>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK FIND OUT WHY FOOD
PANTRIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE
SCRAMBLING TO KEEP THEIR
SHELVES STOCKED FOR HUNGRY
FAMILIES.
DISCOVER HOW THESE LITTLE GUYS
ARE TAKING WISCONSIN'S CHEESE
INDUSTRY TO THE TOP.
AND MEET THE TEAM THAT RESCUES
AND REHABILITATES ANIMALS LIKE
THIS ANIMAL.
WE'LL SHOW YOU THE FROZEN
BEAUTY OF THE LAKE MICHIGAN
SHORELINE "IN WISCONSIN."
>> 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, OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
UW HEALTH, PROVIDING SPECIALTY
AND PRIMARY CARE FOR ALL AGES
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
INFORMATION ON UW HEALTH
PHYSICIANS AND CLINICS AND ON
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
HOSPITAL IS AVAILABLE ON THE
WEB.
AND BY THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
>> AS MANY OF US BUSTLE ABOUT
PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAYS,
CONSIDERING THE LATEST TOY OR
DREAMING UP VACATION PLANS,
THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WORRIED
ABOUT NOT MAKING ENDS MEET.
RUNNING SO SHORT THEY CAN'T
FEED THEIR FAMILIES.
AS FREDERICA FREYBERG REPORTS
DEMAND AT FOOD PANTRIES ARE UP
AT THE SAME TIME THAT
GOVERNMENT SURPLUS FOOD THAT
GOES TO FEED THE HUNGRY IS WAY
DOWN.
>> MAMA.
>> 1-YEAR-OLD ALEX GOES FOOD
SHOPPING WITH HIS MOM AND, LIKE
MANY LITTLE ONES, MANAGES A
NIBBLE WHILE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
DESPITE THE FAMILIAR-LOOKING
BUSTLE OF BUSY AISLES, THIS IS
NO ORDINARY GROCERY STORE.
IT'S A FOOD PANTRY SET UP TO
ALLOW ITS CUSTOMERS TO CHOOSE
WHICH ITEMS THEY NEED AT HOME.
THIS PARTICULAR PANTRY IN DANE
COUNTY, ONE OF HUNDREDS ACROSS
THE STATE, SERVES 1,800
FAMILIES A MONTH AND THOSE
NUMBERS ARE WAY UP.
>> THEY HAVE GROWN.
IT HAS GROWN BETWEEN 20% AND
30% OVER LAST YEAR.
>> IT'S THE SECOND YEAR IN A
ROW OF SIMILAR DOUBLE DIGIT
GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR THE PANTRY.
>> WE AREN'T MAKING ENOUGH.
WE'RE MAKING ENOUGH FOR RENT
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE COME UP SHORT
WHEN IT COMES TO GROCERIES AND
STUFF.
>> SHYRA SAYS SHE AND HER
BABY'S FATHER BOTH WORK BUT AT
LOW-PAYING JOBS.
>> WE COME HERE.
I DON'T COME IN HERE, YOU KNOW,
BEING THAT WE NEED IT BUT, YOU
KNOW, IF IT HELPS ME PUT FOOD
ON THE TABLE FOR MY SON, THEN
I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I HAVE TO
DO.
>> PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS OF
FEEDING THE HUNGRY SAY MORE
THAN 60% OF FAMILIES VISITING
FOOD PANTRIES ARE WORKING
FAMILIES.
>> WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A
BAND-AID CALLED THE EMERGENCY
FOOD PROGRAMS.
WE'RE EMERGENCY FEEDING
PROGRAMS.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE BECOMING
MORE INSTITUTIONIZED TO BE SORT
OF A BASE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR
FOLKS.
>> CHRIS BROCKEL RUNS ONE OF
THE AGENCIES THAT TAKES IN
DONATED FOOD TO DISTRIBUTE TO
FOOD PANTRIES.
ONE-THIRD OF THE FOOD HERE
COMES NOT FROM FOOD DRIVES BUT
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SOME DISTRIBUTION AGENCIES GET
HALF OF THEIR FOOD FROM THE
FEDS.
A LARGE PART OF THAT FEDERALLY
SUPPLIED FOOD IS WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT BUYS BACK FROM
FARMERS TO SUPPORT PRICES IN
TIMES OF EXCESS FARM PRODUCTION.
