I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK, A TREK INTO THE
NORTHWOODS FOR AN UPDATE ON THE
STATE'S LARGEST WHITE-TAILED
DEER STUDY.
>> WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HUNTERS.
OVER 400 NOW.
>> PLUS, WITH THE RISING PRICE
OF GAS, A COMMUNITY CAR MIGHT BE
THE BEST OPTION.
>> I SAVE $600 A MONTH.
>> AND IT'S FINALLY MAPLE SYRUP
TIME.
FOR 80 YEARS, THAT SPRING RHYTHM
COULD BE HEARD ON THIS ATHENS,
WISCONSIN FARM.
THOSE REPORTS NEXT ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
>>
ALLIANT ENERGY.
WE'RE ON FOR YOU.
AND ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE, OSHKOSH, AND
MINNEAPOLIS, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS, PROVIDING
CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
>> WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH ONE
OF WISCONSIN'S ICONIC ANIMALS.
THE WHITE-TAILED DEER IART OF
OUR CULTURE, COMMERCE AND
COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW, THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
IS IN THE FIRST STAGES OF A
MULTON DOLLAR EFFORT TO
ANALYZE THE DEER POPULATION BY
TRACKING BIGKS AND FAWNS.
>> WE'VE GOT EXPANDING WOLF
POPULATIONS, AND THERE'S
EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT OUR
BLACK BEAR POPULATION ALSO IS
GREATER THAN WE PREVIOUSLY
THOUGHT.
WE'VE GOT COYOTES, BOBCATS.
>> AND AS "IN WISCONSIN"
REPORTER JO GARRETT DISCOVERS,
THEY'RE COUNTING ON THE HELP OF
CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE
STATE AND IN SHAWANO COUNTY.
>> THERE'S A LINE WHERE WE WANT
TO ATTACK IT.
>> A RESEARCHER FOR THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES.
>> WHEN IT'S ON, WE WANT TO HAVE
THREE FINGERS WIDTH BETWEEN
THEIR NECK AND THE COLLAR.
>> THEY'S TALKING RADIO COLLARS
FOR WHITE-TAILED DEER.
IT'S PART OF A FIVE-YEAR STUDY.
FUNDED BY THE DNR, ASSISTED BY
VARIOUS GROUPS, BUT ULTIMATELY
MADE POSSIBLE BY PEOPLE LIKE HIS
RESEARCH ASSISTANT FOR THE DAY.
>> WE DO THE SAME THING.
>> PAUL OF SHAWANO, A HUNTER,
ONE OF HUNDREDS WHO HAVE
VOLUNTEERED TO HELP.
PROJECT DIRECTOR.
>> WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HUNTERS,
OVER 400 NOW.
>> THE NEED IS VAST.
THE STUDY AREAS ARE HUGE.
THERE'S ONE IN THE NORTH
CENTERED AROUND WINTER AND A
SECOND CENTERED AROUND SHAWANO.
>> WE NEED ANOTHER BOWL.
>> GIVEN THE SCOPE OF THE
PROJECT AND THE SIZE OF THE DNR
RESEARCH STAFF, THEY NEED PEOPLE
LIKE PAUL.
AND THE PROJECT PRESENTS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HUNTING
COMMUNITY TO SEE HOW THE DNR
DOES ITS WORK AND BE PART OF
THE PROCESS.
>> SHOULD BE ABLE TO YANK THIS
UP SOME.
>> THERE'S PEOPLE THAT DON'T
BELIEVE ANYTHING THE DNR SAYS.
THEY COULD TELL YOU THE SUN IS
COMING UP TOMORROW AND THESE
PEOPLE WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
AND THIS WAY I THINK IF GET
PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH IT, IF IT
COMES FROM SOMEBODY OUTSIDE THE
DNR, YEAH, HEY, I WATCHED THIS,
AND THIS DID THIS.
>> AFTER A LOT OF PREP WORK,
NETS IN PLACE, THEY HUNKER DOWN.
THE DEER MOVE IN.
>> NET DROP.
>> THE CREW HURRIES IN AND IT'S
HANDS-ON.
>> YOU WANT TO GET THEM TOGETHER
LIKE THIS.
>> OKAY.
TIEM ALL FOURETHER.
>> BLOOD IS DRAWN.
DATA COLLECTED.
