>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK, THE U.W. ARBORETUM
IN MADISON FIGHTS STORM WATER
RUNOFF.
>> THIS ONE MIGHT BE SORT OF
THE ULTIMATE STORM WATER PLANT
POTENTIALLY.
>> SEE HOW NATIVE PLANTS COULD
PROVIDE A SOLUTION.
PLUS AN EARTHWORM INVASION.
>> THIS IS VERY UNHEALTHY.
YOU SEE VIRTUALLY NOTHING OF
WHAT IT SHOULD BE HERE.
>> SEE HOW THE LOWLY EARTHWORM
IS CHANGING WISCONSIN'S
NORTHWOODS LITERALLY RIGHT
UNDER OUR FOOT.
AND THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING
RHINELANDER'S HODAG CREATURE
MAY BE SOLVED.
>> HODAG OR NOT A HODAG?
>> THAT'S A HODAG.
DEFINITELY.
>> DEFINITELY A HODAG.
THOSE REPORTS NEXT ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT MANAGER 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 THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH
PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING
PROVIDED BY BIKE WISCONSIN.
>> WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH A
QUEST TO FIND THE HODAG.
IT HAS A REPUTATION AS A FIERCE
BEAST WITH A MYSTERIOUS PAST.
KIND OF LIKE BIG FOOT.
IT'S A LEGEND IN THE NORTHWOODS
AND EVEN THOUGH ART HACKETT HAS
BEEN TO ONEIDA COUNTY MANY
TIMES, ON THIS TRIP HE MAY HAVE
UNCOVERED THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS
MYTH -- MYTHICKAL OR NOT SO
MYTHICKAL CREATURE IN
RHINELANDER.
>> THE HODAG PERMEATES THE
CULTURE OF ONEIDA COUNTY SEAT.
THE CRITTERS ARE ALL OVER
DOWNTOWN, A HODAG IS THE HIGH
SCHOOL'S MASCOT, SOUVENIRS, YOU
WANT THEM, RHINELANDER HAS GOT
THEM.
THEN THERE'S THE BIG HODAG IN
FRONT OF THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE OFFICE.
*
>> ON A FOGGY DAY, THE HODAG
CAN LOOK LIKE THE FIERCESOME
CREATURE OF THE WOODS IT WAS
WHEN THE LEGEND BEGAN.
>> WE WERE CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
OUTSIDE OF RIND LANER.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMETHING BIT.
>> THE LEGEND IS SPOOKED AT
TOURISTS.
>> AFTER A BEAUTIFUL DAY OF
RIDING THE TRAILS IN
RHINELANDER, WE SAW IT.
>> IT ATE HALF A DONUT.
>> THE OFFICIAL STORY IS THAT
THE HODAG IS THE PRODUCT OF THE
IMAGINATION OF AN EARLY LOGER
IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
HOWEVER, "IN WISCONSIN" HAS
DISCOVERED WHAT MAY BE THE REAL
STORY OF THE HODAG.
FIRST, THE TRADITIONAL VERSION.
WE TRACKED DOWN CHRIS DRIES, A
LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER.
>> I'M THE UNOFFICIAL HODAG
RESEARCHER.
>> HE ALSO PLAYED A BIT IN THE
HODAG TV COMMERCIALS.
AT LEAST WE THINK IT'S HIM.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ELUSIVE
ELEMENTS IN THIS STORY.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
>> WELL, PRETTY MUCH WENT BACK
TO 1893 WITH EUGENE SHEPARD.
HE WAS A LOGER, BUSINESSMAN AND
APPARENTLY HAD HEARD RUMORS OF
THE HODAG OR A CREATURE OF SUCH
AND THEY DEVELOPED THE STORY
ACCORDINGLY.
>> PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORDS
HEARD OF THE HODAG.
THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT LATER ON
IN THIS STORY.
>> IT DEVELOPED OVER A COUPLE
OF YEARS AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY
HAD AN OFFICIAL SHOWING OF THE
HODAG AND A PUBLIC EXHIBITION
AS TO THE CREATURE.
ABOUT 1895.
>> THE OFFICIAL HISTORICAL
SOCIETY PLAQUE NOTES THIS WAS A
WOODEN PUPPET CONTROLLED BY
WIRES.