BUT THIS YEAR THE AMOUNT OF
THAT FEDERALLY-SUPPLIED FOOD
COMING INTO WISCONSIN IS AT AN
ALL-TIME LOW.
IT HAS DROPPED 45% OVER SIX
YEARS.
THAT'S LEFT AGENCIES AND
PANTRIES SCRAMBLING TO MAKE UP
THE DIFFERENCE AT THE SAME TIME
THE DEMAND IS UP.
THE REASON FOR THE DROP IN
FEDERAL SURPLUS FOOD IS
TWO-FOLD.
FIRST, FARM PRICES HAVE BEEN
GOOD SO THE FEDS ARE NOT
SUPPORTING PRICES BY BUYING
BACK AS MANY EXCESS FARM
PRODUCTS.
SECOND, A STALLED 2007 FARM
BILL, BECAUSE AS PART OF THAT
BILL, MONEY FOR EMERGENCY FOOD
AID ALLOWS THE FEDS TO OUTRIGHT
BUY FOOD TO HELP FEED THE
HUNGRY, BUT THAT FUNDING IS
STILL SET AT 2002 LEVELS WHEN
THE LAST FARM BILL WAS PASSED.
>> THE USDA'S HANDS ARE TIED TO
GO OUT ON THE OPEN MARKET TO
BUY FOODS TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT
THEY'RE NOT GETTING THROUGH THE
PRICE SUPPORT PROGRAM.
THAT AMOUNT HAS STAYED THE SAME
SINCE 2002.
YOU COMBINE THAT WITH RISING
PRICES AND FUEL COSTS, 2002
BUYING POWER IS MUCH LESS AND
HERE WE ARE IN 2007.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THESE ARE
ORANGES.
>> THE DROP IN GOVERNMENT
SURPLUS AND SHARP INCREASE IN
NEED HAVE FOOD BANKS IN A FULL
COURT PRESS FOR FOOD LIKE AT
SECOND HARVEST WHERE THE
DIRECTOR SHOWS OFF HIS RECENT
ACQUISITION OF A SEMI LOAD OF
CITRUS.
>> IT IS FRESH, IT'S PRODUCE.
IT'S NOT PROCESSED FOOD.
>> THIS SECOND HARVEST FOOD
BANK SERVES MORE THAN 400 FOOD
PANTRIES AND MEAL SITES.
IT'S WAREHOUSE TAKES IN
MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF FOOD
EVERY YEAR.
>> MOST OF THIS FOOD COMES FROM
PLACES LIKE CISCO FOOD, SENECA,
HORMEL, OSCAR MEYER, CRAFT,
NATURE VALLEY.
THE BIG ONES AND MANY YOU'VE
NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE THAT
REGULARLY DONATE THEIR SURPLUS
TO US.
>> EVEN WITH THAT GENEROSITY,
FOOD BANKS ARE HAVING TO GET
CREATIVE TO KEEP THE SURPLUS
COMING BECAUSE MANY
MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS
HAVE LEFT TO DONATE DO TO
TIGHTER INVENTORY CONTROLS.
THIS FOOD BANK NOW THINKS
NOTHING OF BUYING UP HUGE BULK
QUANTITIES OF PRODUCTS LIKE THE
BEANS IN THESE BAGS AND HAVING
VOLUNTEERS DIVIDE THEM INTO
RETAIL PORTIONS FOR THE FOOD
PANTRY.
>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU'RE LOOKING HERE ARE THREE
VOLUNTEERS.
>> FOR PEOPLE WHOSE MISSION IS
TO END HUNGER, KEEPING PACE
WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP FEEDING
THEIR FAMILIES IS NOT GETTING
ANY EASIER.
ESPECIALLY WHEN FOOD FROM
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS HAS SEEN
SUCH REDUCTIONS.
>> WE DECLARED WAR ON POVERTY
IN THE 60s.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THAT MUCH
BETTER 40 YEARS LATER.
>> THERE ARE HAVES AND HAVE
NOTS AND NOT A LOT OF IN
BETWEEN ANY LONGER AND IT SEEMS
TO BE -- THE GAP SEEMS TO BE
WIDENING QUICKLY.
>> YOU ARE ON THE FRONT LINES
OF THAT.
>> WE'RE SEEING IT, CERTAINLY
OF THE ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN
THE FOOD PANTRY BUSINESS WE'RE
THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE.