AND LONG-TIME DEER HUNTER
EXPERIENCES DEER RESEARCH
UP-CLOSE.
>> BIG, BIG DEER IN THERE,
THOUGH.
>> IN THE NORTHERN SECTION, THE
RESEARCH CREW WAIT, HOPING FOR A
BUCK.
KNOWING THEY MUST SAFELY NET AN
ANIMAL 150 PLUS POUNDS.
>> IT'S A BUCK.
>> QUICKLY.
IT TAKES A GOOD SIZE CREW TO
COLLECT THE DATA AND CONTROL THE
DEER.
IT'S A PROJECT WITHTH TO IT.
>> GET SOME BLOOD.
>> THEY WHISPER.
TO HELP LOWER THE ANIMAL'S
STRESS LEVEL.
>> AND EVERY PIECE OF
INFORMATION ADDS TO THE OVERALL
PICTURE OF THE POPULATION.
>> ALL DONE.
>> THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO BEGIN
THE DAY.
TRAP NUMBER ONE AND A BUCK
CAPTURED, SO WE'RE HAPPY.
>> LOOKS SO SMOOTH, DOESN'T IT?
>> WELL DONE.
>> THAT'S THEIC OF EDITING.
>> WELL DONE, GUYS.
>> T COMPRES.
BECAUSE CAPTURING DEER ISN'T
EASY.
>> ANOTHER REASON MANY
VOLUNTEERS ARE NECESSARY.
>> THEY'RE HUNGRY ENOUGH TO PUT
SOME TENSION ON THE WIRES.
>> THERE'S PROBABLY A GREAT
REALITY SHOW TO BE PRODUCED
SOMEDAY.
>> I JUST NEED THIS.
>> CAL FIELD RESEARCH.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S JUST A THING OF BEAUTY.
I LIKE IT.
>> SHOWING THE BACKGROUND, THE
NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE WORK.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE MANY
TIMES WHEN THE DEER DON'T SHOW.
>> AS YOU CAN SEE OFTEN HAPPENS,
DOOR IS DOWN BUT NOBODY IN IT.
WE OFTEN HAVE SQUIRRELS THAT
WILL TRIP THE TRIGGER.
>> AND THEN THERE ARE THE DEER
YOU CAN'T GET RID OF.
>> WHAT IS IT?
SAME B AGAIN?
>> LIKE A BAD HOUSE GUEST THAT
JUST WON'T GO AWAY.
>> READY TO GO.
>> THAT BUCK WE CAPTURED
YESTERDAY, RECAPTURED AGAIN.
>> THEY CALL THEM --
>> YOU LITTLE DEVIL.
>> -- RECAPTURES.
>> RECAPTURED AGAIN, SO THAT'S
WHAT WE CALL A TRAP-HAPPY YOUNG
BUCK.
HE'LL BE IN AGAIN TOMORROW.
AT THIS POINT WE PROBABLY
RECAPTURED PROBABLY CLOSE TO 100
ANIMALS.
THIS PARTICULAR ANIMAL KNOWS THE
DRILL.
HE WALKS IN, EATS, WE OPEN THE
DOOR AND HE RUNS.
HE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.
>> A LITTLE CORN, LIGHTS OUT,
THEY SLEEP, SAFE AND SOUND.
>> THERE IS AMONG THESE
RESEARCHERS A GREAT RESPECT FOR
THE ANI
THEY'VE EXPERIMENTED WITH A
VARIETY OF NETTING TECHNIQUES,
INCLUDING HELICOPTER CAPTURE.
THERE WERE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS
WITH THE CHOPPER, BUT ALSO A
CONCERN IN DEER MORTALITY FROM
THE STRESS OF THE HELICOPTER
CAPTURE.
THIS RESEARCH ELEMENT WILL BE
EVALUATED AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE
INCLUDED IN THE COMING YEARS.
>> HOWEVER, USE OF
VOLUNTEERS WILL ONLY INCREASE.
>> IF A GUY CAN HELP SOLVE SOME
DEER HUNTING ISSUES, DEER
POPULATION ISSUES, WHY NOT HELP?
>> YOU CAN BE PART OF SOMETHING,
ALMOST LIKE A REALITY SHOW,
CALLED FIELD RESEARCH.
AND IF WISCONSIN IN WINTER IS A
BIT TOO REAL, THERE IS A
SPRINGTIME OPTION.
