AN

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2018

2019

Cable Natural

History Museum

Board of Directors

Larry Hanson, Chair

Bill McKinney, Vice Chair

Ron Anderson, Treasurer

Kathi Jensen, Secretary

Liz Aase

Joe Brady

Jack A. Carlson

Travis Cinco

Mimi Crandall

Kristin Dew

Jane Henderson

Liz Johnson

Tom Johnson

Ed Johnston

Tom Matthiae

Anne Miller

Pris Nei

Maureen Palmer

Deb Pyne

Museum Staff

Deb Nelson, Director

Hayley Matanowski, Office Manager

Emily Stone, Naturalist/ Education Director

Haley Appleman, Naturalist

Mollie Kreb, Curator/Naturalist

Norveig Olson, 2019 Pollinator Intern

Melissa Krizan, 2019 Sustainability Intern

Jane Weber, Educator

Bev Bauer, Volunteer Shop Manager

The center of focus for most of us in

recent weeks has been dealing with the changes created by the novel coronavirus and doing our best to limit its spread. While this is important, and at times all-consuming, we continue to reflect on the success of 2019 and work on several projects affecting the future of the Cable Natural History Museum.

2019 was a great year for the Museum. We experienced wonderful participation in programs and fundraising activities. Staff provided opportunities for guests to learn and be concerned about our world with experiences that were entertaining, thought provoking and stimulating. We also installed a patio and did maintenance on the Forest Lodge Library building, and provided safer, more accessible sidewalks. New landscaping completed the project and improved the look of the campus.

2020 is looking to be equally busy. Mysteries of the Night, the 2020 exhibit, is in the construction stage and will be completed when it is again safe to have groups of volunteers working in the building. Plans are underway to enhance the Wayside Wanderings Natural Play Area, known to many as the Nestel Property on Randysek Road, with a building that will provide classroom space, storage and work areas, bathrooms and a pavilion. The timeline for construction is not yet established, but we hope to make the area more user-friendly as soon as we can. We are also working with the Library Board on plans for the construction of a new library for the Cable area, and are currently waiting for the results of an engineering study to make plans to remove runoff water from the site. The challenges are great in this uncertain time, but the staff remains positive and continues to provide alternate ways to connect people with nature in our area. Please check out our website and social media pages to stay connected.

A year ago, I wrote about the ‘people who dug the well’ for the Museum. That is, the folks who got it all started and created a solid basis for the continued success of the Cable Natural History Museum. I feel even more gratitude to them today for contributing to and creating the physical plant and financial foundation that keeps us in operation. The funds earned by our investments are only part of the picture, however. We also rely on fundraisers and general programming for the remainder of the budgetary needs. Many of these events have been cancelled, altered or are questionable for 2020. We will miss the

From the Board Chair

The Cable Natural History Museum is Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums High Professional Standards Increased level of professionalism through self study & education

Credibility & Accountability National recognition of commitment to excellence & the highest professional standards

Continuous Improvement The Museum will achieve reaccreditation every 10 years

Clearer Sense of Purpose Understanding our strengths, goals & mission

Leverage and Support Access to grants, traveling exhibits & collections

Sustainability & Stronger Institution Sustained organizational development through education on best practices & standards

Larry Hanson

Board Chair

opportunities to get together in person and will work to provide virtual experiences in their place. We hope you will continue to join us and offer your financial support to the Cable Natural History Museum in their absence.

We will reopen and resume gathering to celebrate the success of the Museum as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. Until then, be safe, stay healthy and remain positive!

2,665 Visitors attended live animal

programs

101 Wisconsin Master Naturalists

trained by the Museum to date

That’s 10% of all Wisconsin

Master Naturalists trained!

72 Adults participated in 8 Master

Naturalist Advanced Training

courses

15 Solitary bees and wasps built nests

in the Museum’s observation

cabinet

85 Children participated in Junior

Naturalists

200 Specimens added to the Museum’s

collection, bringing the total to over

4,200 natural history objects

3,000 Flights across the new Curiosity

Center for Luna the flying squirrel

130 Wonderful volunteers assisted with

the collections, exhibit, programs,

special events, front desk, and

more!

