WTIP Outdoor News Podcast

Superior National Forest Flood Damage Aftermath and BWCA Search & Rescue Effort

A severe thunderstorm with heavy rain swept across northern Minnesota on Tuesday, Jun. 18, significantly damaging roads and impeding travel within the BWCA and Superior National Forest.  On the Gunflint Trail, some motorists were trapped by fallen trees. In addition, there was extensive flooding and washouts across county roads and highways in the area. A search and rescue effort took place in the BWCA when a tree fell on a 9-year-old boy while he was inside a tent. In this week's Outdoor News Podcast, host Kalli Hawkins hears from Tofte District Ranger Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak, Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen and Woody Unruh with the National Weather Service.

Spring Bird Migration In Full Swing Across Superior National Forest and Northern Minnesota

Many migratory birds have returned to the Great Lakes and northern regions of Minnesota in recent weeks.  In this week's Outdoor News Podcast, host Kalli Hawkins speaks with Steve Kolbe, an avian ecologist with the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at the University of Minnesota- Duluth about the spring migration and what researchers are noticing given the early arrival of spring along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Grand Portage Band and MnDOT unveil dual language river signs on Highway 61

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Minnesota Department of Transportation worked closely to install dual language river signage along Highway 61 stretching from Grand Marais to the Canadian border. On Thursday, May 16 a ceremonial unveiling event for one of the signs was held at the Devil Track River, east of Grand Marais.  In this week's episode, Erik Redix, the Ojibwe and environmental education coordinator for the Grand Portage Band speaks about the significance of the dual language sign.

Forest Service Talks Updated BWCA Bear Aware Forest Order

Superior National Forest officials recently announced an update to a forest order [https://files.constantcontact.com/c12e8652901/31da4197-077a-4e84-9f48-05a0152d21f9.pdf?rdr=true] for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) requiring that all food, food containers and scented items be safely stored to help prevent bear-human interactions. The release of the updated BWCAW forest order created a stir in numerous media outlets and online communities.  In this episode, podcast host Kalli Hawkins speaks with Cathy Quinn, the Superior National Forest Acting Wilderness Program Manager about the updated forest order and to provide clarification on the matter.

Spring Steelhead Run Along The North Shore

In the last month, anglers have ventured to many of the North Shore rivers, to try their luck catching a Lake Superior Steelhead during the spring Steelhead run. Some have found success, while others….not so much.  In this week's Outdoor News Podcast, host Kalli Hawkins visits a North Shore river with Cory Goldsworthy, the Lake Superior area fisheries supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for a steelhead fishing excursion, talk about the status of Lake Superior Steelhead, and how the 2024 spring run compares to previous years along the North Shore.