[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6449768,"mediaKeyId","5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06","parentId",5893369,"title","Wildlife services: bears and elk driving unusually high complaint counts; localized responses underway","audioSeconds",419,"startMs",4932000,"endMs",5351000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06&start=4932&end=5351","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06/thumbnail_4932000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6449768/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Wildlife-services-bears-and-elk-driving-unusually-high-complaint-counts-localized-responses-underway","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449768-9cd65e6ea6ef25e35d530c4e902e5b71/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437993&Signature=LG0AsN2jXap~aAwL1lvru4SY7ULdkOOCCv7susL0V6EMKhJFWPU9kI4X-kJQD7Y72v9j2q4-rPJmxhtmqu~bRdqOuSkTVZtiMMC6Q83VajQgunJSyqRAtjmWPHVr5a7a3wcqJNqfG6BHZWBhqv3RVGeWnuYgt113LdcqKss6bLaCp8~VhDZ3zV6DZfrULMKrfP~H1bHSYnPCFwhqcyB~LbYJCzPVyjM9SPJzJ057WVkGl1ciZIfK~KKeavIdI9FzsCjY5HEoGG9jki20u1MW5dk9rfizpKZ~WVrKKVnTGyPlaNGbojEue8x~IpJQG0HTSX4~N7kHmSbxMB-Pkfd29g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ashland County, WI ","date","2025-10-01T16:27:43Z","article","Ethan Rose, coordinator for USDA Wildlife Services's Wisconsin wildlife damage program for Ashland, Bayfield and Iron counties, told the Land Conservation Committee that this season's pattern of wildlife complaints differs from recent years.

Rose said nuisance calls for bears were substantially higher than in 2023 but, because natural foods such as acorns, apples and mushrooms were abundant this late summer, the program's crop-damage assessments show some fields with less damage than expected. Rose reported capture activity across the four-county area he covers: 46 bears captured in 2023, about 199 captured in 2024, and roughly 96'plus captures to date in 2025 (numbers in his report predate the meeting and were described by Rose as current as of two weeks earlier).

Elk were a focal point of discussion. Rose described two distinct local elk herds with different behaviors: one near Butternut/Bridal that tends to concentrate in a small range and another near Marengo/Highbridge that roams more widely and spreads damage across several farms. The committee heard that the DNR and partners have tried lure cropping (private or DNR-planted 'food plots' to draw elk away from commercial crops), repellent trials, temporary pyrotechnics and, when conditions allow, trapping and relocation or selective removals. Rose said lure crops showed mixed results; a small lure plot can be overwhelmed by a herd of 30 or more elk and will not fully prevent damage.

Rose described the practical constraints of cost-share solutions: permanent fencing programs are available through DNR cost-share but usually require local contribution (for example, DNR cost-share commonly covers a substantial share but not 100 percent of construction cost). Committee members asked whether the state had considered 100% fencing cost-share; Rose said the idea has been discussed but would raise questions about selection criteria and long-term funding.

Wolf and livestock interactions also drew discussion. Rose said wolf complaints in the four-county region were lower in 2025 than in 2024 and 2023, and that nonlethal measures such as solar-powered radios playing sounds at night have been deployed and, in the areas where they were used, appear to be effective in reducing losses. He said more permanent fenced enclosures had been successful where they have been installed but that cost makes them feasible only for targeted calving pastures rather than entire farms.

Why it matters: Committee members and landowners described repeated, concentrated losses in some farms that have made the issue urgent locally. Committee members asked the department to pursue solutions that are cost-effective and that reduce repeated damage to individual farmers.

What the committee directed: The committee discussed continued use of lure cropping, repellent trials, DNR cost-share fencing where feasible, and radios and other nonlethal tools for wolves. Ethan Rose said wildlife services continues to coordinate with DNR biologists and with individual landowners on field-level mitigation and claims.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 18, 2025 - Land Conservation Committee","oneSentenceSummary","USDA Wildlife Services reported increased bear and elk complaints this season and described responses including trapping, lure cropping, temporary fencing cost-share, and nonlethal wolf abatement measures.","taxTitle","Ashland County, Wisconsin","taxId",72843,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449775,"Ashland County Land Conservation Committee approves 2026 budgets; grants and state staffing aid boost revenues",311,1563000,1874000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06&start=1563&end=1874","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06/thumbnail_1563000.jpg","/articles/6449775/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Ashland-County-Land-Conservation-Committee-approves-2026-budgets-grants-and-state-staffing-aid-boost-revenues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449775-2005d8ac5c04a5aa49fc5c55787804b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437993&Signature=LXb6przuFj60IBJ7GdOcERNxxD5r6r1hXq7x3~5V7zvFwNfrepmGfBfW~36j8RPSN8xYoGZ0Q3QYe~PcoD~QrisqAMAj9pC4pEQh18dXZzCbWKcm0ko-ml25UHacl6rijL-~j-zGLdt8DKMG7QsOQA8mrr5u3INQW3z8pB5YfdoX80U0wTUFsEoz9SEQ6QdZQ-0U9F2hOF9zCVH1rctlS-u6Y-NHmob~qKS7ftKUhy6OGf5Wt8FhM6h1vW6doW0bUDZjgyE~GFQymTlMtBDeKtNVj6YaduIdmNNjCy02xNmaJJHHaAtCblMDmeCxcS68CCMsMvH2SA2MrF9eRzfjQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ashland County Land Conservation Committee voted to approve the county's wildlife damage budget and the Land Conservation Committee (LCC) 2026 budget at a meeting of the committee.