52 Years of the Cable Natural History

Museum connecting people to

Northwoods nature through

educational experiences that

inspire wonder, discovery, and

responsibility!

2019 by the numbers

3 New enclosures for

the snakes and

salamander in our Curiosity Center

Discovering Moss

“Let’s go look for moss,” invited

Joe Rohrer, a retired botany

professor from University of

Wisconsin—Eau Claire. So our

eager group of amateur naturalists

donned puffy coats and stocking

hats before leaving the cozy

warmth of the Gatehouse at Forest

Lodge.

The moss was already out there.

Unlike most of our other plants,

moss doesn’t change all that much

as it goes dormant for the winter.

Bare twigs etched patterns across

the sky. The dead stems of flowers

and weeds melted into the sweet-

smelling drifts of maple leaves. Big

plants must make big changes as

winter approaches. Moss simply

dries or hydrates or freezes or

thaws as the weather dictates.

Simply, I say, but truly the moss

has an efficient system for turning

off its essential functions that allow

it to avoid and repair cell damage.

On this first afternoon of a 3-day

workshop about moss, our goal

was simply to tour the property and

start seeing moss. Forest Lodge

was the summer estate of Mary

Griggs Burke, founder of the Cable

Natural History Museum.

Our education began immediately.

The vibrant green cushion of moss

on a low, rounded rock in Mrs.

Burke’s overgrown Japanese

garden pulled us toward it like a

magnet. From five feet up, the

carpet looked uniform. Then Joe

knelt down. Sarah crouched in.

Elizabeth leaned over. We began

to see.

By leaning in, we were able to

discern slight variations in color

and texture. A patchwork of

mosses came into focus. (Here’s a

grammar note: when talking about

moss in general, or a group of the

same species of moss, the plural is

just moss. But when you’re talking

about more than one type of moss,

the plural become mosses.) Two…

three...four species materialized

where previously we’d just seen

green. Then Joe extricated a little

string from the cushion and held it

out to us. The creeping stem lined

with tiny leaves branched several

times at wide angles. “This is an

example of a pleurocarp moss,” he

explained, “They often form

densely woven mats.”

Then, probing into a different

section of rock, he held up a single

stalk bristling with spikey leaves.

“In contrast, this acrocarp moss is

very upright, and if there are

branches, they run parallel to each

other. They tend to look more like

a tiny forest.”

Being able to tell the difference

between these two growth forms is

the first step in identifying mosses

using Joe’s field guide: Common

Mosses of the Northeast and

Appalachians. A few years ago,

Joe’s old college buddy, Karl

McKnight, asked Joe to help with

the book, and they came up with a

pretty slick system for identifying

200 common species of moss—

184 of which occur in Wisconsin.

This is a highlighted article

from the Museum’s Natural

Connections publications.

Because mosses are mostly

known by their scientific names,

the book team made up

memorable and descriptive

common names to help us regular

folks. For instance, we all oohed

and aahed when Joe pointed out a

patch of “windswept broom moss.”

The arched tips of its long leaves

were bent all to the same side,

and even on the calm day it

resembled a fairy-sized field of

grasses blowing in the breeze.

The second step in identifying a

moss using Joe’s guide is looking

at the shape of an individual leaf.

For this, we moved indoors, and

used a digital microscope to

project fragments of mosses on

the big screen, and hand lenses to

augment our own eyes. When

viewed close-up, in good light,

moss leaves glow. The hairlike,

lance-shaped, ovate, tongue-

shaped or sickle-shaped leaves

are just one cell thick, allowing

sunlight to pass through, and

water to come and go.

With hand lenses held close, we

dove into the challenge of moss

identification. I was successful with

some, and confused by others,

and I loved every minute of

looking.

“…the already gorgeous world

becomes even more beautiful the

closer you look.”