THERE IS THIS PICTURE OF THE
CAPTURE OF A HODAG.
IT IS THE BASIS FOR OCCASIONAL
PAGEANTS WHERE THE EVENT IS
RECAOETED.
THIS ONE WAS IN 1950.
AN ACTUAL HODAG, NO ONE CLAIMS
IT IS.
>> THIS WAS JUST BASICALLY A
TALL TALE TOLD BY LOGERS?
>> WELL, APPARENTLY THERE HAD
BEEN PRIOR TO EUGENE SHEPARD'S
DISCOVERY, IT HAD BEEN RUMORED
THROUGHOUT THE U.P. THAT THERE
WAS A CREATURE IN THE WOODS OR
SIMILAR TO A HODAG.
>> DRIES RUNS A WEBSITE.
HODAG SIGHTINGS.COM.
SO FOR PURPOSES OF THIS STORY,
HE IS OUR GUY.
>> WE HAVE WHAT WE THINK MAY BE
A HODAG SIGHTING.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THIS IS AN ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPH.
>> A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ABOUT 50
MILES NORTHEAST OF RHINELANDER
IN LAKE SUPERIOR PROVINCIAL
PARK IN ONTARIO.
THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN RIGHT AT
WATER LEVEL ON THE SHORE OF THE
GREAT LAKE'S GREATEST LAKE.
>> HODAG OR NOT A HODAG?
>> THAT'S A HODAG.
DEFINITELY.
>> ACTUALLY, IT IS
MISSHEPEHIEU, A FIGURE DRAWN BY
A OJIBWA.
>> BOB BIRMINGHAM IS AN
ANTHROPOLOGY PROFESSOR.
>> MISSHEPEHIEU IS A PART OF A
TRADITION THAT EXTENDS
THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN PART OF
THE UNITED STATES AND EVEN
GOING INTO THE GREAT PLAINS OF
A GREAT MAN TAOU OR SPIRIT
BEING OR BEINGS THAT INHABIT
WATER.
>> THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF
NATURAL RESOURCES ESTIMATES THE
PICTOGRAPHS WERE CREATED
BETWEEN 150 AND 400 YEARS AGO.
THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE
SPIRIT ARE COMMON ENOUGH THAT
ONE IS SEEN IN AN EFFIGY MOUND
NEAR BOB BIRMINGHAM'S HOME IN
MADISON.
>> HEAD, LEG, ANOTHER LEG HERE,
BODY COMING ACROSS HERE AND
THEN TERMINATING IN A VERY LONG
TAIL.
SGLAOL DR. THERESA SCHENK OF
THE U.W. MADISON NATIVE
AMERICAN STUDIES DIFFERENT IS A
OJIBWA.
SHE AGREES MISSHEPEHIEU WAS A
POWERFUL SPIRIT.
>> IT EVEN TRANSPOSES AS A LION
WHO LIVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
SLEEVE OF OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR
AND WHO DRAWS DOWN TO THEIR
DEATH.
>> BUT SHE HAD TO LOOK UP A
PICTURE OF THE HODAG.
>> DID THE PICTURES OF THE
HODAG YOU SAW REMIND YOU OF
MISSHEPEHIEU?
>> NO WAY.
HE WAS COMPOSED OF TOO MANY
ANIMALS.
>> THERESA SCHENK SAYS PEOPLE
ARE THROWN OFF BY THE
PROJECTIONS ON THE CREATURE'S
BACK.
>> I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY WANTS
THOSE THINGS ALONG HIS BACK TO
BE SOMETHING CONNECTED TO A
LIZARD, BUT IT'S REALLY THE WAY
THEY DEPICTED THE HAIR.
>> BUT BIRMINGHAM, WHO IS A
FORMER STATE ARCHEOLOGIST SAYS
EUGENE SHEPARD DID MEET A
OJIBWA.
>> IT IS POSSIBLE THEY CAME
ACROSS PAINTINGS OF THIS
PARTICULAR IMAGE.
MANY OF THE WATERS THEMSELVES
WERE OBSERVE OBSERVE OR PART
OJIBWA.
>> THEY MAY HAVE SAID THERE WAS
A CAT-LIKE BEING.
