

THIS IS AN

ENDANGERED SPECIES

IN WISCONSIN.

CUTER THAN HECK.

LOOK AT THAT.

LOOK AT THE FACE.

THIS IS A HUGE FIND.

THIS IS A TURTLE

THAT HAS BEEN ALMOST

COMPLETELY

EXTIRPATED DUE TO

POACHING.

HABITAT DESTRUCTION

IS A BIG DEAL, BUT

POACHING IS A REAL

PROBLEM.

WHAT A SHAME TO PUT

IT IN A TANK

SOMEWHERE AND NOT

LET IT LIVE IN THE

WILD WHERE IT

BELONGS.

>> THIS ANIMAL IS SO

RARE BIOLOGISTS

DON'T KNOW ITS

ACTUAL NUMBERS.

KAPFER BELIEVES

THERE ARE FEWER THAN

FIVE PLACES WHERE IT

CAN BE FOUND IN THE

STATE.

>> NICE THING ABOUT

THEM IS THEY CAN'T

GET AWAY THAT QUICK.

YOU CAN SORT OF DO

STUFF AND KEEP AN

EYE ON THEM.

>> HE TAKES DOWN

SOME DATA ON THE

TURTLE.

>> THEY'RE SO COOL.

PUT HER DOWN HERE

WHERE THERE'S SOME

COVER.

>> AND THEN IT'S

BACK TO LOOKING FOR

BULLSNAKES.

>> THEY BLEND IN SO

WELL.

IT WOULD BE SO GREAT

TO JUST HAVE THE

ABILITY TO LIFT

THESE ROCKS AND SEE

WHAT'S UNDER.

90% OF THE TIME YOU

GET SKUNKED.

THAT'S WHERE THE

THRILL IS, I GUESS,

WHEN YOU ACTUALLY

FIND THEM.

A LITTLE ONE, NOT

REAL BIG.

READY TO SHED.

>> SORT OF.

>> THIS IS A RACER.

>> WRONG SNAKE, BUT

ONE THAT MIGHT BE

EVEN RARER THAN

BULLSNAKES.

THERE ARE SO FEW

RACERS IN THE STATE

THAT SCIENTISTS ARE

UNSURE OF THE ACTUAL

NUMBER.

>> THEY'RE VERY

FAST.

THEY'VE BEEN CLOCKED

AT 4 MILES AN HOUR.

>> ALWAYS WITH

KAPFER THERE IS THAT

SENSE OF AMAZEMENT

WHEN IT COMES TO

SNAKES.

>> THE TONGUE EVERTS

AND PICKS UP SCENT

PARTICLES THAT ARE

THEN DEPOSITED IN

THE ROOF OF THE

MOUTH CALLED THE

JACOBSON'S ORGAN,

WHICH DETECTS SUN

PARTICLES LIKE WE DO

WITH OUR NOSE.

MY FASCINATION WITH

REPTILES STEMMED

FROM BEING A VERY

YOUNG CHILD AND

LOVING DINOSAURS AND

THE NEXT BEST THING

THAT WAS STILL ALIVE

IN MY YOUNG MIND

WERE REPTILES.

>> KAPFER GATHERS

DATA.

AND THEN HE'S BACK

ON THE TRAIL FOR THE

BIG COUSIN, THE

BULLSNAKE.

>> THEY DON'T EVER

MAKE IT EASY, THAT'S

FOR SURE.

I'M -- THEY GOT ME

STUMPED.

>> THIS IS PRETTY

TYPICAL.

MOST DAYS THIS

SCIENTIST DOESN'T

SEE ANY SNAKES.

SO FAR TODAY HE'S

FOUND ONLY ONE,

UNDERGROUND.

>> THE TRANSMITTERS

ARE TEMPERATURE

SENSITIVE.

RECORDING THE BODY

TEMPERATURE IS DONE

BY TIMING HOW LONG

IT TAKES TO GET A

CERTAIN NUMBER OF

BEATS.

SO WE DIDN'T SEE THE

SNAKE, BUT WE GOT

THE DATA, WHICH IS

GOOD.

THIS IS NOT FAR FROM

WHERE HE WAS LAST

WEEK.

