Board Notes - Wild And Free
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October 2019
Board Notes
Fall has been busy for us. We’ve had many more birds than last year at this time. Lot’s more eagles. It’s
nice to see their numbers are way up, but that also means there are more to get injured. The migration is well
underway so if you have time to get to Duluth, go to Hawk Ridge for the afternoon. The experience is well
worth it. We just got our first starving baby bear of the season. He only weighs 27 pounds (our ones from
spring are weighing about 70 right now). Hopefully not many more will be found this fall. The DNR studies
suggest that if they don’t weigh at least 35 pounds now, they will die and not wake up from hibernation.
Our raffle was a huge success. We sold all of our tickets and had great prizes.
We released a lot of hawks and owls at the Ripple River Art Gallery Fall Fes-
tival. It is so nice of Bob and Amy to allow us the exposure and opportunity to
meet with people at this fantastic event. See the article elsewhere in this news-
letter. Our building project is coming along, albeit slower than we had hoped.
The board wants to make sure the flight pen is done correctly for our birds
presently and with accommodations for the future. Look for opportunities to
donate and help fund the project in the future.
Oktoberfest is coming up quickly at Ruttgers, and then an Art Pub event at
the Garrison VFW on November 4 will be our last fundraiser of the year. Call Garrison Animal Hospital for
more information if you are interested in attending so they can get an approximate headcount. Enjoy the
cooler weather and colorful leaves now because we all know what comes next. The next newsletter will con-
tain a recipe for making suet to help our birds thru the winter months.
Acorns and Apples, Oh My
We have four bears that we will be feeding throughout the Fall so we are in need of
acorns and apples. Please bring your acorns from yards that have not been fertilized
and no grass clippings please! We will also take any apples that are in good condi-
tion. Bears don’t like grass clippings or rotten or green apples. Who knew???
Bear Alert
We ask that during this bear season, if you happen to see a
bear with ear tags and have a radio collar, please do not shoot,
especially in zones 25, 27 and 45. These bears are providing
valuable data that is being used in bear management. The
data provides year over year changes in natural food supplies
and how that affects individual bears regarding their habitat
use, physical condition, how they are denning, their reproduc-
tion and interactions with people. The ear tags are colorful
3x2 inches which is what a hunter will see. The collars are
black which can be hard to see due to the bears fur. Please
take a good look at the bear before you shoot. However, if
you do shoot one of these collared bears, they ask that you
bring the collar to a bear registration station and call the DNR Wildlife Research Office in Grand Rapids at
218-328-8874 or 218-328-8879. Also, most collared bears have a small implanted heart monitor under the
skin on the left side of the chest. This device also contains valuable information and should be brought along
with the collar to the DNR. Finally, if you find photos of ear tagged bears on your trail cameras, please email
these photos along with the location of the pictures to mndnrbearcams@gmail.com
Ripple River Gallery
Fall Open House and Wild and Free Benefit
Thank you to everyone who put their raincoats and galoshes on and came out to Ripple River Gallery on Satur-
day, September 21st. We were able to dodge some of the major rain drops and enjoy some camaraderie, leaf
painting, walks in the woods and fabulous art! Four of our raptors - one broad-wing hawk, one red-tailed
hawk, a barred owl and our very special great horned owl who came to us in the grill of a truck, are back in the
wild thanks to Dr. Debbie, Dr. Katie and our wonderful volunteers who take such good care
of our wildlife. A special thank you to Amy and Bob, Ripple
River Gallery owners, who continue to support the work we do
and invite us to participate in their Fall Open House. We encour-
age you to stop in and check out the amazing artwork in their gal-
lery.
NOTE: Check out our Facebook page at Wild and Free Garrison,
MN to see pictures of the birds that were released.
Save The Date:
Traveling Art Pub - Fundraiser
November 4th, 2019
Evening event
More info to come…
Check the W&F web page @ www.wildandfree.org
Page 2A Chorus in Brass
by Linda J. Hommes
This morning their musical honking calls draw me to the shore of the small natural environmental
lake bordering our farm. Yes, there they are, sounding like a symphony in brass—our pair of Trum-
peter swans in gleaming white plumage with two dusky gray cygnets by their side. Soon they, too,
will be migrating.