>> I'M CHECKING FOR PREGNANCY,
AND SHE'S PREGNANT.
>> AS PART OF THE PROJECT,
RESEARCHERS ARE PLACING VAGINAL
TRANSMITTERS IN PREGNANT DOES.
THEY'LL TRACK THESE DEER, AND
WHEN THEY GIVE BIRTH, THEY
DROP THEIR FAWN, THEY'LL DROP
THE TMITTER TOO.
THE RADIO SIGNAL WILL CHANGE,
AND VOLUNTEERS AND RESEARCHERS
WILL RETURN TO THESE FS TO
FIND THE FAWNS AND FIT THEM WITH
TRACKING COLLARS, JUST LIKE MOM.
THIS HUNTER PLANS TO BE THERE.
>> THE PLAN IS TO HAVE
VOLUNTEERS CONVERGE ON THE BABY
AND OUTFIT IT WITH A FBLE
COLLAR SHORTLY AFTER IT'S BORN.
IF TRACKING FAWNS IN MAY SOUNDS
LIKE FUN, THEN VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT wpt.org/iconsin.
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS
WITH CHRIS JAKES ABOUT THE
PROJECT AND WHAT HUNTERS SHOULD
DO IF THEY FIND A DEER WITH A
RADIO COLLAR.
OUR NEXT REPORT TAKES US BACK TO
THE CITY.
THAT'S WHERE WE MET A GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO TURNEHEIR CONCERNS
ABOUT GAS PRICES AND GREENHOUSE
EMISSIONS INTO A COMMUNITY-WIDE
SOLUTION.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER ANDY
SOTH SHOWS YOU HOW SOME DRIVERS
ARE GOING GREEN AND SAVING SOME
GREEN IN MADISON.
* *
>> WHEN DAVID MOVED TO MADISON,
HE DROVE A FORD MUSTANG.
BUT NOW HE DRIVES THIS PICKUP,
THIS MINIVAN AND THIS HYBRID.
>> IF YOU NEED TO MOVE
SOMETHING, YOU HAVE THE TRUCK.
IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE A FUN CAR,
THEN YOU HAVE THE MINI COOPER.
>> HE DOESN'T OWN A FLEET OF
VEHICLES.
IN FACT, HE DOESN'T EVEN OWN A
CAR AT ALL ANYMORE.
INSTEAD, HE SHARES CAR USE WITH
A GROUP OF OTHER DRIVERS AROUND
MADISON THROUGH A BUSINESS
CALLED COMMUNITY CAR.
>> IN OCTOBER 2003 WE HAD 20
CHARTER MEMBERS AND THREE CARS
ON OUR LAUNCH DATE.
>> LOTS OF RESERVATIONS THIS
MONTH.
>> AND NOW WE HAVE OVER 600
MEMBERS AND 15 CARS.
>> CAR SHARING BUSINESSES ARE
GROWING ALONG THE COUNTRY.
LARGEST HAS LOCATIONS IN
CHICAGO AND BOSTON.
>> I THINK IT'SDERFUL.
>> FOR TOLLI VE ER THE
ATTRACTION IS S MONEY.
>> I SAVED $600 A MONTH.
I'M ONLY PAYING FOR
TRANSPORTATION WHEN I NEED IT
INSTEAD OF PAYING FOR MY CAR
WHEN IT SITS IN THE PARKING LOT.
>> COMMUNI EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AMANDA WHITE SAYS THE
PROGRAM ALLOWS MANY USERS TO GET
RID OF THEIR C
>> 57% OF MEMBERS ARE A TO
AVOID THE PURCHASE OF A CAR UPON
JOINING, WHILE 22% SELL OR
INTEND TO SELL A CAR UPON
JOINING.
>> THAT MEANS FEWER CARS ON THE
ROAD AND LESS CARBON DIOXIDE
ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE.
>> THE CARS THAT WE CHOOSE ARE
THE GREENER OPTIONS,
HYBRIDS.
>> IT IS PROVIDING A SERVICE TO
CONSUMERS THAT ALSO BENEFITS THE
ENVIRONMENT.
>> I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF A
GREENESS THAT'S DOING GOOD
AND SUSTAINING ITSELF IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> COMMUNITY CARS' GOAL IS TO
MAKE IT EASY TO BE GREEN.
CARS ARE PARKED THROUGHOUT
CENTRAL MADISON.
