Wisconsin Center for Wildlife

Dick Thiel, retired WDNR Educator, presented on the final seminar in the WCW Spring Seminar Series, “Voices for Conservation in Wisconsin History on Thursday, October 8 2026

During the Great Depression in the 1930’s, Wallace Grange and his wife, Hazel, established Sandhill Wildlife Area in Babcock, Wisconsin. Grange became the first Superintendent of Game Management of the Wisconsin Conservation Department (now the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, WDNR), and served the U.S. Biological Survey (now the US Fish and Wildlife Service) as a biologist. This seminar traces the development of nascent wildlife management in Wisconsin as it arose from ecological destruction that accompanied settlement in the state. Thiel, a retired WDNR educator, explores Grange’s career and the establishment of the largest game farm in Wisconsin, later sold to the WDNR to become Sandhill Wildlife Area.

Dick Thiel was Wisconsin’s first wolf biologist and served as the coordinator of the Sandhill Outdoor Skills Education Center at Sandhill Wildlife Area from 1990-2011.

WCW Outreach Specialist, Jennifer Summers; UW-Stevens Point Wildlife Assistant Professor and Ungulate Specialist, Monet Gomes; and UW-Stevens Point student employees hosted an educational booth at DeerFest 2026! 

Did you know you can tell how old a deer is by looking at the teeth on its lower jaw? Do you know how? We offered a self-guided, step-by-step jaw aging activity at Deerfest 2026, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. At this educational booth, we taught people to confidently identify fawns, yearlings, and adult deer, and understand characteristics that differentiate deer over the age of 2.5 years. 

We host Introduction to Raptor Husbandry every January. Join falconers and founders of River Valley Raptors Inc., Joe and Abbey Krumrie, in a hands-on introduction to raptor husbandry and falconry. The workshop covers raptor health, care, husbandry, training, housing, and incorporating raptors into environmental education programs. This workshop is open to students and professionals, including zoo personnel, wildlife rehabilitators, individuals interested in falconry, or anyone who works with or plans to work with captive raptors. No previous raptor handling or care experience required.

The WCW 2026 Spring Seminar Series, “Voices for Conservation in Wisconsin History,” has concluded!

Wisconsin’s conservation legacy was built by many passionate people, each of whom triumphed over challenges to protect our wildlife and our lands. This speaker series features five seminars about the lives and legacies of some of Wisconsin’s most influential voices in land and wildlife conservation. The people featured in this series have triumphed over numerous challenges to conserve our wildlife, lands, water, and more. Come and explore the lasting impacts these inspiring people have had on building Wisconsin’s unique conservation legacy.