>> THEN LESS THAN 45

MINUTES LATER --

>> WHEE!

>> WHAT HAVE YOU GOT

THERE?

>> LOOK AT THAT!

THIS IS THE

BULLSNAKE.

LOOK AT THE MUSCLES

ON THAT THING.

LOOK AT IT.

OH, MAN.

BEAUTY.

>> BEAUTY IS, OF

COURSE, IN THE EYE

OF THE BEHOLDER.

KAPFER, THE

HERPETOLOGIST, IS

HAPPILY BEWITCHED

WITH THE BULLSNAKE.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

I MEAN, THIS IS SUCH

AN IMPRESSIVE -- WHY

COULD THIS NOT BE

YOUR FAVORITE SNAKE

SPECIES IN THE

STATE?

BEAUTIFUL.

LOOK HOW BIG IT IS?

>> BIG.

NEARLY 6 FEET AND

VERY MUSCULAR.

>> YOU CAN SEE HIM

RIGHT THERE.

LOOK AT THAT MUSCLE

RIDGE DOWN ALONG THE

SIDE ALONG HERE.

THEY'RE ALL MUSCLE.

>> BULLSNAKES ARE

CONSTRICTORS, BUT

NONVENOMOUS AND NO

THREAT TO US.

>> PEOPLE TEND NOT

TO UNDERSTAND SNAKES

AND FEAR THEM.

MY GRANDFATHER SAID

THIS AND THIS AND

THIS ABOUT SNAKES.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY

JUST KILL THEM

OUTRIGHT, WHICH IS A

HUGE, HUGE SHAME.

ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.

CAREFUL NOW.

LET'S GO.

THERE.

LOOK AT THAT.

JUST LIKE THAT.

GONE.

>> IN THE LAST HOURS

OF THE DAY, KAPFER

WALKS A FARM FIELD

AND WHAT DO YOU

KNOW?

IT'S A TWO-SNAKE

DAY.

>> THEY'RE SO LARGE.

THEY'RE SO

IMPRESSIVE AND

THEY'RE SO ELUSIVE.

BE NICE.

TESTING THAT THING

OUT WITH HIS TONGUE.

WHAT THE HECK IS

THAT?

I'VE NEVER SMELLED

SUCH A THING BEFORE.

>> COULD THIS NOT BE

YOUR FAVORITE SNAKE

SPECIES IN

WISCONSIN?

THE BULLSNAKE.

THE FARMER'S FRIEND.

A PROTECTED SPECIES

THAT HAS AN ARDENT

CHAMPION IN

HERPETOLOGIST JOSH

KAPFER.

>> LOOK HOW HE HOLDS

HIMSELF IN THAT

POSITION AS I'M

HOLDING HIM UP.

>> JOSH KAPFER TELLS

US THAT MORTALITY

RATES FOR THE

SNAKES, ESPECIALLY

THE FEMALES, WERE

MUCH HIGHER THAN HE

EXPECTED BECAUSE IT

COULD BE TELLING US

SOMETHING ABOUT

FUTURE BULLSNAKE

POPULATIONS.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM.

REMEMBER YOU CAN

COME DOWN TO THESE

CAPITOL STEPS ON

MONDAY, MAY 29 AT

9:30 FOR WISCONSIN'S

"REMEMBERING THEIR

SACRIFICE" MEMORIAL

SERVICE.

IF IT RAINS, THE

SERVICE WILL BE HELD

INSIDE THE ROTUNDA.

"IN WISCONSIN" WON'T

BE SEEN IN THE

MADISON VIEWING AREA

NEXT WEEK BECAUSE OF

WISCONSIN PUBLIC

TELEVISION'S

AUCTION.

THE REST OF OUR

VIEWING AUDIENCE CAN

TUNE IN TO SEE OUR

"IN WISCONSIN"

SPECIAL "METH IN

WISCONSIN."

I'LL BE BACK IN TWO

WEEKS WITH THE FIRST

SHOW OF OUR SUMMER

SEASON.

WE LEAVE YOU NOW TO

ENJOY A WALK THROUGH

MURALT BLUFF

PRAIRIE.

FOR "IN WISCONSIN,"

I'M PATTY LOEW.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.