WE START TO SEE IT FIRST
BECAUSE WE'RE EMERGENCY, THE
FIRST PLACE PEOPLE WILL GO.
>> PEOPLE LIKE SHYRA AND HER
BABY WHO HAVE BECOME REGULARS
AT THE FOOD PANTRY.
>> COME BACK IN A MONTH IF
YOU'D LIKE.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BYE.
>> BYE.
>> WELL, FOOD PANTRIES AND
DISTRIB UE TORS WELCOME ANY
TYPE OF DONATION.
THEY TELL US THE BEST WAY FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO HELP IS TO GIVE
CASH.
THE PANTRIES CAN CERTAINLY MAKE
USE OF DONATED FOOD BUT SORTING
THROUGH THE GOODS TAKES A LOT
OF TIME AND VOLUNTEERS.
A LINK TO THE AGENCIES THAT
HELP FEED THE HUNGRY CAN BE
FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE
wpt.org/inwisconsin.
AS FOR THE 2007 FARM BILL IT
WOULD BOOST FUNDING FOR THE
EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM.
IT WOULD INCREASE FROM THE 2002
LEVEL OF $140 MILLION TO $250
MILLION.
THE FARM BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE
ACTED UPON BY THE U.S. SENATE
IN THE COMING WEEKS.
WISCONSIN'S DAIRY INDUSTRY MAY
NO LONGER BE THE NATION'S
LARGEST BUT IT STILL ASPIRES TO
BE THE BEST.
ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS MAKING
SPECIALTY CHEESE.
MANY SPECIALTY CHEESES ARE MADE
FROM GOAT'S MILK.
THE STATE AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT HAS GOTTEN BEHIND
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME COAT
FARMERS.
WE TAGGED ALONG ON AN AG
DEPARTMENT FIELD DAY AT ONE OF
THE STATE'S LARGEST GOAT FARMS.
>> JEAN ZIMMERMAN IS BIG IN THE
WORLD OF WISCONSIN GOAT FARMING.
THAT'S WHY DOZENS OF PEOPLE
INTERESTED IN GOATS CAME OUT ON
A GRAY WINDY DAY FOR A STATE AG
DEPARTMENT-SPONSORED DAIRY GOAT
FIELD DAY.
>> I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT GOATS.
>> THERE WAS TREMENDOUS TURNOUT
FOR THE EVENT.
>> 78.
A COUPLE OF THEM WERE MY MOM
AND DAD AND MY BROTHER JUST
CAME FOR THE MEAL.
THEY'RE HERE EVERY DAY.
>> A MEAL THAT INCLUDED PLENTY
OF CHEESE MADE FROM GOAT'S MILK
AND IT IS THAT GROWING TASTE
FOR GOAT CHEESE THAT IS FEEDING
THE GROWING INTEREST IN GOAT
FARMING.
THE NUMBER OF DAIRY GOAT FARMS
IS INCREASING RAPIDLY.
TEN COUNTIES ARE HOME TO
BETWEEN 4 AND 10 GOAT FARMS AND
FOUR SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES HAVE
BETWEEN 11 AND 25 LICENSED
DAIRY GOAT FARMS.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF ANGST
WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE
DAIRY INDUSTRY.
CALIFORNIA IS BEATING US.
WE TOOK A LOOK AND SAID WE NEED
TO DO SOME THINGS IF WE'RE
GOING TO STOP LOSING FARMS, IF
WE'RE GOING TO STOP CLOSING
CHEESE FACTORIES.
>> IT LED TO NEW THINKING.
>> I THINK WE REALIZED HEY,
WISCONSIN IS THE NUMBER ONE
GOAT DAIRY STATE AND I BELIEVE
THE NUMBER ONE SPECIALTY CHEESE
STATE.
I THINK THEY SAID WELL, WE
CAN'T BE THE BIGGEST FOR THE
COWS SO WE'LL BE THE BEST.
>> YOU NEED ONLY VISIT THE
GROCERY STORES TO SEE THE
CONSUMER INTEREST IN SPECIALTY
CHEESE, MUCH MADE FROM GOAT'S
MILK AND MADE IN WISCONSIN.
>> THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE
THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS IS THE
TREMENDOUS HISTORY AND HERITAGE
OF CHEESE MAKING.
>> THAT CHEESE MAKING HERITAGE
DATES BACK TO THE EUROPEAN
SETTLERS.
