You are here: NRS Home / Research Units / Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies /About Us / What's New?

What's New?

Harshaw Farm Laboratory dedicated to Late Researcher

On May 15 2009, family members, friends and colleagues of the late Dr. David Karnosky, Michigan Technological University professor, gathered to dedicate the US Forest Service’s Harshaw Farm Laboratory to his memory. Commemorative plaques designating the building as the David F. Karnosky Laboratory were installed. US Forest Service colleagues Dr. Mark Kubiske and Dr. Jud Isebrands gave an interesting and sometimes humorous recounting of the history and intense activity leading up to the establishment of the world class facility, the Aspen FACE project, in which northern tree species Aspen, Birch and Maple are exposed to elevated carbon dioxide and ozone in a controlled replicated design.

The personal side of Dave’s dedication and enthusiasm as it spilled over into his family life was shared by Dave’s wife and son. They both expressed what an honor this dedication was and how pleased Dave would have been. His enthusiasm never waned for direct involvement in all aspects of the ongoing research and maintenance at the facility. His agenda included travel, the mentoring of numerous graduate students and producing a wealth of scientific accomplishments. Dave was a personable man with an unfathomable level of energy and zeal for research at the Aspen FACE facility and this brought their own rewards to him.

Local Environmental Academy and The Bear

by Eric Gustafson

Seventh and eighth grade students from the Rhinelander Environmental Stewardship Academy recently had a close encounter with a wild black bear on the grounds of the Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies.  Fortunately, the encounter was planned as an educational experience for the students of this charter school that is focused on environmental literacy.  Teacher Kirby Kohler collaborated with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to trap a wild bear that could be outfitted with a radio-tracking collar so that the students could monitor its movements.  Three traps were placed in the forest on the grounds of the Institute.  On October 29, 2008, a bear was trapped, and the students hopped on their fleet of bicycles and pedaled the five miles to the Institute.  The students were instructed about the procedure for immobilizing the bear in the trap and they observed its implementation.  After the bear was immobilized, two students helped to drag the bear out of the trap and prepare it for processing.  Students took turns collecting data on the bear’s condition, including temperature and heart and respiration rates.

The APHIS staff determined that the bear was a yearling male, probably dispersing from the area where it was born.    Because this bear is likely to grow rapidly next year, it was decided that the radio collar would interfere with the bear’s breathing within a year, and should therefore not be placed on this particular bear.  It is hoped that an adult bear can be trapped later this fall or next spring.

About 30 minutes after the bear was immobilized, it regained consciousness and staggered into the woods, groggy, but unharmed, with only two jaunty ear tags to show for the experience.  The students, however, have a lifetime memory of an up-close encounter with a wild bear, and a first-hand experience of what it is like to be a wildlife biologist.