– Robin Wall Kimmerer,

Gathering Moss

Emily Stone

Naturalist/

Education Director

“Discovering Moss” was recently featured in Outdoors Unlimited, a publication of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Emily currently sits on the board of this professional organization.

Insect, Animal, Art

This is a highlighted article from the Museum’s

Cabinet of Curiosities publications.

I find myself seeing insects in a different light lately.

Sure, the sun's rays might now cast longer shadows off the tattered wing of a butterfly, and the sight of a bumble bee hovering over late-blooming goldenrod is becoming more and more infrequent as we lose hours of daylight. But that's not what I mean by a different light. After recently taking part in facilitating an art class where I used a microscope to gain a closer view of butterfly wings, I can appreciate their beauty from another perspective. A scale, proboscis, the hairs on a leg--all necessary parts for these insects had once been inherently glanced over when inventorying a pinned beetle, wasp, or moth specimen. Now my eyes are opening up to the beauty of insects--and in more ways than one. Insects became highly regarded when the Museum's exhibit committee met last winter to develop an exhibit featuring native pollinators. We blew up photos to show off their amazing adaptations and painted connections between pollinators and the flowers that they partner with. We were delighted to learn that so many more insects than we had originally thought--even flies and beetles--are part of pollinating plants that we use for food, medicine, and textiles. I wager we all grew to appreciate the beauty of species we had just become acquainted with through our research. Even after the exhibit was completed, our fun with insects continued from there. Later on in the summer, the Museum hosted a pastel painting class. Artists used photos that we took of butterfly wings to create beautiful abstract pieces. To be honest, I never thought to look at insects with an artistic eye quite like that before. Most artists who visit museums for inspiration are transfixed by the megafauna--taxidermy mammals and birds. Those animal mounts are quite the appropriate subjects, but insect specimens are just as fit. An artistic appreciation for insects certainly extends far beyond abstract paintings. As a curator, I naturally began to think that if insects can be such an overwhelming influence on our culture, then why not celebrate our collection? I had become so fascinated by these small creatures this summer that I decided I wanted to share their value with our visitors.

First of all, insect collections allow us to learn about what has happened in the past, and help us to make predictions about the future. They're a resource for science and for understanding the ever-changing world around us. And yet we understand the world through a variety of lenses. The impact of insects on human life has been acknowledged not only through science but through visual arts, literature, language, and even religion. I ended up developing a display of our insect collection to highlight their aesthetic value. I drew inspiration from creative, sometimes even cringey, insect art installations like those created by artists Jennifer Angus, Damien Hirst, and displays found at museums in Costa Rica and China. I think that this focus on insects in the art world is a beautiful thing. It's another way to get us thinking about insects, and hopefully about how important they are when alive. The estimated number of species of insects currently rivals that of any other group of organisms on earth, and the biomass of all living insects likely exceeds that of all terrestrial animals. Unfortunately, insect populations are at a staggering decline and that's something for all of us to be seriously concerned about. Beyond lending to artwork, insects are valuable as pollinators of plants that are used for food, clothes, even medicine, as

decomposers of dead organisms which are recycled back into the soil, and as agricultural pest control. They hold a great deal of economic, cultural, and intrinsic value, so let's celebrate that.

Mollie Kreb

Curator/Naturalist

The Insecta display and will remain available to visitors through 2020. A virtual version is currently available on the Museum’s website.

With a hearty appetite this fall, Carson the

Red-tailed Hawk will do just about anything to earn her food. Entering the office on my glove used to be a scary experience. Her head would swivel quickly as she looked for an escape route. She would crouch with her wings held stiffly, ready to take flight. But after a few repetitions, she learned that the office isn't a scary place, after all. Now she sits comfortably on my glove as we step through the door and she seems to think, "oh boy, I'm going to get some food!"

We slowly expanded Carson's comfort zone into the rest of the Museum: the classroom, the exhibit hall, and even the back work room. She is always eager to step on my glove the next day, a sure sign that she is not afraid of where we might go.