DIANA MURPHY STARTED CHEESE
MAKING IN THE SAME WAY ONCE HER
FAMILY BEGAN TO RAISE GOATS.
>> I HAD THIS MILK AND WHAT DO
I DO WITH IT?
I STARTED TO READ BY THE AND
STARTED MAKING CHEESE IN MY
HOUSE.
I HAD MORE CHEESE THAT OUR
FAMILY COULD EAT AND I WOULD
BRING IT TO VERMONT VALLEY TO
SHARE.
>> IT IS A FARM NEAR BLACK
EARTH WHERE MURPHY WORKED.
BEFORE LONG THEY ASKED MURPHY
TO ADD HER GOAT CHEESE TO BOXES
OF FRESH PRODUCE THEY PROVIDE
MEMBERS EACH WEEK DURING THE
GROWING SEASON BUT SHE HAD TO
BE LICENSED.
>> DIANA MURPHY IS A SPECIAL
INSTANCE WHERE SHE HAD A CAREER
OFF-FARM AND DECIDED THAT SHE
WAS GOING TO MILK GOATS AND
THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE A
CHEESEMAKER, WHICH IS NOT EASY
TO DO.
IT TAKES A YEAR OR SO TO GET
THROUGH ALL THE COURSES AND DO
THE APPRENTICESHIP.
>> I TOOK MY CHEESEMAKER'S TEST
AND PASSED IT OF THE THEN I WAS
READY TO -- I COULD LEGALLY
MAKE CHEESE AND SELL IT.
>> SHE PROVIDES HER FRESH GOAT
CHEESE TO VERMONT VALLEY'S
MEMBERS AND SELLS IT AT THE
MADISON FARMERS MARKET AND SHE
ENTERED IT IN THE AMERICAN
CHEESE SOCIETY COMPETITION.
>> WHICH IS THE CREME DE LA
CREME OF SPECIALTY CHEESES IN
THE UNITED STATES.
AND SHE TOOK FIRST PLACE FOR
HER GOAT FETA CHEESE.
THAT'S A REAL SUCCESS STORY.
>> A SUCCESS THAT MANY WOULD-BE
GOAT FARMERS WOULD LIKE TO
EMULATE.
ESPECIALLY, IT SEEMS, OTHER
WOMEN.
>> I GET LOTS OF CALLS FROM
WOMEN WHO ARE INTERESTED AND
OFTEN WHEN WE HAVE FIELD DAYS,
A LOT OF WOMEN COME.
THE REASON I WENT INTO GOATS
VERSUS COWS IS BECAUSE IT'S AN
EASIER ANIMAL TO HANDLE.
THEY'RE SMALLER, OF COURSE,
THEY'RE DIFFERENT THAN COWS IN
MANY WAYS BUT JUST THE HANDLING
OF THEM IS MORE CONDUCIVE, I
THINK, MAYBE TO A WOMAN THAN A
COW WOULD BE.
>> JEAN ZIMMERMAN RAISED COWS
BUT WHEN HE GOT MARRIED HIS
WIFE CAME WITH GOATS AND BEFORE
LONG THEY MADE THE SWITCH.
>> YOU HAVE TO LOVE THEM.
THESE GUYS ARE MORE LOVEABLE.
>> WHILE THEY DO SHARE A LOVE
OF GOATS, ZIMMERMAN AND MURPHY
ARE VERY DIFFERENT GOAT FARMERS
REPRESENTING THE DIVERSITY IN
THIS GROWING INDUSTRY.
ZIMMERMAN HAS A HERD OF
HUNDREDS WHICH REQUIRES A LOT
OF MANAGEMENT.
>> IF YOU'RE NOT A DAIRY PERSON
AND DON'T HAVE HUSBANDRY SKILLS
IT WON'T WORK OUT REAL WELL.
>> THAT MEANS ARTIFICIAL
LIGHTING AND OTHER TECHNIQUES
TO KEEP THE GOATS BREEDING
BIRTHING.
MURPHY PRODUCES SEASONALLY.
ZIMMERMAN'S SHIP TO A LARGE
CHEESE FACTORY.
THE MILK FROM THE MURPHY GOATS
GETS MADE ON-SITE INTO HER
CHEESE.