>> ON THE LAKES BUT NOT IN THE
FOREST.
>> WHEN WE SHOWED CHRIS DRIES
THE PHOTO, HE WAS INTRIGUED.
>> THAT INDICATES SOME OF THE
RESEARCH I'VE DONE AS WELL, ART.
I HAVE SOME MANUSCRIPTS THAT GO
WAY BACK BY THE FRENCH
EXPLORERS THAT INDICATE IN
FRENCH THE LANGUAGE THAT THERE
WAS A FEATURE AS RUMORED WHEN
THEY CAME THROUGH HERE.
>> WHEN YOU'RE IN THE BUSINESS
OF PROMOTING RHINELANDER TO
VISITORS, AN EXOTIC, CULTURAL
CONNECTION SELLS, IF THERE IS
ONE.
*
>> OH, NO.
I THINK THEY CREATED THE HODAG.
*
>> TO AT TO THE MYSTERY, AFTER
OUR INTERVIEW, THERESA SCHENK
DID MORE CHECKING AND FOUND
REFERENCES TO A WATER SPIRIT
THAT HAD SERPENT LIKE QUALITIES.
BUT SHE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING
IN NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITION
LIKE THE HODAG.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
ARBORETUM IS CELEBRATING 75
YEARS OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN
ITS WORLD CLASS COLLECTION OF
RESTORED ECO SYSTEMS.
BUT WITH ALL OF THIS SUCCESS,
THE ARBORETUM NOW FACES AN
ENVIRONMENTAL QUANDRY, A
CHALLENGE THAT FACES MANY
CITIES IN WISCONSIN.
THE TINE CIVIC MINDS ARE
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS AND TURNING
TO NATIVE PLANTS IN THE HOPES
OF A SOLUTION IN MADISON.
>> PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO THE
UNIVERSITY ARBORETUM FOR MANY
REASONS.
A WALK IN THE WOODS, A STROLL
THROUGH A PRAIRIE OR A BIKE
RIDE ALONG THE TREE LINED DRIVE.
IT'S AN ISLAND OF NATURE
SURROUNDED BY CITY.
>> WE'VE GOT NEARLY TWO SQUARE
MILES.
1200 ACRES, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF A MEDIUM SIZED CITY.
>> THE ARBORETUM STAFF WELCOMES
VISITORS BUT THEIR PRIMARY
MISSION, IN ADDITION TO
RESEARCH, IS TO RESTORE AND
CONSERVE THIS RARE COLLECTION
OF HISTORIC PLANT COMMUNITIES.
IT'S A MISSION THAT'S BECOME
HARDER SINCE THEY STARTED BACK
IN 1934, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
RAINS.
THE CITIES AROUND THEM HAVE
GROWN LARGER, ADDING ROOFTOPS,
SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAYS AND
PARKING LOTS.
TODAY, RAIN WATER NO LONGER
SOAKS INTO THE GROUND WHERE IT
FALLS.
>> THE ARBORETUM IS DOWNHILL
AND WATER FLOWS DOWNHILL SO
THERE IS SOME INEVITABLE
CONSEQUENCE OF BEING AT THE
BOTTOM OF A WATER SHED
SURROUNDED BY AN URBAN AREA.
>> AN ESTIMATED 470 MILLION
GALLONS OF STORM WATER POURS
INTO THE OR BORE ITEM EVERY
YEAR.
THIS STORM WATER CARRIES WITH
IT A WHOLE HOST OF PROBLEMS.
>> WE'RE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT SEDMENT AND NITROGEN AND
MINERALS, SALTS AND OTHER
CONTAMINANTS FROM AROUND THE
WATER SHED ENTERING INTO THE
WEDLANDS OF THE NATURAL AREAS
OF THE ARBORETUM.
>> EROSION IS ALSO A CONCERN.
CURTIS PRAIRIE IS CONSIDERED BY
MANY TO BE THE JEWEL OF THE
ARBORETUM BECAUSE IT'S THE
OLDEST RESTORED PRAIRIE IN THE
WORLD.
SNAKING THROUGH THE CENTER IS A
DEEPENING TRENCH CARVED OUT BY
STORM WATER.
EVEN WORSE, AN INVASIVE SPECIES
CALLED REED CANARY GRASS SEEMS
TO THRIVE IN STORM WATER AND
NOW GROW AS LONG THIS TRENCH.