MEMBERS RESERVE THEM THROUGH THE
WEBSITE.
KEYS ARE KEPT IN A SECURE
LOCKBOX NEARBY.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
MEMBERSHIP PLANS.
GAS IS PAID FOR WITH A COMMUNITY
CAR CHARGE CARD.
>> SO I THE CONVENIENCE, IT'S
THE SENSE OF FREEDOM.
IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF
FREEDOM, BUT IT'S VERY
LIBERATING TO NOT HAVE THE
HASSLE AND INCONVENIENCE OF
MAINTAINING A CAR.
>> THAT LATION IS A THEME OF
COMMUNITY CAR'S MARKETING.
PERHAPS IRONIC, SINCE CAR
ADVERTISERS HAVE LONG APPEALED
TO AMERICANS' DESIRE FOR
FREEDOM.
>> IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF
AMERICAN DREAM.
WE'RE GREENING THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
>> I NOW PRONOUNCE THECEES
AND DIVRS DIVORCED.
>> THAT SPIRIT SHOWS A COMMUNITY
CAR EVENT, LIKE THE DIVORCE YOUR
CAR PARTY, WHERE DRIVERS SAIR DRIVER --
CEREMONY TO GET RID OF THEIR
VEHICLES.
WHILE THEY MAY BE HAVING FUN AND
FEELING FREE, COMMUNITY CAR IS
PROBABLY NOT FOR EVERYONUCH
AS PEOPLE WHO LIVE OR WORK FAR
FROM THE CENTRAL MADISON
LOCATIONS OR SIMPLY LOVE THEIR
CARS TOO MUCH.
>> WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE AN
ORGANIZATION FOR EVERYONE.
YOU KNOW, WE REALIZE THAT WE
HAVE A LIMITED AUDIENCE.
BUT THAT LIMITED AUDIENCE IS THE
KEY TO OUR SUCCESS.
>> THERE IS A MEMBERSHIP FEE TO
JOIN COMMUNITY CAR AND THEN
SEVERAL PAYMENT PLANS THAT FIT
YOUR LIFESTYLE.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 1300 MEMBERS
OF COMMUNITY CAR IN THE MADISON
AREA SNG 18 VEHICLES WHICH
ARE EITHER HYBRIDS OR HIGHLY
FUEL EFFICIENT.
YOU MIGHT BE DREAMING OF DRIVING
WITH THE WIND IN YOUR HAIR.
WARMER WEATHER IS ON THE WAY IN
MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
NEW RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN REVEALS BY THE YEAR
2055 OUR CLIMATE MAY LOOK MORE
LIKE MISSOURI'S.
BUT AT WHAT COST ECONOMICALLY
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY?
THAT'S PART OF OUR QUEST
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING PROJECT.
REPORT HACKETT SHOWS YOU
WHAT'S BEING DONE TO PREPARE FOR
CLIMATE CHANGE IN WISCONSIN.
>> WHILE ARGUMENTS OVER CLIMATE
CHANGE CONTINUED, SCIENTISTS
FROM UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE
MIDWEST HAVE BEEN AT WORK TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CLIMATE
CHANGE WILL MEAN TO WISCONSIN'S
ECONOMY AND ITS LANDSCA
>> AS GET CLOSER TO THE POND,
THERE ARE LENSES OF W AND
SOUPY PEAT MATERIAL.
>> IN THE NORTHERN HIGHLANDS,
AMERICAN LEGION STATE FOREST,
ALEX IS MAPPING THE SHORES AND
BOTTOMS OF WETLANDS TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT THEY WERE LIKE
CENTURIES AGO DURING A WARMER
PAST.
>> AND AS WE GO DOWN CORE
TOWARDS THE POINT, WE SEE SEEDS
OF AQUATIC PLANTS AND SLIGHTLY
LESS ORGANIC MATTER.
>> IRELAND IS FROM LEHIGH
UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA, PART
OF A TEAM HEADED BY UW-MADISON
BOTANY PROFESSOR SARAH.
>> WE'RE SING HOW THE LEVEL
OF THE LAKES HAS RESPONDED TO
PAST CLIMATE CHANGES.
RECENTLY LAKE LEVELS HAVE BEEN
VERY LOW UP THERE.
AND WE WANT TO PUT THAT IN
PERSPECTIVE.