>> THERE IS A LOT OF DIVERSITY
WITHIN THE DAIRY GOAT INDUSTRY
JUST AS THERE IS IN THE DAIRY
COW INDUSTRY.
>> COWS, GOATS AND SHEEP MAKE
A DIVERSE INDUSTRY.
WISCONSIN STRIVES TO EVOLVE
FROM BEING THE BIGGEST TO BEING
THE BEST.
>> AGRICULTURE IS OUR GREATEST
ECONOMIC FORCE WITHIN THIS
STATE.
>> I THINK CHEESEMAKERS WORK
TOGETHER VERY COMPLEMENTARY.
CHEESEMAKERS HELPING
CHEESEMAKERS.
WE HAVE THAT RESOURCE.
>> IT'S VERY EXCITING.
>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE DAIRY
GOAT ASSOCIATIONS THERE ARE 165
MILKING HERDS IN THE STATE AND
PRODUCE 27.6 MILLION POUNDS OF
GOAT MILK IN 2007.
>> OUR FINAL REPORT REVISITS A
PLACE WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION FIRST REPORTED ON IN
THE 1980s.
THE NORTHWOODS WILDLIFE CENTER
IN MINOCQUA.
AT THE TIME, THE CENTER WAS
ONLY SIX YEARS OLD AND WAS
LIVING A HAND TO MOUTH
EXISTENCE TRYING TO TREAT AND
RELEASE INJURED WILDLIFE.
MUCH HAS CHANGED
ENVIRONMENTALLY SINCE THEN.
IN THE EARLY 1980s, THE BALD
EAGLE WAS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
NEARLY 25 YEARS LATER VILAS AND
ONEIDA COUNTIES, THE AREA WHERE
THE CENTER IS LOCATED ARE HOME
TO THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF
WISCONSIN'S GROWING FLOCK OF
BALD EAGLES.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER ART
HACKETT EXPLAINS HOW THE
WILDLIFE CENTER HAS CHANGED TO
MEET THE AREAS EVOLVING
ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS.
>> MINOCQUA HAS NUMEROUS A
TRACTIONS FOR VISITORS, LAKES
AND SHOPS COME TO MIND BUT
PEOPLE COME TO THE NORTHWOODS
FOR NATURE SO IT'S
UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THE PLACE
CALLED THE NORTHWOODS WILDLIFE
CENTER WOULD DRAW TOURISTS.
EVERY HALF HOUR A GUIDE WALKS
VISITORS THROUGH DISPLAYS OF
ANIMALS WHICH ARE RESIDENTS AT
THE CENTER.
>> THE PERMANENT RESIDENT BIRDS
ARE THOSE INJURED BADLY ENOUGH
THAT THEY'LL NOT BE ABLE TO BE
RELEASED INTO THE WILD.
THEY GET TO STAY HERE AND BE
PART OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM.
PHOENIX HERE IS IMPRINTED ON
HUMANS.
SHE'S TOO FAMILIAR WITH PEOPLE.
SHE WAS CONFISCATED IN ALASKA
AND IN THAT SITUATION SHE HAD
BEEN PUT INTO A SMALL CAGE AND
TAKEN OUT OF HER NEST.
SHE NEVER DEVELOPED HER WING
MUSCLES FULLY SO SHE CAN'T FLY
STRONGLY AND SHE CAN'T PICK UP
FOOD AND FLY OFF WITH IT.
>> BETH BURNS IS THE CENTERS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>> MY FATHER STARTED WORKING
HERE IN 1988.
AFTER SCHOOL I WOULD COME AND
SIT WITH SOME OF THE ANIMALS
WHILE HE WAS FINISHING UP WORK.
IN 1989 I STARTED GIVING TOURS.
>> EDUCATING AND HOPEFULLY
ENTERTAINING VISITORS IS ONLY
PART OF THE CENTER'S MISSION.
THE CENTER WAS FOUNDED TO CARE
FOR INJURED WILDLIFE AND, IF
POSSIBLE, RETURN THE CRITTERS
TO THEIR NATURAL HABITAT.
THE CENTER WAS STARTED IN 1979
BY IS VETERINARIAN DR. RORY
FOSTER.
>> HE HAD A CLINIC RIGHT NEXT
TO WHERE THE BUILDING IS.
HE KEPT GETTING WILD ANIMALS IN
SO HE RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A
NEED FOR THAT.
