“MIWP”
The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve is a non-profit land trust dedicated to the protection and preservation of natural areas on Madeline Island for everyone's enjoyment. Madeline Island is adjacent to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on the South Shore of Lake Superior in Wisconsin, and is the only one of the Apostle Islands with lands open to private ownership. The MIWP was formed in 1987 and is one of the oldest and most successful land trusts in the State of Wisconsin.
The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve's mission is the protection and preservation of natural areas on Madeline Island for everyone's enjoyment. "Natural Areas" include both the plants and animals in these areas. While MIWP lands are open to the public, they are private properties and subject to rules to protect their natural features.
Deer hunting is permitted during the State of Wisconsin's hunting season.
Hunting, trapping, or snaring all other animals, including bears, coyotes and wolves, is prohibited.
Biking on MIWP trails is prohibited.
Motorized vehicles are not allowed in Preserve lands.
Camping and fires are not allowed in Preserve lands.
Latest News
Decades of research have revealed the physical, emotional, and mental health benefits derived from spending reflective time in nature.
Joan Vorderbruggen shared a powerful message about nature and its effect on people.
Brian Heeringa spoke to an engaged audience. A special hit was a close up introduction to Echo the bat! View pictures of the event and Brian’s slideshow…
Everyone enjoyed the presentation and learned some things they didn’t know about bears. Jane Weber’s talks are always informative and a lot of fun!
Click to view pictures of the talk…
What fun, and what a great day for a parade! Have A Blooming Good Time! Click to see pictures and video!
Saturday June 21st was a fabulous day for oyster mushrooms — sunlight after rain provided a terrific day for foraging oyster mushrooms! 30 people joined the hike.
Here are pictures from the annual meeting. The catering was a visual masterpiece and yummy too! We all enjoyed catching up for the new season, and the presentation on “Monarch Butterfly Conservation in a Changing World” by Professor Karen S. Oberhauser appealed to a very engaged audience.
It was a beautiful day for the annual Memorial Day weekend bird hike, and participants gave the highest praise: We saw birds!
Coming Events
Free and Open to the Public!
Meet at the Big Bay Town Park Pavilion.
A hike for beginners and experts alike.
You never know what we are going to see or hear!
Bring binoculars and wear good waterproof footgear.
Hike Leaders:Victoria Erhart, long time birder and MIWP Board Member and Peter Hudleston, Professor Emeritus of Geology, University of Minnesota
For two decades, Jeff Rennicke traveled the globe as an award-winning travel writer and photographer seeking adventure in the exotic and far away. It took staying put to show him that beauty and meaning can also be found in the familiar. Using poetic explorations in the Apostle Islands aboard his boat the “Little Dipper,” Rennicke shares how the art of slowing down and looking closely can deepen our sense of place and our commitment to the landscapes we love.
Reception: 6:00pm
Program: 7:00pm
Location: Madeline Island School of Arts
Cost: Hearty appetizers and wine, $40.00/person
RSVP Deadline: May 15th, or 100-person limit
Free and Open to the Public!
Meet at the Capser Trail, Middle Road Trailhead, Fire #640 Middle Road
Leader: Samantha Dobson: naturalist, educator and year long Island resident.
Summary: Our local expert will guide and teach about trees, edible mushrooms and how to find them. Finding mushrooms is not guaranteed but likely.
Spend a few days exploring beautiful natural areas on Madeline Island with Master Naturalist Instructor Emily Stone, geologist Tom Fitz, and other experts. You don’t have to be a certified Master Naturalist to participate! Any adult learners are welcome. Hosted by Cable Natural History Museum in partnership with the Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve. Registration opens Dec. 1st. Click image or title for more information…
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Speaker: Jeff Fischer, Minnesota Dragonfly Society President.