>> THE SCIENTISTS ARE TRYING TO
PREDICT WHAT THE AREA WILL BE
LIKE IN A WARMER FUTURE.
IF THE AREA CHANGED FROM A LAKE
TO A BOG IN A WARMER PAST, WILL
IT CHANGE BACK AGAIN?
>> YOU KNOW, WITH THE CHANGES
WE'VE SEEN HISTORICALLY HAVE
BEEN ON THE COLD END OF
TEMPERATURE SCALE.
I ALWAYS JOKE THAT WISCONSIN
HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN GETTING
HOTTER, WE'VE BEEN GETTING LESS
COLD, AND THAT REALLY MEANS THAT
REALLY DURING WINTER AND
SPRINGTIME IS WHERE WE'VE SEEN
THE GREATEST WARMING OF OUR
TEMPERATURES.
WE'VE SEEN A LENGTHENING OF THE
GROWING SEASON BY UP TO TWO OR
THREE OR FOUR WEEKS IN THE
CENTRAL PART OF OUR STATE.
>> CHRIS IS A UW-MADISON
AGRONOMISTEEING RESEARCH
TO SEE HOW CORN AND OTHER CROPS
COMMONLY GROWN IN WISCONSIN WILL
RESPOND TO WARMER TEMPERATURES.
>> WE MIGHT BEN FROM SOME OF
THOSE CHANGES.
EXTENSIONS IN THE GROWING SEASON
NDOUBTEDLY ARE GOING TO HELP
US.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PLANT CROPS
EARLIER.
YOU CAN'T GO TOO EARLY.
I DON'T SEE US PLANTING CORN IN
FEBRUARY AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
THEN WE'RE OUT OF SC WITH
RADIATION COMING FROM THE SUN.
>> BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE PART OF
THIS PROJECT.
RESEARCHERS HERE ARE STUDYING
NEW CROPPING PATTERNS FOR A
DIFFERENT REASON.
WHAT IF BY GROWING SOMETHING
DIFFERENTLY FARMERS COULD HELP
CLIMATE CHANGE LESS RAPIDLY?
THIS LICENSE PLATE READS FIX
CO2.
HE'S WORKING WITH PLANTS WHICH
CAN FIX CARBON DISIE OXIDE, -- DIOXIDE,
TAKING ITF THE ATMOSPHERE.
THESE TREES ARE AN EXAMP
>> BECAUSE IT'S FAST-GROWING AND
CAN ACCUMULATE A LOT OF BIOMASS
IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WE
CAN TAKE A LOT OF CO2 OUT OF THE
ATMOSPHERE, SOAK IT UP INTO THAT
BIOMASS, TURN IT INTO WOOD
CHIPS, PULP, THINGS LIKE THAT
THAT CAN BE USED AS A BIOFUEL OR
FEEDSTOCK FOR LIQ BIOFUELS.
>> OTHER TEST PLOTSIN
OTHER CROPS ALSO SUITABLE FOR
CONVERSION TO FUELS SUCH AS
ETHANOL.
THIS IS A TROPICAL GRASS NATIVE
TO AFRICA WHICH CAN GMORE
THAN TEN FEET HIGH.
WISCONSIN MAY BE TOO COLD FOR
IT, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ALSO SWITCH G
IT INCIDENTALLY SERVED AS AN
INDICATOR OF CHANGE.
BY AUGUST IT WAS STARTING TO
TURN BROWN.
>> IT SEEMS TO HAVE REACHED ITS
POINT WHERE IT'S DECIDED IT'S
GOING TO BE MATURE AND IT'S
GOING THROUGH ITS NATURAL
PROCESS THAT WE NORMALLY MIGHT
NOT SEE UNTIL MID-SEPTEMBER.
>> CLIMATE RESEARCHERS POINT OUT
THAT WEATHER AND CLIMATE ARE TWO
DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> A LOT OF TIMES THE GENERAL
PUBLIC THINKS ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN
HAPPENING RECENTLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT'S HAPPENED IN
THE LAST FEW WEEKS, LAST FEW
MONTHS OR EVEN A YEAR.
AND THEY THINK OF THAT MORE AS
CLIMATE CHANGE.
BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE WARMING
THAT WE'VE BEEN NOTING REALLY IS
ABOUT LONG-TERM CHANGES OVER THE
COURSE OF DECADES.
>> BUT THE WINTER OF 2009-2010
FIT THE WARMING PATTERN.
