Note from Emily Stone: I’m so excited that Heaven has joined our Museum team! In between teaching MuseumMobile programs in schools, organizing spring field trips, and leading Junior Naturalist Programs, Heaven will be guest writing for Natural Connections about once a month. I’m looking forward to following her journey of discovery in the Northwoods!
The wonders of nature have fascinated me from a young age. Now I strive to understand the intricate natural workings of each place I live or visit. Cable, Wisconsin, is my newest place of interest. As the new Educator/Naturalist at the Cable Natural History Museum, I will get to use my fascination with the environment to connect both myself and the public with Northwoods nature.
From the rolling hills of southern Iowa where I grew up, to the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the coasts of South Carolina where I’ve worked, I strive to know the ecosystem in which I live. What new trees and wildflowers can I learn? Where can I find a new natural community to explore? What new animals can I observe? How do the animals interact with their natural habitat, and how do the local people interact with them? I love being a student of the land, connecting with the organisms who live there, and discovering how they all come together.
Now, in the Northwoods, I am itching to get out and start exploring. Guidebooks and online resources are fantastic for supplying information, but to really get to know a place you need to immerse yourself in it. That is exactly what I plan to do here.
For example, through reading I learned that bogs are acidic because of the sphagnum moss that grows there. This acidity results in a unique assemblage of carnivorous plants, cotton grass, and stunted black spruce. I cannot wait to get out and see the sphagnum moss that carpets the floor and search for the bug-eating pitcher plants, sundew, and bladderworts.
I am most eager to get to know the native trees who inhabit the Northwoods. One way I have been introduced to the tree species here is by working on the upcoming exhibit “Becoming the Northwoods” for the Museum. The Northwoods are the transition zone between the boreal forests of the north, and the deciduous forests of the south. Here, conifers like balsam fir who are at the southern extent of their range, mix with deciduous species like sugar maples in their northern reaches. This gives the Northwoods a beautifully unique blend of trees.
In contrast, my southern Iowa childhood was full of deciduous trees, while the only conifers I grew up with were red cedars. I was excited to see all the pines as I moved to the Northwoods! Now I am eager to meet them all, and to understand their place within this community.
Though the abundance of new plants I have yet to discover is exciting, the thought of getting to occupy the same place as wolves and black bears is thrilling. In Iowa, European settlement and expansive agriculture have pushed many wildlife species out of the state. Pre-settlement, black bears and wolves both roamed the prairies and forests. However, it is highly unlikely black bears or wolves will ever inhabit Iowa again; there are not enough wild spaces.
But up in the Northwoods, the vast forested areas have allowed wolves and black bears to cohabit alongside people. I am eager to learn all the ins and outs of sharing their space. I would consider myself lucky to get to see them.
My life in the Northwoods will bring a new adventure at every turn, and present numerous opportunities to learn. I am excited to discover this wonderful place and everything it has to offer. From hiking trails to wildlife encounters and interesting ecosystems, I am eager to get outdoors and learn about my new home. Let’s just hope the mosquitos don’t carry me away!
For more than 50 years, the Cable Natural History Museum has served to connect you to the Northwoods. The Museum’s current exhibit “Anaamaagon: Under the Snow” is open through March 11. The Museum will be closed for construction March 12 through April 30. Our Winter Calendar is open for registration! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and cablemuseum.org to see what we are up to.
Last Update: Feb 26, 2025 7:32 am CST