Committee members and staff said the 2026 budget shows a notable year-over-year increase tied to a set of new and larger grants that will run through 2026 and 2027, and to a larger state staffing allocation under Chapter 92 funding. Mary Jo (department staff) told the committee that a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant applied for this year grew from an initial $50,000 proposal to an awarded package totaling about $410,000; roughly $260,000 of that will be administered through the county next year and appears on the 2026 revenue and expense lines. She also said the county recently received a final award of roughly $300,000 to fund a natural flood-management position and associated work through 2027.

The committee discussed a separate state allocation through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) that increases the state's share of county conservation staffing. Mary Jo said Ashland County received about $154,918 from DATCP in 2025 and will see that allocation increase to approximately $188,008.84 in 2026 based on preliminary allocations. The county budgeter said she conservatively budgeted $175,000 but the preliminary allocation will exceed that amount.

Mary Jo and others told members that much of the expense increase between 2025 and 2026 is driven by grant-funded projects that will run through the county department's accounts (for example, culvert replacements on town roads that enter the National Forest and the federal Fish and Wildlife Service award). The grants will flow through county accounting; the department will charge an administrative fee for managing several of the awards.

Committee members also discussed internal budget presentation preferences for the county board and finance committee. Several members requested a one-page summary or cover sheet that shows expenses and revenues at a glance, with the full detailed worksheets available as backup.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of the wildlife damage budget: motion passed (vote recorded as \"Aye\"; no roll-call tally provided in the transcript).
- Approval of the LCC 2026 budget (interim approval pending county board action): motion passed (vote recorded as \"Aye\"; no roll-call tally provided in the transcript).

Why it matters: Committee members said the new federal grant awards and the larger DATCP staffing allocation materially change the department's expected revenues and allow expansion of specific programs (culvert replacement work, natural flood-management implementation and associated staff). The committee emphasized that the state staffing funding boost is a multiyear allocation tied to the current biennium, not an automatic permanent increase, and staff said further legislative work would be required to secure sustained base funding beyond the current cycle.

Details and context: Committee discussion described the Fish and Wildlife Service application process that expanded to cover four culverts and other materials and supplies. Mary Jo said one Fish & Wildlife grant line in the budget lists $260,000 on the expense side and a slightly larger federal revenue entry on the revenue side; the net effect includes a modest administrative fee for the county. The committee also noted a separate award of about $300,000 to support natural flood-management projects in the Brunzweiler/Brunswick watershed and to fund a project coordinator position through 2027. Mary Jo said the DATCP staffing increase is being implemented under state Chapter 92 rules for county conservation staffing (the state is increasing the share it pays for county conservation positions for the biennium).

What's next: The committee approved the budgets as presented for submission in the county budget process; members were reminded that the committee's approvals are interim and subject to final county board action. Staff said they will provide the requested one-page summary for future finance presentations.

","The Land Conservation Committee approved the wildlife damage and 2026 department budgets and discussed several new grants that account for much of the year-to-year increase, including a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service culvert grant and a nearly $300,000 natural flood-management award. Committee members also discussed a state staffing funding boost.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449761,"Curly-leaf pondweed found in Upper Clam Lake; county reviews annual lake monitoring and Clean Boats grant",216,7322000,7538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06&start=7322&end=7538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06/thumbnail_7322000.jpg","/articles/6449761/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Curly-leaf-pondweed-found-in-Upper-Clam-Lake-county-reviews-annual-lake-monitoring-and-Clean-Boats-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449761-7c5c41179cec7f60082c6a61bd593516/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437993&Signature=bGuBBbBWois5Cf5Xc6PZzNLuhWRGZOkRYkUG8ScZ-3Jt5G1YYcDXuKyGfTtSqOWBvX7tvnh9FEuCqgjVIZNVyuCvveIfjWUZHKBmmo-ZTE-oZepl8V1X1jr3Zm4sM86fkWWAfjyZEOpBSrurb8wNJhOPivTjaCBswi6pCA94dcF68NkS4w6VHdxWwWryYbMP~5mrf8tR2unZjrRSSSx3hkkRzZvS9bRKyEmEZlNo15Ws2ovi7O6CiqveLv3TKHqQ2jX5PZaL-bJLhmvspi3y1G6lGaS2WaSowtNCi8l~4F9P4Kg5newzr9BaTYuX4sQaPYlD-HzeWc0k-V-rTCWPrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County conservation staff reported a new invasive-plant discovery and reviewed routine annual grants that support lake monitoring and watercraft inspections.