>> FOSTER DIED IN 1987.
>> THERE ARE STILL SOME
VETERINARIANS THAT GET WILD
ANIMALS AND CALL US NOW.
WE DECIDED TO START THIS PLACE
AND START ACTUALLY CARING FOR
THE WILD ANIMALS.
>> THE PROCESS SOMETIMES
CREATES ODD SCENES SUCH AS
PEOPLE LUGGING A WOODEN CRATE
TO THE SHORE OF A LAKE.
MARK NANIOT IS THE
REHABILITATOR.
>> IT WAS HIT BY A CAR.
DIDN'T HAVE MAJOR INJURIES,
JUST SOME BRUISING, A LITTLE
SWELLING ON ONE FOOT SO HIS
RECOVERY WAS SHORT HERE AND
ONLY HERE FOR 2 1/2 WEEKS.
IT WAS A NICE, EASY ONE.
WHAT HE'LL DO IS SIT AND GET
HIS BEARINGS FOR A LITTLE WHILE
AND DECIDE WHERE HE WANTS TO BE.
WHETHER HE HAS A FAMILY
SOMEPLACE HE WANTS TO GET BACK
TO.
>> BACK AT THE CENTER THERE ARE
FIVE MORE EAGLES WITH LUCK AND
SOME HELP, THEY MAY EVENTUALLY
GET TO RIDE IN THE BOX, TOO.
WE VISITED THE CENTER ONCE
BEFORE IN 1984.
THE CENTER HAS BEEN SPRUCED UP
AND EXPANDED SINCE THEN.
NEARLY EVERYONE WE TALKED TO IN
1984 HAS MOVED ON.
ONE REMAINING CHARACTER ORSON,
A GREAT HORNED OWL.
>> HE'S OUR OLDEST PERMANENT
RESIDENT, WHICH IS SINCE 1982
AND IS MISSING HIS LEFT WING.
>> THE CENTER, WHICH IS A
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION,
DOESN'T CHARGE FOR THE TOURS.
THERE IS A DONATION BOX FOR
THOSE WHO WANT TO LEAVE A
CONTRIBUTION.
MUCH OF THE MONEY COMES FROM
SPONSORS WHO ADOPT ANIMALS.
MAUYAK, A SNOWY OWL, HAS MORE
SPONSORS BE A PBS DOCUMENTARY
AND THE CENTER ITSELF HAS BEEN
ADOPTED BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
THE AREA.
MUCH OF THE MEAT AND FISH FED
TO THE BIRDS IS DONATED BY
SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN.
WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE CENTER
THEY MAINLY SEE BIRDS.
SOME ANIMALS ARE NOT ON DISPLAY
TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE
REHABILITATIONISTS DON'T WANT
THEM TO GET TOO USED TO BEING
AROUND HUMANS BECAUSE THEY'LL
SOON BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE
WILD.
THERE ARE BEARS.
HE TAKES IN THE FOOD AND LEAVES
BEFORE THE BEARS ARE RELEASED
INTO THE FEEDING AREA.
THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF BEARS
AT THE CENTER THIS YEAR BROUGHT
IN BY VOLUNTEERS AFTER THEY
WERE FOUND BY THE PUBLIC OR BY
DNR WARDENS.
>> THE PREVIOUS RECORD WE HAD
IN ONE YEAR FOR BLACK BEARS WAS
11.
THIS YEAR WE HAD 23 COME IN AND
TURNED DOWN NINE MORE.
>> AND THERE ARE DEER.
>> THE MOTHERS OR THEY GET HIT
BY CARS.
DOG ATTACKS.
OCCASIONALLY THEY'RE FOUND
ABANDONED ON THEIR OWN.
>> ANIMAL REHABILITATIONIST
MARK NANIOT SAYS SOME OF THE
BIRDS ARE BROUGHT IN
UNNECESSARILY.
>> IN OUR AREA WE HAVE A LARGE
TOURIST BASE, PEOPLE COME UP
FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE LAKES AND
FROM THE CITIES THAT THEY DON'T
REALIZE THAT FAWNS ARE LEFT
ALONE BY THEIR MOTHERS SO THEY
SEE THE FAWN LAYING BY ITSELF.
DON'T SEE A MOTHER AROUND AND
ASSUME WE'LL TAKE THE FAWN AND
BRING IT TO THE NORTHWOODS
WILDLIFE CENTER NOT REALIZING
MOM IS TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM
THE FAWN AND NOT DRAW ATTENTION
TO IT.