Carson was ready for the next step this week: traveling in the van. Her only van experiences in recent years have been long trips to the vet. I wanted to curate more positive associations with travel before she starts helping Aldo the kestrel with outreach programs around northwest Wisconsin.

To keep things easy and fun, I loaded Carson's crate into the van and drove a simple loop around the block. She seemed completely unfazed when I opened the crate door to deliver a chunk of quail. We will continue taking practice trips, going farther each time, until traveling in the van is normal for her. With her quick progress, she should be ready to make an appearance in Ashland in January!

Comfort Zone

Haley Appleman

Naturalist

The Museum also cares for Aldo the American Kestrel. Both birds star with Haley in our popular Talon Talk Live Raptor Programs which are held year-round.

This is a highlighted article from the

Museum’s News From the Mews publications.

Financial Overview

20%

15%

16%11%

25%

7 %6% Contributions

Memberships

Fundraisers

Programs

Endowments

Museum Shop

Misc. Income

2019 Revenue

Contributions $102,512

Memberships $74,876

Fundraisers $83,234

Programs $57,121

Endowments $128,000

Museum Shop $36,683

Misc. Income $31,994

Total $514,420

77%

7%

2%5%

9%

Operating

Exhibits/Programs

Interest & Fees

Fundraising

Plant Expenses

2019 Expenses Operating $352,301

Exhibits/Programs $31,915

Interest & Fees $6,787

Fundraising $22,522

Plant Expenses $41,267

TOTAL $454,792

The Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Our operational budget is funded by memberships

and donations, grants, program fees, endowment interest, and fundraising events.

20%

15%

16%11%

25%

7 %6% Contributions

Memberships

Fundraisers

Programs

Endowments

Museum Shop

Misc. Income

77%

7%

2%5%

9%

Operating

Exhibits/Programs

Interest & Fees

Fundraising

Plant Expenses

Thank You to Our Supporters!

Volunteers at the Museum perform a range of important educational and administrative duties

vital to the Museum’s operations.

Liz Aase

AlistairAlesch

Ron & Patty Anderson

Bev Bauer

Sara Balbin

Kathy Bergin

Krista Berry

Sarah Boles

Joe Brady

Margie Braun

Brenda Brueske

Jack & Juels Carlson

Dave Carter

Travis Cinco

Gary Crandall

Jesse Crandall

Mimi Crandall

Dianne DeRoma

Debbie Detzner

Sandra Devanie

Kristin & Tom Dew

Nancy Douglas

Carol Elliker

Tom Fitz

Chris Frasch

Eileen Furlong

Nathan Garrett

Mark & Jodi Gillman

Sue Grady

Brontё Gross

Drew Guttormson

Katie Hancock

John & Susan Hand

Vivianne & Larry Hanke

Gretchen Hannaford

Larry & Teri Hanson

Cari Hartman

Allen & Sandra Harvey

Lane & Bobby Hinkfuss

Barb Howe

Mark Jansen

Michaelene Jansen

Phil & Kathi Jensen

Tom & Barb Johnson

Liz Johnson

Ed Johnston

Tom Kaiser

Jodi Kingdon

Kevin Kiss

Steve Kolbe

Tom & Diane Kraemer

Jackie Kruse

Inga Larson

Monte & Kay Lewis

Roman & Ursula Lucyk

Dan Malesevich

Jane Mandli

Tom Matthiae

Bill & Beda McKinney

Diane Menard

Marge Mergen

Kay Meyer

Pat Mertig

Shelly Milford

Jim & Anne Miller

Rita Miller

Kerry Myhra

Pris Nei

Brad Nelson

Kelly & Kerri Nelson

Carolyn Owen

Maureen Palmer

Donna Post

Cindy & Rich Powers

Deb Pyne

Sara Qualey

John Radloff

Diana Randolph

Bob Rasmussen

Eric Rasmussen

Hans Rasmussen

Julie Ray

Bill & Rudy Rehak

Sue Rosa

Judy Rowley

Jennifer Rutten

Jim & Nancy Schemensky

JoAnne Schultz

Jan Sharp

Paulette Smith

Laurie St Aubin-Whelihan

Laurel Sukup

Sarah Szymaniak

Dave & Kasse Tomasula

Felicia Toohey

George Tuttle

Joe Tuttle

John Uffenbeck

Jane Weber

Carol Werner

Mary Wichita

Adrian Wydeven

Ned & Kathy Zuelsdorff

Memorial Gifts support the Museum’s mission and allow us to provide natural history education to

thousands of individuals every year. The following individuals were honored by donations to the Museum.

