National Archives and Records Administration , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper in noting the recent research implication that the presence of wolves—an estimated 1,000 in Wisconsin, greatly reduces the incidence of deer-traffic collisions, which averages nearly 20,000 annually and results in eight deaths and 477 injuries …
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Category:Nature
Kickass and Natural Commission
By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, assists the keeper in establishing a commission to investigate the seasonal insurrection of the spring of 2021, when the human species continued its destructive ways as the rest of the natural world went on about the business of propagation and existence with a glorious display of blossoms, exuberance …
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Kickass and Rants to Howls
By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports some progress with the keeper’s efforts to transform his rants into howls, particularly as another summer approaches when Wisconsin will again be the ONLY STATE allowing bear hunters to train their hounds by running them through the woods at the height of family rearing by countless wild …
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Kickass and Renewal
By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper and Phyllis joined the mass exodus to the gloriously blossoming natural world Sunday with a patrol of the Driftless area where Phyllis photographed trilliums and other wildflowers, and the keeper finally caught a breakfast trout. Increasingly aware of age-related limitations, the keeper did not …
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Slaughterhouse North
Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter There was a time, not so long ago, when Wisconsin was considered to be a national leader in conservation. We had a long and storied tradition of vigilant stewardship for our lands, waters, and wildlife. Former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, a longtime environmental activist, was …
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Kickass and Women Hikers
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper in being continuously awed by women, but never more so than when it comes to “taking a hike.” There has been recent news of Jessica Killinbeck of Mt. Horeb hiking all of the Dane County parks; and Halora Kiddes, Sun Prairie, …
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Kickass and the Third Insect
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper hesitates to repost a photo, but after several sharp-eyed viewers—Jan and Gene among them, pointed out the presence of a third insect in the keeper’s butterfly-wasp photo, and Gina claimed to have photographed an invisible wasp, it was obvious that …
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Kickass and Butterfly Wasp Photo
By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, often called upon to console the keeper over his shortcomings, steps up now to moderate his—the keeper’s excesses in claiming a camera coup in the area of nature photography. Having long been intimidated by photo friends who consistently produce sensational shots of scenes and sunsets and wild critters …
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Oh, Christmas Tree
Artwork by Michael DiMilo Each year, in the family holiday tradition, my wife and I venture out to buy our Christmas tree. We’re lucky enough to live across the street from a big tree lot so we don’t have very far to go—we can walk right over. It’s very convenient. It’s also nice to be …
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Devolution
Artwork by Michael DiMilo This past weekend, my brother and took a trip to the family cabin in order to take in the pier, an autumn ritual. It’s a long ride to get up there, just under a four-hour trek, but the fall colors were just reaching their peak, so it was very scenic, although …
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The Blurry Line
Artwork by Michael DiMilo This last week, my family and I took a mini-vacation to the family cabin in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. The cottage has been in our family for a little over fifty years and sits on a beautiful spring-fed lake. After my father passed away, my mom—as she’s fond of telling—used to …
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Brooding Parasite
Artwork by Michael DiMilo The brown-headed cowbird has a notorious reputation as a brood parasite, a bird that relies on other species to raise its own young. A cowbird will find a host nest, destroy or evict one of the original resident’s eggs, and replace it with one of her own. The host bird will …
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