By Jackie Rath, Program Coordinator Did you know that one of the most precious species of The Ridges Sanctuary is the Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana)? This winged wonder is listed as Federally endangered and its largest populations are found in Door County, particularly in The Ridges Sanctuary and surrounding wetlands. In fact, the Hine’s [..Read more]
By Tony Kiszonas The Ridges Sanctuary has tremendous plant diversity including native terrestrial orchids. Following the idea that “lack of knowledge is as big a threat as any to sensitive species,” (Brzeskiewicz, M. September 25, 2000), The Ridges Sanctuary has the current research goal of developing institutionalized processes and protocols for the preservation and protection [..Read more]
By Anna Foster While Trillium, Yellow Lady’s Slippers, and Columbine are starting to unfurl in wooded lots along the peninsula, Dwarf Lake Iris and Marsh Marigolds are on display in the Sanctuary. Throughout the year, Ridges blooms trail slightly behind the rest of Door County. In fact, it’s about 10 degrees cooler in Baileys Harbor [..Read more]
Posted by Door County Pulse, Myles Dannhausen Jr., April 27, 2023 Katie Krouse named director of The Ridges Sanctuary Near the end of Katie Krouse’s first summer working at The Ridges Sanctuary, she had what she thought was a simple question for her coworkers. “I kept asking people what my last day was,” she recalled. [..Read more]
By Katie Krouse Have you traveled to Nebraska to experience the sandhill crane migration? If not, I highly recommend it! A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to visit the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary to experience the humbling migration of sandhill cranes. When I say humbling, I mean humbling -overwhelming – magnificent [..Read more]
By Anna Foster and Jackie Rath Owls of Interest Last February, we wrote a blog all about the common species of owls found in Door County, which you can access HERE. Common owls in Door County include the Barred Owl, the Great Horned owl, the Eastern Screech-Owl, the Saw Whet Owl, and the Snowy Owl. [..Read more]
by Sandy Miller Volunteering as a Baileys Harbor Range Light docent is about interacting with people and telling the story of the people who lived in the Upper Range Light. There is so much history packed into the 154 year old Upper Range Light – if only these walls could talk. But wait, that is [..Read more]
Published by Fox 11 News – December 6, 2022 Natural Christmas preparations at The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor BAILEYS HARBOR (WLUK) — Celebrating winter and Christmas naturally is taking place in Northern Door County at The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor. Its humble beginnings started about 15 seasons ago inside a rustic log building. “The first [..Read more]
By Sheryl Honig, PhD, Environmental Educator You may not think of The Ridges’ boreal forest as a destination for viewing fall color. The sandy ridges are home to conifers like hemlock, spruce, balsam fir, and cedar. These conifers are evergreen and don’t explode with color in the fall. But there is one conifer that puts [..Read more]
This summer, the Ridges welcomed Summer Naturalists Anna Gossard, Ben Epley and Sydney Rushing to assist with children’s Backpack Adventure Camps, lead nature hikes and other projects in operations and research. We were happy to talk with these three talented individuals as they wrapped up their internships about their experiences and what’s next: How did [..Read more]
