Outdoors
Scenes from an Old Logging Road in Northern Minnesota
The latest montage of trail-camera footage from Voyageurs National Park stars a fox who seems fairly adept at catching snowshoe hares.
The Voyageurs Wolf Project has roughly 350 cameras set up in the park, which is about 100 miles north of Duluth. This footage is from a camera on an old logging road used by many animals.
Sparking a Larger Story: Return of Fire to Minnesota Point
For the first time in more than 150 years, fire (“Ishkode” in Ojibwe) is returning to Minnesota Point. A prescribed cultural burn this fall will clear accumulated underbrush and tree debris to restore the ecosystem, allowing native species like red pine and blueberries to regenerate while also mitigating wildfire hazards. (more…)
Wild Happenings on an Old Forest Road
The latest montage from the Voyageurs Wolf Project shows the array of critters that trotted down an old forest road over the past year. The trail camera footage was shot in Voyageurs National Park, about 100 miles north of Duluth.
West Duluth Snake Orgy
These garter snakes on the edge of Waabizheshikana Trail in West Duluth have formed a “mating ball,” with the males competing for a little time with the female, who is releasing irresistible pheromones.
First footage ever of a cougar with kittens in Minnesota
For the first time in more than 100 years, evidence of cougars reproducing in Minnesota was documented in video captured by the University of Minnesota’s Voyageurs Wolf Project. The clips show a female cougar with three large kittens. (more…)
So Many Pelicans
Adam “The Frozen Photog” Jagunich took a trip to Chambers Grove Park, along the St. Louis River in Duluth’s Fond du Lac neighborhood, to capture scenes of migrating pelicans.
The Decline and Rebirth of the St. Louis River
This WDIO-TV news feature shares the story of the St. Louis River. Once too polluted to fish, the waterway is nearing removal from the Environmental Protection Agency’s contaminated Areas of Concern list after years of cleanup and habitat restoration.
Pelicans at Chambers Grove Park
We went out to see if the pelicans were still hanging out Friday afternoon on the St. Louis River. It was worth the trip. (more…)
Minnesota Bound: BWCA Special
This week’s episode of Minnesota Bound, covers the clash over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Twin Metals wants to mine right up against the BWCAW. As lifelong fans and users of the Boundary Waters, hosts Bill Sherck and Laura Schara take a closer look at the projects’ risks and potential affects.
Making it Up North: Apostle Islands Kayaking Express
The Apostle Islands Kayaking Express team leads tours out of Bayfield, exploring the 10,000-year-old glacial history that carved sandstone arches, caverns and tunnels at Devil’s Island.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Moose-heavy Montage from Voyageurs National Park
This montage of trail camera footage from Voyageurs National Park includes numerous moose walk throughs, along with the usual array of northern Minnesota critters. The Voyageurs Wolf Project has roughly 350 cameras set up in the park, which is about 100 miles north of Duluth. This footage is all from one camera, captured last summer.
Making it Up North: Alan Nyiri
Alan Nyiri, a lifelong photographer who has traded the traditional retirement for a life on the open road, travels the country with his wife in a fifth-wheel trailer, serving as a “volunteering professional.” Currently stationed at Grand Portage National Monument, he is using his decades of technical skill to document the history of the fur trade and the legendary Rendezvous.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Making it Up North: Portage North
Michael Larson, owner of Portage North and Sun Dog Sport in Ely, talks about life at the Boundary Waters and making durable portage packs and dog harnesses.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
A Year of Wild Moments at a Remote Trail Crossing
This video montage shows highlights from a year’s worth of critters passing though the intersection of a remote hiking trail and a deer trail in Voyageurs National Park. The footage is from the Voyageurs Wolf Project, which is focused on understanding the summer ecology of wolves in the park.
Just Me: A project to increase connection to nature and embolden bicycle use as transportation
My friend and former student Kevin Stanke recently shared his final project in the Master of Professional Studies program at the University of Minnesota Duluth. His work sets out to increase people’s connection to nature and to embolden bicycle use as a primary form of transportation. He’s given me permission to share it here. (more…)
The water is 32 degrees
Two canoeists paddled into the Duluth Ship Canal Thursday morning. They took turns standing up in the canoe, getting out and standing on a chunk of ice. They took photos of each other. (more…)
Nimrods vs. Lake Superior: A Giant Ski Quest
The Nimrods, five-time champions of the six-man American Birkebeiner Giant Ski Race in Hayward, recently attempted to conquer their biggest challenge yet: giant skiing across Lake Superior* as part of the Book Across the Bay race from Washburn to Ashland.
*a very small portion of Lake Superior
Lake Superior: Biggest Skate Rink in the World
One last skate.
Skating the big lake
I saw ice houses out there so I got my skates.
Best Lynx Footage from Voyageurs National Park
The latest video from the Voyageurs Wolf Project is a montage of some of the best footage of lynx shot in the past year or so. The clips were captured in Voyageurs National Park, about 100 miles north of Duluth.
Video: Ice Climbing at Quarry Park
“The Frozen Photog” Adam Jagunich recently visited Quarry Park in West Duluth, capturing scenes of ice climbers ascending the 100-foot manmade cliff at the former quarry, which became a city park in 2016.
Chasing the Sunset in Duluth
The latest video from “The Frozen Photog” Adam Jagunich features scenes from sunset at Park Point and Brighton Beach in Duluth.
Video: Flying Squirrel Flying Against its Will
The latest trail-camera highlight from the Voyageurs Wolf Project shows a bobcat whipping around a flying squirrel. The footage was captured in Voyageurs National Park, about 100 miles north of Duluth.
Sparky’s 2025 Owl Footage
Mark “Sparky” Stensaas shares his favorite video clips of owls from the early months of 2025. The bulk of the observations were from south of Duluth, Sax-Zim Bog, the Two Harbors area, Lake County, Superior National Forest and Grand Marais.
A Special Log in the Middle of a Remote Boreal Forest
This is not the first, nor is it likely the last, video of critters in Voyageurs National Park obsessing over an old, mossy log.
The trail-camera footage is from the Voyageurs Wolf Project, which is focused on understanding the summer ecology of wolves in the park.