THREATENING TO CROWD OUT THE
NATIVE SPECIES THAT BELONGS
HERE.
THIS AERIAL PHOTO SHOWS HOW THE
GREEN SWATH OF REED CANARY
GREEN SURVIVED EVEN THE FIRE
USED TO CONTROL WEEDS IN THE
PRAIRIE.
>> RECIPE IS RIGHT FOR THE
GROWTH OF THE CANARY GRASS.
>> ANOTHER SET OF PROBLEMS HAS
CREPT UP DOWNSTREAM.
STORM WATER ENDS UP IN LAKE
WINGRA.
>> THE WEST END OF LAKE WINGRA
IS FILLING UP WITH STORM WATER
FROM THE WEST SIDE OF MADISON
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE LILY
PADS AND THE FISH AND OTHER
SPECIES CAN'T MOVE INTO THE
AREA ANYMORE THAT IT'S CHOKING
OFF THAT PART OF THE LAKE.
>> PHOSPHORUS IS A PROBLEM
BECAUSE IT FEEDS ALGAE IN LAKES.
OLD DETENTION PONDS ARE
SCATTERED AROUND THE ARBORETUM
BUT NO LONGER UP TO THE JOB.
THE LARGE STAKE HOLDERS,
INCLUDING THE CITY OF MADISON,
COMMITTED TO SPENDING SOME $6
MILLION IN A FIVE-YEAR EFFORT
TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
ONE OF THE NEWLY DREDGED PONDS
HAS FEATURES DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY FOR URBAN SETTINGS.
>> IT'S A CONTAINMENT FOR BAY
THAT'S DESIGNED TO COLLECT ANY
KINDS OF PETRO CHEMICAL SPILLS
THAT MIGHT COME FROM A TRAILER
TIPPING OVER ON A BELT LINE,
FOR EXAMPLE, GASOLINE OR DIESEL
FUEL.
AND WE CAN COLLECT THAT IN THE
FOREBAY BEHIND ME AND REMOVE IT
BEFORE IT GETS INTO THE POND
ITSELF AND ONWARD INTO THE
ARBORETUM.
>> THE ARBORETUM IS WORKING ON
AN UNCONVENTIONAL ELEMENT.
IT'S A WETLAND BASIN THAT WILL
SERVE AS THE FIRST STOP FOR
STORM WATER.
HERE THEY'RE PLANTING SEEDS FOR
AN EXPERIMENT USING NATIVE
PLANTS.
>> THE GENERAL QUESTION IS CAN
NATIVE PLANTS BE USED IN STORM
WATER STRUCTURES LIKE WE HAVE
AT THE ARBORETUM TO IMPROVE
WATER QUALITY AND DECREASE
WATER QUANTITY THAT EVENTUALLY
GOES INTO LAKE WINGRA.
>> THEY WANT TO FIND OUT IF THE
PLANTS CAN PERFORM SPECIFIC
FUNCTIONS LIKE CROWDING OUT
INVASIVE SPECIES, SOIL
RETENTION AND THE ABILITY TO
QUICKLY CHANNEL WATER DEEP INTO
THE GROUND.
ONE PLANT IN THE MIX IS FALSE
SUNFLOWER.
>> AND THIS ACTUALLY IS FAIRLY
GOOD AT ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS,
POTENTIALLY.
IT HAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF ABOVE
GROUND BIOMASS, A LOT OF LEAVES
GROWING.
A FAIR AMOUNT OF ROOTS IN THE
UPPER SIX INCHES OF THE SOIL
AND THEN ALSO A FAIRLY DEEP
ROOT SYSTEM ITSELF.
SO THIS ONE MIGHT BE SORT OF
THE ULTIMATE STORM WATER PLANT
POTENTIALLY AND WE'LL FIND OUT
FROM THE RESEARCH.
>> THE SEED MIX INCLUDES A
TOTAL OF 27 NATIVE SPECIES
PLANTED IN DIFFERENT DENSITIES
IN A GRID PATTERN.
IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN A YEAR
TO LEARN THE INITIAL RESULTS
FROM THIS RESEARCH.
INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP
OTHER WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES
STRUGGLING WITH THE NEGATIVE
EFFECTS OF STORM WATER RUNOFF.
>> THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER
GREEN SPACES AROUND THE
COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD THAT
FACE SIMILAR ISSUES SO AGAIN,
IF WE CAN FIND CREATIVE
SOLUTIONS TO THESE IMPACTS,
THEN I THINK THERE'S A REAL
UPSIDE TO THAT.
>> NATURAL SOLUTIONS TO STORM
WATER ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
EVER.
CONSIDER THIS RECENT REPORT BY
THE WISCONSIN INITIATIVE ON
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS.
IT PROJECTS IN THE NEXT 45
YEARS, EXTREME STORMS THAT DUMP
TWO OR MORE INCHES OF RAIN WILL
INCREASE IN WISCONSIN,
RESULTING IN MORE FLOODING.
HOMEOWNERS CAN ALSO TAKE STEPS
TO REDUCE STORM WATER RUNOFF.
JUST LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE AT
wpt.org, THEN SCROLL DOWN AND
CLICK ON "IN WISCONSIN" FOR
MORE INFORMATION.
NEXT WEEK "IN WISCONSIN" TAKES
YOU BACK TO THE U.W. ARBORETUM
FOR A LOOK AT THE SCIENCE OF
PHENOLOGY.
IT TRACKS THE FIRSTS FOR EVERY
SEASON, FIRST ROBIN, FIRST
SNOWFALL AND WHEN THINGS
SPROUT, BUD AND BLOSSOM IN ANY
GIVEN YEAR.
IT'S INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO
THE STUDY OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE HOPE YOU JOIN US TO WATCH
THE SEASONS CHANGE AT THE
ARBORETUM, NEXT THURSDAY AT
7:00 ON "IN WISCONSIN."
IT'S A SURE SIGN OF SPRING WHEN
YOU SPOT AN EARTHWORM.
THEY'RE GOOD FOR PLANTS IN THE
GARDEN.
IN FACT, EUROPEANS IMPORTED
SEVEN DIFFERENT SPECIES OF
EARTHWORMS WHEN THEY FIRST
ARRIVED IN THE NEW WORLD.
AND FOR DECADES, ANGLERS HAVE
BEEN DUMPING LEFT OVER WORMS.
NOW THE LITTLE WORMS ARE
CAUSING BIG PROBLEMS.
THIS WEEK "IN WISCONSIN"
REPORTER JO GARRETT SHOWS YOU
HOW EARTHWORMS ARE CHANGING THE
NORTHWOODS, LITERALLY RIGHT
UNDER OUR FEET IN BAYFIELD
COUNTY.
>> THIS IS A TALE OF TWO
FORESTS RUNNING ON EITHER SIDE
OF A GRAVEL ROAD.
THINK OF IT AS FOREST A AND
FOREST B.
TWO FORESTS THAT TOGETHER TELL
A STORY.
>> WE'RE IN THE GREAT DIVIDE
DISTRICT IN BAYFIELD COUNTY.
THIS IS PRETTY TYPICAL OF
NORTHERN HARDWOOD FOREST.
A SUGAR MAPLE DOMINATED FOREST.
>> STEVE SPIKERMAN, A PLANT
ECOLOGIST IS VERY UNHAPPY WITH
THE PART OF THE FOREST A.
>> THIS IS VERY UNHEALTHY.
YOU SEE VIRTUALLY NOTHING OF
WHAT SHOULD BE HERE.
>> LOOK DOWN.
>> THE THING THAT I'M LOOKING
AT HERE IS THE GROUND.
>> THE STORY IS IN THE GROUND.
>> KIND OF AN INVASION FRONT
MOVING THROUGH THE FOREST.
>> AN INVASION IN THE SOIL.
TO SEE HOW IT WORKS, TAKE A
LOOK AT THE FLOOR OF FOREST B,
THE HEALTHY FOREST.
FOREST B HAS DUFF.
WHAT IS DUFF?
>> DUFF IS THE COLLECTION OF
LEAVES AND OTHER MATERIAL THAT
HAS FALLEN AND IT CREATES A
LAYER OVER THE MATERIAL SOIL.
IT CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM AN INCH
TO SIX OR SEVEN INCHES DEEP.