>> SOME OF THE FAWNS YOU GET
ARE KIDNAP VICTIMS.
PEOPLE SOMETIMES THINK THEY
KNOW WHAT'S BEST AND YOU'RE
TELLING THEM THE WRONG THING
AND THEY'LL BRING IT IN ANYWAY.
>> UNTIL 2004, REHABILITATION
CENTERS OPERATED IN A LEGAL
GRAY AREA.
WILDLIFE BELONGS TO THE STATE
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES FORBIDS PEOPLE FROM
HOLDING IT CAPTIVE.
AT THE SAME TIME THE DNR
REALIZED THE NEED FOR
REHABILITATION SO CENTERS
OPERATED ANYWAY.
IN 2004 ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
ALLOWED PLACES SUCH AS THE
NORTHWOODS WILDLIFE CENTER TO
OBTAIN LICENSES.
>> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
MAKE IT MORE OF A PROFESSION.
GET PEOPLE OUT THERE BETTER
TRAINED AND UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY NEED TO DO WITH ANIMALS.
BE MORE AWARE OF DISEASES,
EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND DO
WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE ANIMAL.
>> JON SOCOLOFSKY RECENTLY
RETIRED FROM THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
HE WAS A FAN OF THE CENTER AS A
LIFELONG VISITOR TO THE
NORTHWOODS.
>> WHEN I WAS HERE AS A BOY,
THERE WERE NO EAGLES IN EAGLE
RIVER.
THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD SEE AN
EAGLE WAS HERE.
AND WHEN WE STARTED SEEING THEM
COME BACK AND NOW TO KNOW THAT
VILAS AND ONEIDA COUNTY HOUSES
ALMOST 25% OF THE EAGLES IN
WISCONSIN, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.
>> BUT LOSS OF HABITAT FOR
WILDLIFE IS AN EVER-PRESENT
PROBLEM IN THE NORTHWOODS.
IN 1984, THE CENTER WAS LOCATED
IN SOME WOODS PAST THE EDGE OF
MINOCQUA.
NEARLY A QUARTER OF A CENTURY
LATER THE CENTER IS NOW ACROSS
THE ROAD FROM A WAL-MART.
NANIOT SAYS THAT'S WHY IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR WILDLIFE TO BE
SEEN UP CLOSE BY VISITORS.
>> PEOPLE STILL LOVE TO SEE
THEM AND REALIZE THAT THERE WAS
A PROBLEM BACK IN THE PAST AND
THAT THE FUTURE DOESN'T
NECESSARILY ALWAYS HOLD A ROSY
PICTURE.
THERE IS A DEFINITE POTENTIAL
THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD
HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR
THIS WEEK.
JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR A RARE
HOLIDAY TREAT.
WE'LL TAKE YOU BACK INTO THE
NORTHWOODS FOR AN AMAZING LOOK
AT WHAT SOME CALLED THE GHOSTS
OF THE FOREST.
>> YOU JUST GET A FLASH OF THEM
MOVING THROUGH THE WOODS AND IT
ALMOST FEELS LIKE A GHOST
SPIRIT.
>> IF YOU'RE WAITING UNTIL THE
11th HOUR TO GET YOUR CHRISTMAS
TREE, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS
THE FINDINGS OF THIS UW-STEVENS
POINT RESEARCH TEAM.
THEY SET OUT TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION, HOW DO YOU FIND THE
PERFECT TREE?
PLUS WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A
SPRING GREEN ARTIST WHO
HANDCRAFTED ESSENTIALS FOR
WISCONSIN HOLIDAY PARTIES THE
MUDDLER.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK.
IN THE MEANTIME ENJOY A
WINTERTIME LOOK AT LAKE
MICHIGAN FROM THE BEAUTIFUL
ALGOMA HARBOR.
FOR "IN WISCONSIN" I'M PATTY
LOEW.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDE BY
ALLIANT ENERGY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
UW HEALTH PROVIDING SPECIALTY
AND PRIMARY CARE FOR ALL AGES
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
INFORMATION ON UW HEALTH
PHYSICIANS AND CLINICS AND ON
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
HOSPITAL IS AVAILABLE ON THE
WEB.
AND BY THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.