>> DECEMBES A LITTLE COOLER
THAN NORMAL IN 2009, BUT LOOK AT
THE OTHER MONTHS.
TEMPERATURES WERE ABOVE AVERAGE
NEARLY EVERY MONTH THEREAFTER.
THE UNIVERSITY RIDGE GOLF COURSE
OPENED THREE WEEKS EARLIER THAN
EVER.
IS THIS CLIMATE CHANGE?
WE DON'T KNOW YET.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, THERE WAS A
BACK AND FORTH IN THE MEDIA OVER
WHETHER GLOBAL WARMING WAS
SOMETHING SCIENTISTS COOKED UP
OR NOT.
>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
THOROUGHLY VETTED SCIENTIFIC
CONSENSUSES EVER PUT TOGETHER,
BUT OF COURSE HUMANS ARE HUMANS
AND THERE ARE SOME GLITCHES AND
OVERSIGHT COULD BE BETTER.
IT'S SUCH A ROCK SOLID
CONSENSUS, BUT PEOPLE GENERALLY
SMILE A BIT AT THE NEWS CYCLE.
>> I WOULD RATHER GO OUT AND
TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND
SAY, NO, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT IT.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER GIVE THAT
PICTURE TO THE PUBLIC.
I WOULD BE NOT DOING MY JOB IN A
CREDIBLE MANNER.
AND IT WOULD BE ETHICALLY WRONG
FOR ME TO BASICALLY LIE ABOUT
THE FACTS.
>> CLIMATE CHANGE COULD HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON
WISCONSIN'S MAPLE SYRUP
PRODUCTION.
WISCONSIN IS CURRENTLY THE
NUMBER FOUR MAPLE
SYRUP-PRODUCING STATE.
THE BEST CONDITIONS?
COOL NIGHTS, JUST BELOW
FREEZING, AND WARM DAYS, IN THE
UPPER 40s.
ONE OF OUR QUEST PARTNERS IS
FINN RYAN WITH THE EDUCATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS BOARD.
THIS WEEK, HE SHOWS YOU THE
MAPLE SYRUP CONNECTION TO A LOVE
AFFAIR BETWEEN TONY SCHULTZ
NDCAT BECKER IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
>> TONY MAKES PANCAKES ALMOST
300 DAYS A YEAR.
REALLY.
THAT'S NOT A JOKE.
>> SHE TOLD ME SHE DAY DREAMED
ABOUT HAVING A FARM.
I SAID, WELL, I HAVE A FARM.
AND SO THE ROMANTIC FAMILY FARM
BECAME ALL THE MORROW MAN MORE --
MORE ROMANTIC.
IT'S A THIRD GENERATION FAMILY
FARM LOCATED IN ATHENS,
WISCONSIN.
WE'VE TAPPED TREES FOR BETWEEN
75 AND 80 YEARS, SINCE MY
GRANDFATHER HOMESTEADED THIS
PLACE.
AND WE'VE ALWAYS TAPPED IN THE
MAPLE GROVE.
>> MAPLE SYRUP SEASON REALLY
ONLY TAKES BETWEEN FIVE TO SEVEN
WEEKS TOTAL, BUT IT'S SOMETHING
THAT USHERS IN THE BEGINNING OF
FARMING SEASON FOR US.
>> I LOVE THE TRADITION.
IT'S THIS RI OF SEASONAL
PASSAGE.
AND IT'S THE ADV THE
COMING OF SPRING.
>> MAPLE SYRUP SEASON TAKES
PLACE BECAUSE THE TREES ARE
STARTING TO BREAK DORMANCY, AND
IN THAT PROCEY'RE TAKING
UP WATER THROUGH THEIR ROOTS AND
THEN STORED SUGAR FROM THE
WINTER IN THEIR ROOT SYSTEM.
WHAT'S IDEAL IS THAT THE TREE IS
STARTING TO BRING THE SUGARS
FROM THE ROOTS UP, BUT IT
DOESN'T GET ALL OF THOSE SUGARS
ALL THE WAY UP THE TREE.
IF THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AT
NIGHT, THE LIQUID FALLS BACK
DOWN.
I'M STILL AMAZED THAT SUGAR CAN
COME OUT OF THERE.