Our lake with its abundant wild rice crop is ideal breeding habitat for them as they prefer large
shallow ponds, undisturbed lakes, pristine wetlands and wide shallow rivers and marshes in north-
western and central North America. Their nesting sites must have enough space for them to take off
as well as accessible food, shallow, unpolluted water and little to no human disturbance. Our Camp
Lake meets all the criteria.
We almost lost these magnificent birds due to over-hunting and feather collecting. By 1933, fewer
than 70 wild trumpeters were known to exist, and extinction seemed imminent until aerial surveys
discovered a Pacific population of several thousand around Alaska's Copper River. Careful reintro-
duction by wildlife agencies and the Trumpeter Swan Society gradually restored the North America
wild population to 46,000 by 2010.
Natural populations of these swans migrate to and from the Pacific Coast and portions of the US,
flying in V-shaped flocks. In winter, they migrate to the southern tier of Canada and eastern part of
the northwestern states in the US.
The Trumpeter Swan is the heaviest bird native to North America. It's also the largest extant spe-
cies of waterfowl with a wingspan that may exceed 10 feet. Due to seasonal variation based on food
access and variability due to age, males may weigh between 24-28 lbs.; females 21-23 lbs. Trum-
peters feed while swimming, sometimes up-ending or dabbling to reach submerged food with their
large, wedge-shaped black bill. Their diet is almost entirely aquatic grasses and grains in fields.
Most pair bonds are formed when swans are 5-7 years old; though some pairs do not bond until
they are nearly 20 years old. Trumpeters often mate for life, and both parents participate in raising
their young. Most egg-laying occurs between late April and May. The female lays 3-12 eggs, 4-6
being average, in a mound of plant material on a small island, a beaver or muskrat lodge, or a float-
ing platform on a clump of emergent vegetation. Incubation is 32-37 days handled by the female but
occasionally by the male. The young are able to swim within 2 days and capable of feeding them-
selves in 2 weeks. The fledgling stage is around 3-4 months.
As of 2013, Trumpeter swans were no longer listed as threatened in Minnesota. These swans are
symbols of hope showing that science, partnerships and perseverance can bring a species back from
the brink of extinction.
REMINDER
If you haven’t renewed your membership for 2019 yet, please take $20.00 Individual
a minute and do so now. To renew, please fill out the form below $30.00 Family
and mail it soon. $50.00 Business
Yes, I am interested in the Wild and Free Wildlife Program! _______ Other Donations
Name ______________________________________________ Make checks payable to:
Wild and Free Wildlife Program
Address ____________________________________________ PO Box 241
City/State/Zip ________________________________________ Garrison, MN 56450
Phone # (home) __________________(work)_______________
Page 3Thank you to the Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative for
giving us $2500.00 as part of their Operation Round
Up Program!!! For those of you who may not know,
Operation Round Up® is a volunteer community
support program designed to provide financial assis-
tance to worthwhile projects and charities in our
area. Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative members par-
ticipating in the Operation Round Up® program pro-
vide dollars for worthwhile organizations and pro-
jects such as ours. Operation Round Up® funds are
generated through a voluntary rounding up of coop-
erative members' electric bills to the next nearest dollar. This change goes into a trust fund ad-
ministered by the Mille Lacs Energy Community Trust board. We are grateful that they chose
Wild and Free as part of their application process!
Hungry Bears
Young bears need a lot of food!
W&F is fortunate to have so many
supporters that help us keep the
young bears well fed until we re-
lease them back into the wild. One
of our supporters is also a member
of the Thrivent Choice program
and was able to direct a tidy sum
of money our way. We received
enough money from Thrivent to
purchase 650 pounds of dog food.
That will help our bears get ready
for the winter in the wild or will
fatten them up enough that they
can safely hibernate with us until
spring.