>> IT SITS ON TOP, LIKE
FROSTING.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT FOREST A.
THE UNHEALTHY FOREST.
FOREST A IS LOSING ITS FROSTING.
>> SO WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE
COURSE OF, SAY, THE PAST 20,
30, MAYBE 100 YEARS, IS THAT
THE SOIL HAS LITERALLY CHANGED.
IT'S GONE FROM A SOIL THAT WAS
VERY DEEP IN LEAF LITTER AND
THE STUFF FROM THE TREES TO A
SOIL THAT'S LITERALLY JUST DIRT.
>> THE DUFF HAS VANISHED.
IT'S DOWN TO BARE DIRT.
CONTRAST WITH FOREST B.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE DUFF, THE
EARTH IS SPONGY FEELING.
>> FOREST B HAS THE RIGHT
STUFF, DUFF.
WHAT HAPPENED TO FOREST A?
>> WORMS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
EARTHWORMS.
TO THE DISMAY OF FORRESTERS AND
ECOLOGISTS, THE FORESTS OF
NORTHERN WISCONSIN HAVE BEEN
INVADED BY SEVEN DIFFERENT
SPECIES OF EUROPEAN EARTHWORMS.
AND THEY'RE PLOWING THROUGH
THIS DUFF LAYER LIKE
CONTESTANTS AT A PIE EATING
CONTEST.
>> THEY LITERALLY EAT IT.
THEY PULL IT DOWN, THEY DIGEST
IT, THEY CONSUME IT.
>> WHAT?
WEREN'T THERE ALWAYS WORMS
THROUGH THE NORTHWOODS?
ANSWER, NO.
THESE TREES ARE RATHER RECENT.
>> 8,000 YEARS AGO, 10,000
YEARS AGO THIS WAS COVERED BY A
MILE THICK SHEET OF ICE.
WHEN THAT ICE MELTED, GLACIERS
RETREATED.
OVER SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS,
THIS AREA WENT FROM BARREN TO
TUNDRA TO FOREST, PROBABLY
3,000 YEARS AGO, THE SPECIES WE
SEE HERE NOW MOVED IN AND
ESTABLISHED THE FOREST.
THE FOREST WAS ESTABLISHED IN
THE ABSENCE OF EARTHWORMS.
>> IN THEIR NATURAL STATE, THE
WOODS ARE WORM-FREE.
AND THIS IS WHERE CONVENTIONAL
WISDOM.
>> THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT WORMS
ARE A GOOD THING.
>> COLLIDES WITH REALITY.
>> MANY OF THE PLANTS THAT
EVOLVED IN THIS KIND OF SYSTEM
NEED THE DUFF.
IT WON'T DO WELL ON RAW MINERAL
SOIL.
>> WITHOUT DUFF, SOME PLANTS
CAN DIE.
>> WHITE TRILIUM, THE VIOLET,
WILD LEEKS, SPRING BEAUTY,
BLOODROOT.
>> THESE PLANTS BLOSSOM IN
SPRING AND THEN THEY FADE.
NOW THEY SEEM TO BE GONE FOR
GOOD.
>> THOSE PLANTS SIMPLY CEASED
TO EXIST HERE.
>> HE SIFTS THROUGH THE
EVIDENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE
WORMS.
>> ANOTHER TELL TALE SIGN THAT
THERE WERE WORMS HERE, WHAT
LOOKS LIKE SMALL STICKS ARE THE
RIB OF LAST YEAR'S LEAVES.
ALL THEY LEFT BEHIND WERE THE
RIBS OF THE LEAVES.
>> THE LOSS OF THE DOWN LEAVES,
THE DUFF, CAN EFFECT STANDING
TREES.
>> THEY GROW AT THE BASE OF THE
SUGAR MAPLE.
YOU CAN SEE THE MOSS SHSHD
NATURALLY BE ON THE MAPLE.
IT'S A LINE ON THE BOTTOM OF
THE TREE.
THE SOIL HAS LITERALLY GONE
FROM HERE TO THERE.
WE SEEN PLACES WHERE THE FOREST
FLOOR IS LITERALLY DROPPED SIX,
SEVEN, EIGHT INCHES.
YOU LOSE THE SOIL AROUND YOUR
BASE AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE
SOME REAL EFFECTS.
WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN TREES THAT
ARE MAYBE HALF THIS DIAMETER
BEGIN TO TOPPLE OVER BECAUSE
THEY NO LONGER ARE ROOTED IN
WHAT THEY NEED TO BE ROOTED
INTO.
>> THEY NEED THE DUFF.
IT'S TRUE FOR STANDING TREES,
IT'S TRUE FOR SEEDLINGS.
>> IF YOU IMAGINE SOMETHING
THAT'S YOUNGER THAN THIS TRYING
TO GET STARTED OUT ON THIS BARE
DIRT, THE MOISTURE ON A SUMMER
LIKE THIS SUMMER WHERE WE HAD
ALMOST TWO MONTHS WITHOUT RAIN
HERE, A YOUNG TREE IS SIMPLY
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
SURVIVOR ON THIS BARE DIRT.
YOU LOSE THAT TOO MANY SUMMERS
IN A ROW, YOU LOSE A GENERATION
OF TREES.
>> YOU LOSE THE ANIMALS THAT
GROW AND LIVE IN THESE DOWNED
LEAVES.
>> SALAMANDERS, SPRING PEEPERS,
WOOD FROGS, SMALL MA'AM AMS,
DIFFERENT TYPES OF MICE THAT
WOULD BE LIVING IN THE LEAF
LITTER THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT
HERE BECAUSE THE LEAF LITTER IS
GONE.
>> SO IF THE WORMS AROUND
NATIVE, HOW DID THEY GET HERE?
>> WHEN THE FIRST FARMERS CAME
FROM EUROPE TO NORTH AMERICA,
THEY BROUGHT PLANTS, THEY
BROUGHT ANIMALS, THEY BROUGHT
WORMS.
FOLLOWING THE CUT OVER HERE
AROUND 1900, THIS AREA, A LOT
OF IT WAS SOLD OFF AS FARMS.
THERE WERE FARMS DOTTED ALL
THROUGH THIS NATIONAL FOREST Z.
FARMING BROUGHT WORMS AND
FISHING BROUGHT WORMS.
>> YOU GET DONE WITH YOUR DAY
OF FISHING, PULL BACK UP TO THE
BODY LANDING.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE WORMS?
I'M GUILTY OF THIS, TOO.
I HAVEN'T DONE IT IN A NUMBER
OF YEARS NOW BUT YOU DUMP THE
WORMS OUT.
GREAT SPOT THERE.
WORMS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO
BURROW IN, THEY'RE GOING TO
LIVE.
WELL, YOU'VE JUST INTRODUCED A
NONNATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES TO
THE NORTH WOODS.
>> WE'VE BROUGHT THEM HERE.
WHAT'S NEXT?
>> TWO YEARS AGO WE WALKED OVER
4,000, 5,000 ACRES, RIGHT IN
THIS AREA AND TRIED REALLY HARD
TO FIND PLACES THAT DIDN'T HAVE
WORMS AND WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
AND OUR SUPPOSITION IS THERE
MIGHT BE ONLY 15% OF THE FOREST
NOW WITHOUT WORMS.
I WOULD HATE TO TAKE A GUESS
HOW MANY WORMS ARE HERE BUT IT
MIGHT BE IN THE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS PER ACRE.
>> GIVEN THOSE NUMBERS,
SOLUTIONS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY
AND FOREST B MAY SOON RESEMBLE
FOREST A.
>> WORMS ARE SOMETHING YOU
DON'T SEE.
THEY'RE SOMETHING YOU DON'T
TYPICALLY THINK ABOUT AND THE
CHANGES THAT THEY'RE DOING ARE
SO PROFOUND, CHANGING ENTIRE
SOIL STRUCTURE OVER MULTIPLE
STATES.
THIS IS LITERALLY A PROBLEM
FROM THE EAST COAST TO THE WEST
COASTS.
BEING DONE BY SPECIES THAT WE
CAN'T SEE.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE AND WE
BOUGHT OUR FARM, THE FIRST
THING WE DID IS DUG IN THE SOIL
AND FOUND WORMS.
THE FIRST RESPONSE WAS OH,
GREAT, WE HAVE WORMS.
NOW I DIG IN THE SOIL AND I GO,
OH, GREAT.