IT'S KIND OF A DANCE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE NICEST THING
ABOUT MAPLE SYRUP SEASON, IS
BOTH TAPPING AND COLLECTING,
THAT YOU HAVE USUALLY THREE TO
FIVE PEOPLE, IF NOT A FEWE,
WORKING TOGETHER, AND EVENTUALLY
AFTER SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER AND
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
EVERYONE'S SUPPOSED TO GO, YOU
KIND OF RECOGNIZE THE PATTERN
THAT EVERYBODY'S WALKING THROUGH
IN THE WOODS AND YOU TAKE YOUR
OWN LITTLE AREAS AND MOVE AS AN
INDEPENDENT PERSON, BUT KIND OF
COORDINATED WITH THESE PEOPLE TO
COLLECT SAP.
>> WE CALL IT BOILING DOWN OR
COOKING DOWN.
AND THE BOIL-DOWN TAKES PLACE
AFTER WE BRING ALL THE SAP TO
THE SHACK.
WE FIRE UP A BIG STOVE AND KEEP
CONSTANT, HOT FIRE GOING FOR
MANY HOURS AT A TIME.
AND COOK DOWN THE SAP.
TAKES ABOUT 40 GALLONS OF SAP TO
PRODUCE ONE GALLON OF MAPLE
SYRUP.
THIS YEAR-ENDED UP BEING THE
WORST MAPLE SYRUP SEASON WE'VE
EVER HAD IN THE HISTORY OF US
MAKING MAPLE SYRUP BECAUSE OF
THE DC TEMPERATURE CHANGE
AND DRAMATIC WARMUP THAT HAS
TAKEN PLACE IN THE WEEK.
WEATHER IS THE KEY PART OF THE
PROCESS.
THE CHANGING OF THE SEASON,
TREES COMING OF DORMANCY AND
HOW WEATHER SIGNALS THEM TO DO
THAT.
THE DAILYUATION OF
TEMPERATURE FROM 20 OR 25 AT
NIGHT TO 50 DURHE DAY
IS WHY MAPLE SYRUP SEASON
HAPPENS.
I LOVT FOR THE SAME RN
THAT I LOVE MY FAMILY FARM.
IT'S BECAUSE MY HOME, IT'S WHAT
WE'VEAYS DONE AND I LOVE
SWEET THINGS.
>> UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MADISON RESEARCHERS
PREDICT SUGAR MAPLES WILL BECOME
MORE STRESSED AND PRONE TO
INSECT DAMAGE IF AVERAGE WINTER
TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO
INCREASE.
WE INVITE YOU TO CHECK OUT
ADDITIONAL REPORTS AND RESEARCH
AT QUESTWISCONSIN.ORG.
THE SITE SHOWCASES OUR
MULTIMEDIA APPROACH TO
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING.
ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN," TWO ICONS WITH
STRONG CONNECTIONS TO
WISCONSIN'S CONSERVATION
MOVEMENT.
>> I HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR WITH
THIS PLACE.
>> IT'S A PLACE JOHN MUIR'S
FAMILY FARMS IN WISCONSIN.
>> I THINK MUIR IS ALIVE AND
WELL HERE.
HIS SPIRIT IS VERY STRONG YET.
>> I'M JO GARRETT, HERE AT
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
ARBORETUM AND WE'RE TRACKING.
>> ROBINS SINGING, CARDINALS
SINGING, SANDHILL CRANES
SINGING.
>> FIND OUT THE CONNECTION.
>> PLUS IT'S THE TUNE OF THE
SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEART OF
WISCONSIN.
BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A
MINNESOTA FAN FAVORITE.
WE'LL HAVE A PREVIEW OF THE UW
SPRING BAND CONCERT.
WE'LL STRIKE UP THE BAND NEXT
THURSDAY AT 7:30 RIGHT HERE ON
"IN WISCONSIN."
WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A QUIET
GET-AWAY IN THE WOODS, LOCATED
IN LEELAND SAUK COUNTY, THIS
PINE HOLLOW FEATURES A GORGE CUT
INTO THE HILLS.
IT'S OWNED BY THE NATURE
CONSERVANCY AND WAS DESIGNATED A
STATE NATURAL AREA IN 1966.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK IN WISCONSIN.
CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY
WWW.CLOSED-CAPTIONING.COM
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND
LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY.
WE'RE ON FOR YOU.
AND ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE, OSHKOSH, AND
MINNEAPOLIS, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS, PROVIDING
CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.