Donations Listing Change
Because of space limitations we will no longer list our supporters in each issue of the Trumpeter. In
the last issue of the year there will be a complete listing of all our wonderful supporters; those who
contribute financially, those who contribute services, and those who volunteer in various capacities.
We couldn’t do it without you!
Page 4The Peregrine Falcon
Just the name brings forth an image of a noble and majestic bird
doesn’t it? Peregrine falcons are present on all the continents, except
Antarctica, and have long been valued by falconers for their speed
and agility as hunting partners. Peregrines have a dark back with
strongly barred bellies and are about the size of a crow. As a mem-
ber of the falcon family, they have the requisite long, pointed wings
and tail for aerodynamic flight and quick turns. Falcons are bird
hunters and are adept at catching
their prey mid-air. Peregrines are
known for their stooping dives that can reach 200 miles per hour
before they hit their prey and knock it from the sky. Even on
level flight, the Peregrine can reach average speeds of 30 miles
per hour and hold smaller prey while flying. Pigeons, doves,
ducks and other shorebirds are favored foods, but most falcons
will also catch bats, songbirds and sometimes tackle a larger
target like a goose, heron or crane. Peregrine falcons nest in tall
locations like cliffs or ledges. In urban or semi-urban areas tall
buildings, water towers and electrical pylons are common sites to see a nesting pair. Males are
smaller than females as in most raptor species. Minnesota gets a claim to fame when it comes
to the Peregrine falcon; the oldest known Peregrine was banded in Minnesota and was 19+
years old.
Save a tree!
Octoberfest at Ruttger’s Bay
Lake Lodge Please help us cut down on expenses and
save a tree or two! If you would be willing to
We will once again be at Ruttger’s Bay receive your Trumpeter by email instead of
Lake Lodge for their 34th Annual snail mail please email us at
Octoberfest celebration on Saturday, Info@wildandfree.org We and the planet
October 19th. There will be over 150 would appreciate it.
craft vendors, German food, beer and
great music. Stop by our booth just
outside the lodge between 9:00am -
4:00pm to see our new line of sweat-
shirts and t-shirts, along with note
cards, and window and car decals. And
of course, we will have stories to tell
about the many animals that have come
through our doors this year…over 625
to date!!!
Page 5Sponsors Corner
Our sincere appreciation to our sponsors for their
assistance in the publication of this newsletter Amazon Smile: Did you know that for every pur-
Please Support Our Sponsors chase at Amazon online, Amazon Smile will donate
a portion of the sale to a charity of your choice?
Mike’s Tree Company Please consider Wild and Free as your charity and
218-825-8207 place your order through Amazon Smile. It’s an
Wal-Mart – Brainerd easy way to help support us.
218-829-2220
Garrison Animal Hospital – Garrison
320-692-4180
Tutt’s Bait – Garrison The Trumpeter is a publication of the Wild and
320-692-4341 Free Wildlife Program. Wild and Free, a non-
Garrison Family Foods profit organization, is dedicated to the education of
320-692-4323 the public regarding wildlife, their habitat and re-
Bollig Tree Services lieving the pain and suffering of wild animals. Pro-
320-360-2279 fessional and humane care is provided in efforts to
preserve our local wildlife.
E.L. Menk Jewelers
Editors – Becky Miller and Jim Lease
218-829-7266
Farm Island Self Stor - Aitkin
218-831-9606
First Impressions Printing Wish List
218–829-1860
409 Cleaning Liquid Lysol Wipes
Stor-All of Garrison
paper towels toilet paper
218- 678-4140
postage stamps garbage bags
Karen Grover Design - website design Large Heavy Garbage Bags
218-825-8393. mice (frozen and caught in traps, NO POISON)
Elite Fence and Deck, Brainerd
218-825-0712 If you’d like to donate any other item that you think we
might be able to use, call the Garrison Animal Hospital at
Otto's Lawn Service
320-692-4180, and we will let you know if we can use it.
218-678-2858
Wild and Free Wildlife Program First Class
PO Box 241
Garrison, MN 56450You can also read