WORMS.
>> THE GREAT LAKES WORM WATCH
IS A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT.
AND WITH THE WISCONSIN FISHING
OPENER ON SATURDAY, MAY 1, IT
HAS ADVICE FOR ANGLERS.
YOU CAN FIND THE LINK ON OUR
WEBSITE AT wpt.org AND THEN
SCROLL DOWN AND CLICK ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM, IT
RECOMMENDS DUMPING YOUR EXTRA
WORMS INTO THE TRASH, NOT INTO
THE LAKE AND NOT ON THE LAND.
TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT SOME OF
THE REPORTS WE ARE WORKING ON
FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> I'M ART HACKETT.
I'LL SHOW YOU WHY IT TAKES A
RESEARCHER FROM HALFWAY AROUND
THE WORLD TO SAVE ONE OF
WISCONSIN'S NATIVE LANGUAGES.
>> I DON'T FEEL WE'LL LOSE THE
LANGUAGE.
BUT WE'RE NEARLY THERE.
>> FIND OUT WHAT THE HO-CHUNK
LANGUAGE, GERMANY AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN HAVE IN
COMMON.
>> THIS IS ANDY SOTH.
THERE COULD BE A NUKE CATCH TO
YOUR FRIDAY NIGHT FISH FRY.
>> I THINK IN WISCONSIN WE
COULD REALLY DO SOME WONDERFUL
THINGS WITH FISH FARMING.
>> I'LL SHOW YOU HOW
AQUACULTURE WORKS.
>> I'M JO GARRETT HERE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON
ARBORETUM AND WE'RE TRACKING
CATHY MINER.
FIND OUT WHAT THE CONNECTION IS
BETWEEN CATHY'S PURPLE BOOKS
AND WISCONSIN CONSERVATION
HERO, ALDO LEOPOLD.
THOSE REPORTS NEXT THURSDAY AT
7:00 ON OUR STATEWIDE NEWS
MAGAZINE PROGRAM "IN WISCONSIN."
>> FINALLY A VISIT TO MILE AN
HOUR ULT PRAIRIE.
IT'S SITUATED MIDWAY BETWEEN
THE LANDS TO THE EAST AND
DRIFTLESS AREAS IN WESTERN
WISCONSIN.
THE MURALT BLUFF PRAIRIE WAS
DESIGNATED A STATE NATURAL AREA
IN 1977.
ENJOY THE VIEW AND HAVE A GREAT
WEEK "IN WISCONSIN."
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY.
FOR BRINGING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, WE'RE ON FOR
YOU.
AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH
PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS, WITH ADDITIONAL
FUNDING PROVIDED BY BIKE
WISCONSIN.
>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN" --
>> I DON'T FEEL WE'LL LOSE THE
LANGUAGE.
WE ARE NEARLY THERE.
>> A RACE AGAINST TIME IN
WISCONSIN TO SAVE THE NATIVE
LANGUAGE.
PLUS THIS LITTLE PURPLE BOOK
CONTAINS MOTHER NATURE'S
SECRETS.
SEE WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
ARBORETUM AND ALDO LEOPOLD'S
LEGACY.
THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON "IN
WISCONSIN" ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN" --
>> I DON'T FEEL WE'LL LOSE THE
LANGUAGE.
WE ARE NEARLY THERE.
>> A RACE AGAINST TIME IN
WISCONSIN TO SAVE THE NATIVE
LANGUAGE.
PLUS THIS LITTLE PURPLE BOOK
CONTAINS MOTHER NATURE'S
SECRETS.
SEE WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
ARBORETUM AND ALDO LEOPOLD'S
LEGACY.
"IN WISCONSIN" TONIGHT AT 7:00
ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> I'M ART HACKETT.
I'LL SHOW YOU WHY IT TAKES A
RESEARCHER FROM HALFWAY AROUND
THE WORLD TO SAVE ONE OF
WISCONSIN'S NATIVE LANGUAGES.
>> I DON'T FEEL WE'LL LOSE THE
LANGUAGE.
WE ARE NEARLY THERE.
>> FIND OUT WHAT THE HO-CHUNK
LANGUAGE, GERMANY AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN HAVE IN
COMMON.
>> THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON "IN
WISCONSIN."