Wild Reads

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Wild Reads is where we share stories about and from partners, landowners, and friends throughout the conservation community. Let us know if you have a story, book review, poem, or photos to share. We don't promise to publish everything we receive, but we'd love to know what you're reading, writing, and what you think is worth sharing.

Conservancy Stories
News Releases
TREMPEALEAU, WI—February 17, 2020— With a Sunday morning ceremony, the Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation has celebrated completion of a long-hoped-for land conservation easement for its 19-acre Little Bluff…
Book Reviews
A few months ago, I attended Mississippi Valley Conservancy’s Nature Photography Walk at the Holland Sand Prairie. That’s where I took the photograph you see above. This nature walk was…
Book Reviews
When was the last time you were tucked tightly into a linen cocoon and read a story by a parent or a loved one? Although I can’t pinpoint the last…
Conservancy Stories
News Releases
TOMAH, WI—January 23, 2020—Mississippi Valley Conservancy helps third-generation landowner protect wildlife habitat and family farm from industrial use. Peg Brenneke, a Monroe County native, resisted selling her grandfather’s farm to…
Conservancy Stories
Hikes
Sightings
Trail Trek Challenge Hike of the Month How painful it was to write about cross country skiing when, in mid-January, the ground was brown and the temperature at 40 degrees…
Conservancy Stories
Hikes
Sightings
November 3, 2019 Sugar Creek Bluff State Natural Area Crawford County, Wisconsin I took advantage of perhaps the last sunny day of the fall to hike the Sugar Creek Bluff…
Sightings
Birders Take to the Streets for the 120th Christmas Bird Count! Each year between December 14th and January 5th, bird watchers from all over the country become citizen scientists and…
What’s Cooking?
Thanks to Joe Pfeiffer for sharing his mother's great "Deer Jerky" recipe. Joe says "It's good on everything!" Ingredients 3 lb deer meat 1 tsp black pepper 1 Tbsp salt…
More efficient transportation is something we all want. Less airline travel is a good goal, but there are ways to fly smarter when you must travel by plane. Some promising…
Climate Change
Conservancy Stories
In the News
A new article from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's October newsletter highlights the role of land trusts in protecting bird habitat. The whole article is available at this link. Mississippi…
LA CROSSE, WI – October 3, 2019 – A new land conservation agreement between Mississippi Valley Conservancy and a landowner in La Crosse County will protect valuable wildlife habitat and…
Sightings
An excited teacher met me at West Salem Elementary last Tuesday morning. Over the previous weekend she saw a monarch roost in some fir trees near her house while she…
Conservancy Stories
News Releases
GENOA, WI – Steep, wooded bluffs enfold broad, sloping pastures for sheep and horses where Gene Amsrud and Patty (McNamee) Amsrud shared the view with a visitor to their land…
Sightings
Don’t miss the spectacular build-up of waterfowl on the Mississippi River this fall. Some of the best viewing is available from La Crosse south to Ferryville and Lynxville in Pools…
Conservancy Stories
News Releases
LA CROSSE, WI – A new land conservation agreement between Mississippi Valley Conservancy and Mark Hein will protect important habitat and farmland for at least four generations of the Hein…