Scott (staff member) told the committee that county teams surveyed inland lakes this season and documented curly-leaf pondweed for the first time in Ashland County in a bay of Upper Clam Lake. Scott said staff removed adult plants and overwintering buds (turions) from the bay and that the infestation appears localized. He reported three new aquatic discoveries this season (including two \"mystery snails\") and said staff are monitoring high-use Lake Superior access points for additional introductions.

Tim (staff/project coordinator) reported the county's Clean Boats Clean Waters grant application for 2026: the project total is $5,335 with a $4,000 grant award and a $1,335 local match. Scott and Tim also described ongoing outreach such as a Student Science Expo planned for Oct. 8 and the county's 2026 tree-and-shrub sale, which will emphasize climate-resilient species mixed with historical favorites.

Staff also noted Day Lake is scheduled for drawdown this fall to allow dam repair and aquatic-plant management; Scott said drawdowns can be an opportunity to reduce invasive aquatic populations but require coordinated effort on timing and monitoring.

Why it matters: Curly-leaf pondweed is a species that can change lake ecology and recreation if it spreads. County staff said the early detection and removal in a single bay increases the chance of keeping the infestation localized.

What's next: Staff said they will continue monitoring affected lakes, pursue Clean Boats Clean Waters funding to support watercraft inspections in 2026, and post educational signage where blue-green algae has been observed this season.","Staff reported the first documented inland occurrence of curly-leaf pondweed in Ashland County, and the committee discussed annual Lake Monitoring Protection Network and Clean Boats Clean Waters grant work and 2026 tree-and-shrub orders.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449763,"Committee advances farmland preservation update; member prepares appendix listing threats and legislative asks",358,3288000,3646000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06&start=3288&end=3646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5893369-03794202aa5eb57ccba1c257f2ec2d06/thumbnail_3288000.jpg","/articles/6449763/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Committee-advances-farmland-preservation-update-member-prepares-appendix-listing-threats-and-legislative-asks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449763-eca3de9f829835ce60c4de435ced0ed0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437993&Signature=gYXsezP5jB9-KHrAUMO3f5D9J1vHfORUQFsOnUDRDysZvdCVOqZLPG~SGy1Xz9AnNHP4LtLMdz1zpCvIflDNRIc2-lThWLaCq-JB9r5QR~BdC9oUkHrxlSYxlo955xOMMWhO2ChrgXk0I2al4-yYFef4Bx-HWQP0npHWYMJTP60LChhzKpkY8SRa~ILL8-j9hiIrYsjo1AATQm2BBbEMVRJKXqciPcZ7mC4y7mo6t6ZUUikHynM0t4VVi1eM9L2VsB6MI1ivf3tJzMDpTULisud0E5iq0gqBZwrbgtTme53qeGiu0yNg2H9BzoN9ytiCjGPhcykkPONWUJdXHvHe0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Land Conservation Committee received an update on its farmland preservation plan revision and a proposed supplemental appendix that seeks to close the loop between county plan goals and specific requests to state policymakers.

Committee member Charlie Ortman described work on an 'appendix' titled \"Threats to Farmland,\" which he said catalogs the principal pressures on local farmland (fragmentation, reduction, toxification and climate-driven instability) and pairs each threat with recommended county actions, practices that have demonstrated positive results and specific requests for state assistance. Ortman told the meeting that the appendix is roughly three-quarters complete for several sections and that he intends to work with Mary Jo to finalize the remainder.

Ortman framed the appendix as a way to make the county's plan a more actionable advocacy document: rather than simply describing local goals, the appendix would list specific, resourced steps the county believes the state should take, including legal or funding changes, and would be transmitted to Madison along with the updated plan.

Why it matters: Committee members said the appendix could help translate local landowner concerns into specific legislative or administrative requests to the state and could guide the county's requests for funding and program changes that would support farmland preservation.

What's next: Ortman said he will meet with Mary Jo after the committee to review the draft appendix and then propose it as part of the final farmland preservation plan materials to be submitted to the Northwest Regional Planning Commission and ultimately to the county board and state reviewers.","Committee members reported progress updating the county farmland preservation plan and a proposed appendix that lists threats to farmland and identifies actions the county will request from the state.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wildlife services: bears and elk driving unusually high complaint counts; localized responses underway

Ashland County Land Conservation Committee approves 2026 budgets; grants and state staffing aid boost revenues

Curly-leaf pondweed found in Upper Clam Lake; county reviews annual lake monitoring and Clean Boats grant

Committee advances farmland preservation update; member prepares appendix listing threats and legislative asks