Summary: Embark on a fascinating journey into the world of dragonflies. An engaging presentation to uncover the captivating lives of these remarkable insects. We will delve into their diverse habitats, intricate behaviors, and pivotal role in Wisconsin’s ecosystems. Gain a deeper understanding of these aerial acrobats and their importance in maintaining the ecological balance of our natural landscapes.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Speaker: John Bates, naturalist guide, educator and author of 10 books on the Northland and the Upper Midwest
Summary: The Big Bang, evolution, natural selection, population dynamics, adaptations, reproductive strategies, animal behavior, wildlife management—here’s Wildlife Ecology 101 in 50 minutes through the comic lens of Far Side, Calvin and Hobbs, and others. Laugh your way to knowing more about wildlife while you’re hiking or paddling.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Meet at the Sowl Trailhead, Fire #3547 North Shore Road
Hiking Guide: John Bates, naturalist guide, educator and author of 11 books on the Northland and the Upper Midwest.
Summary: Every plant has a story. Each one has a personality. Come hear these stories of the natural and cultural history of our most common trees and shrubs that make us uniquely the Northwoods and not somewhere else.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Speaker: Britt Bunyard, PhD, is the founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of the mycology journal Fungi. He has collected fungi and lectured throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. He was the subject of an award-winning documentary film “Look Down Not Up”.
Summary: Fungi are weird, fungi are cool, and fungi are beautiful. But how much do we really know about them? For starters, they do much more than just rot things. They control pretty much all life on our planet and are everywhere. Britt Bunyard’s lecture will present fascinating stories and beautiful photos of amazing fungi featured in his latest book. Discover the crazy, wonderful life that goes on all around us, mostly hidden in plain sight. For general audiences. No knowledge of mycology is required, and all levels of mycological questions are encouraged.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Speaker: Joseph Rohrer, Emeritus Professor of Plant Biology at University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire.
Summary: Like amphibians, mosses are tied to water in ways that conifers and flowering plants are not. Understanding their relationship to water and light is essential as we talk about various moss habitats (forests, fens, backyards) and substrates (forest floor, tree bark, rock). We will look closely at some Madeline Island species and discover that although small, they are not all the same.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Meet at the Schoolhouse Trailhead, Fire #2865 Schoolhouse Road
Hiking Guide: Joseph Rohrer, Emeritus Professor of Plant Biology at University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire.
Summary: Hike will focus on various moss habitats (forests, fens) and substrates (forest floor, tree bark, rock). We will look closely at some of Madeline Island’s species.
The Preserve & Trails—open to the public for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, berry-picking....
The Preserve holds more than 2900 acres of forest, wetlands and trails on Madeline Island that provide plant and wildlife habitat and contribute to the natural beauty of the Island. The Preserve acquires land through purchase, donations and conservation easements.
The nature preserve lands are open to the public for hiking, berry-picking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Deer hunting is permitted during the State of Wisconsin's hunting season. Hunting, trapping, or snaring all other animals, including bears, coyotes and wolves, is prohibited. Biking on MIWP trails is prohibited. Motorized vehicles are not allowed in Preserve lands. Camping and fires are not allowed in Preserve lands.
Please take advantage of these very special places when you are on the island!
For more information about preserve lands and trails go to The Preserve & Trails.
Preservation, Education, Advocacy—and Fun!
The MIWP is committed to preservation, education and advocacy. As a major Island land-holder, the MIWP works actively to maintain and protect the Island’s native forests from invasive species and other ecological threats. We underwrite this and several other preservation, education and trails projects on Madeline Island.
Each summer we sponsor free field trips and evening programs, open to both youth and adults, featuring the natural history of the Apostle Islands area, and highlighting issues important to the area's protection and preservation.
Just for fun, each year we select an important environmental issue as the theme for our entry in the Madeline Island 4th of July parade—often winning one of the coveted trophies awarded to exceptional parade entries!
And one of the anticipated events signaling the start of the summer season on Madeline Island: Our Annual Meeting, which is held on Memorial Day weekend, and features food, drink and an always-interesting environmental program.
We would love to have you join us for any of these, and would especially appreciate your support!
