While nature preschools are not a new concept, the first nature preschool in Southeast Minnesota opened at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in the fall of 2020. With the 2021-2022 preschool term in the books, Eagle Bluff is holding an open house on Saturday, July 9 from 9-11a.m. to invite more preschool parents and caregivers to learn about this exciting, innovative … [Read more...]
Storm causes significant damage
On June 15, 2022, at approximately 11:47 a.m., a fast moving storm caused significant damage to area farms in Caledonia Township. Houston County dispatch originally received a report of as power line arching on a tree on County Road 10 in the area of Prairie Ridge Rd. Upon officer’s arrival to the area, it was discovered there was a significant amount of property damage in the … [Read more...]
Black bear sightings
Memorial Day weekend is a weekend filled with excitement. The 2022 Memorial Day weekend was no different this year in Winneshiek County except that the excitement this year was created when a big black bear was sighted in Hesper. Hesper, a village of around 100 residents, is located just minutes from the Minnesota state line in northeast Iowa. This is not the first bear … [Read more...]
Beatty Darr achieves Eagle Scout
Beatty Darr of Troop 53, Rushford-Peterson area, has achieved the highest rank available of Eagle Scout. The celebration for this prestigious award was held on Sunday, March 20 at the American Legion in Rushford. Scoutmaster Thomas Butterfield presided over the ceremony. Beatty’s Eagle project was adding concrete and pavers to the flag pole at Oakwood (Sherwood) Cemetery in … [Read more...]
View Bluff Country from the back of a horse
The bluff country of NE Iowa, SE Minnesota, and SW Wisconsin offers miles of unspoiled scenic beauty to make your horseback riding trip memorable, fun, and challenging. Riders will find trails that offer water obstacles, woods, flatlands, hills, bluffs, rocks/gravel, scenic overlooks, challenges, and unknowns. Some trails are suitable for beginners to advance riders. Need … [Read more...]
$12.2 million in Legacy Fund grants to enhance 20 regional parks and trails in Greater Minnesota
DULUTH, MN – December 8, 2021 – People who enjoy outdoor recreation across Minnesota will soon have their experiences enhanced, once recommendations are approved to fund a record $12.2 million in improvements at 20 regional parks and trails across Greater Minnesota. The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) just finished its application review process … [Read more...]
Summer 2021 tree health
By Valiree Green MN DNR Forestry, Caledonia As summer ebbs on, the office is receiving more and more calls about “sick” trees and other plants. Before getting into specifics, it is worth noting that several issues often can assault plants (and people) before showing signs of distress. Often multiple factors are at play, and there is seldom “a smoking gun.” For a start, … [Read more...]
April weed of the month: habitat restoration
Habitat loss is one of the most important causes of species decline in the United States. More and more people are looking to restore parts of their property, or their entire property, back to a natural setting. This is great news for native plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife that rely on native habitats for survival. However, this can be an intimidating process for … [Read more...]
NACD announces 2020 photo, poster contest winners
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), in partnership with the NACD Auxiliary, announced the winners of the 2020 Photo Contest and 2020 Poster Contest during the 75th NACD Annual Meeting Inspirational Session. The photo contest, open to amateur photographers in both youth and adult divisions, consists of images reflecting the themes of “Agriculture and … [Read more...]
Collaborative effort rescues Eastern Screech-Owl
The morning of February 16, 2021, started off like any other for Andy Bunge of Preston, Minn., but how quickly things can change. “It was early in the morning, about 6:30, and the sun really hadn’t come up yet, but there was snow on the ground and we have these large picture windows in the house... and I heard this thud on the window,” explains Bunge. “I thought, what bird … [Read more...]