In Memory of

Don Anderson John & Marla Nachtsheim

Thomas Brilla Jim Ludwig & Ellen Jensen

Georgene Stratman

Travis Cinco’s Father Jim & Barbara Jabrosky

Julie Louis & Jenny Harris Lowell & Elizabeth Garrett

Connie Junker Edward Amundson Shirley Leaf

Beverly Lehl Gary & Pris Nei

Barb Marek Ruthan Gagner

Marjorie Matthiae Tom Matthiae

David Middleton Lavonne Middleton

Bradley & Jerry Olson Sandy Olson

Vira & Frank Palombi Roberto Palombi & Mary Smallwood

James Pettersen Charles & Helen Mortensen

Marl Reeder Virginia Woolworth

Paul & Irene Regorrah Jeff & Brenda Smits

Ruth & Jim Weaver Lisa Weaver & Eric Knutson

In Honor Of

Chuck & Dorothy Behling Jim & Nancy Wasserstrom

Jack & Bobby Brose Chris Anzalone & Ann Brose

Travis Cinco & John Pershing Mike & Diane Doyle

“The Grandchildren” Brad & Maureen Palmer

Ed & Adrian Hilz Anne Storan & Hans Kott

Jeremiah & Ana Menk Steven & Mary Menk

Business Memberships Museum Memberships help to support our exhibits, programming, collections, and fostering

stewardship by engaging visitors with the natural world. Business and individual members benefit

from free Museum admission, reduced rates for programs, discounts in the Museum Gift Shop and more!

Business Members

Advance Printing

American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation

Anderson Hager & Moe, CPAs

Andry Rasmussen & Sons

Apple Awards, Inc

Art Beat of Hayward

Ashland Ford Chrysler

Bear Country

Blakeman Plumbing & Heating, Inc

Cable Chiropractic Clinic

Cable Community Farm

Cable Hayward Area Arts Council, LTD

Cable Lumber & Home

Century 21 Woods to Water Realty

CF Web Services, LLC

Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA)

Chippewa Valley Bank

Como Oil & Propane

Coop's Pizza

Delta Diner, LLC

Don Johnson's Hayward Motors, Inc

Dragonfly Studio

Edmunds & Company Log Home Res-torations

Elkins & Sons Elite Crete of Wisconsin

Hawksford Dental Care

Hayward Community Credit Union

Heart Graphics & Communications, Inc

Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Joanne Cleary Insurance

Johnson Financial Group

Johnson's Resort

King Realty, Inc

Lakewoods Resort & Forest Ridges Golf Course

Lee's Trees

Loon Saloon

Mainstream Boutique

Mark Rasmussen Excavating, Inc.

Marketplace Foods & Liquor

Marsh & McLennan Agency

McKinney Realty

Mogasheen Resort, Inc

My Villa Home Decor

Northern Native Plantscapes

Norvado

Parker Electric

Redbery Books

Rondeaus Shopping Center

Rookery Pub Fine Dining

Sawmill Saloon & Mooselips

Scott Byrd Construction

Start Line Inn & Start Line Services

Telemark Vacation Condominiums

The Brick House Café & Catering

Town of Namakagon

Treeland Resorts

Trimmer Trees, Inc

Whispering Pines Gift & Gallery

Winter Greenhouse

Xcel Energy

Cable Natural History Museum PO Box 416 13470 County Highway M Cable, WI 54821-0416 info@cablemuseum.org www.cablemuseum.org

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