WGF Blog
Posts by WGF members on a variety of conservation-related topics.
WGF Opposes Proposed Rule Change to the Endangered Species Act
Examples of endangered and threatened species in Wisconsin depicting a whooping crane, eastern prairie fringed orchid, Karner blue butterfly, Canada lynx, northern long eared bat, Higgins eye mussel, slender glass lizard, Hine’s emerald, and piping plover. Photos via USFWS and Canva.
Speaking Up for Rare Species and their Habitats
On April 17, 2025, a …
Read More >Wisconsin Green Amendment Press Conference
Wisconsin Green Amendment
On April 16, 2025, Wisconsin’s Green Fire’s Legislative Policy Director Paul Heinen attended a press conference in the Senate parlor of the State Capitol. This press conference was the public announcement of the “Wisconsin Green Amendment.” Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin, Senator Mark Spreitzer and Representative Darrin Madison are the authors of this constitutional amendment. …
Read More >Op-Ed: Wisconsin’s Long History of Local Control and Wake Boat Regulations
Sunset over a Northern Wisconsin Lake, photo by Ashley Gries
Wisconsin’s Long History of Local Control and Wake Boat Regulations
by Dan Butkus, President- Wisconsin Lakes (dbutkus@wisconsinlakes.org)
and Meleesa Johnson, Executive Director, Wisconsin’s Green Fire (mjohnson@wigreenfire.org)
Note: This op-ed was prepared by WGF Executive Director, Meleesa Johnson, and Wisconsin Lakes President, Dan Butkus in early …
Read More >Spring Appeal 2025 – Help WGF Grow!
We need you to help us grow.
Happy spring! Earth Day is almost here. Spring is a critical time of growth in nature, but also for our organization. As a small 501c3 nonprofit, we depend on your generous support throughout the year. Thanks to donors like you, we’ve become a leading organization for science and conservation …
Read More >Capitol Day with UWSP Students
Wisconsin Capitol building and grounds, Photo by Carolyn Pralle
Capitol Day with the UW-Stevens Point Student Chapter of Wisconsin’s Green Fire
As part of our work to engage the next generation of conservation leaders, WGF Policy Director Paul Heinen spent a day in Madison with members of our student chapter at UW Stevens Point, Olivia …
Read More >Dogs & Wolves with Dr. Patricia McConnell and Adrian Wydeven
Dog and Wolf Behavior & the Wolves of WI, plus an Auction of Experiences
Featuring Dr. Patricia McConnell and Adrian Wydeven
Thank you to all who attended our special event at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison on April 5, featuring Dr. Patricia McConnell and Adrian Wydeven! We loved seeing so many new faces and old friends gathered to …
Read More >Webinar: Navigating Chronic Wasting Disease
Navigating Chronic Wasting Disease Webinar (Recorded April 1, 2025)
On, Tuesday, April 1, 2025 from 4:30-5:30pm CT, we held our webinar on Navigating Chronic Wasting Disease: A Presentation on Recent Advances by Dr. Peter Larsen. We co-hosted the webinar with the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.
During the webinar, our presenter Dr. Larsen of the Minnesota …
Read More >Join Us for Green Fire Cafe
Announcing our virtual event series: Green Fire Cafe!
These days, we all need opportunities to unwind and connect. We need people around us to talk through our challenges and cheer on our achievements. But how can we do that when life is so busy, and it’s hard to keep up with all the news and …
Read More >Public Testimony on Wolves and Elk
Members of the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage, March 4, 2025, photo by Paul Heinen
On March 4, 2025, WGF testified before the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage.
Adrian Wydeven (left) and Peter David (right) at the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage hearing …
Read More >Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline Updates – March 2025
Enbridge Line 5 Updates: Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Denies Water Quality Certification for Enbridge Line 5 Oil Pipeline Re-route
Will Trump Administration Energy Emergency Executive Order Affect Line 5?
Prepared by Nancy Larson, WGF Water Resources Specialist
Inter-Related Regulatory Decisions
Existing pipeline on east end of the Bad River Reservation, 2022, photo …
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