Outdoors

Tapping into the science of maple syrup
What makes sap start running in late winter? And how do you tap a tree without harming it? MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the science behind maple syrup.
Itasca State Park welcomes the future through potential change
Itasca State Park is looking at two amendments to its current management plan. And the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants to hear visitors’ thoughts about the potential changes.
The ice man cometh to Lake Itasca
On the north end of frozen Lake Itasca, just a couple hundred yards from the Mississippi River headwaters, the nonprofit Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers revealed how old-time ice harvests were done in the past.
Fish house removal deadlines loom as ice melts
With spring fast approaching, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants anglers to  prepare to remove their fish houses from off the ice to meet statutory deadlines. 
A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red on Tuesday across several continents
A blood-red moon will soon grace the skies for a total lunar eclipse. There won’t be another until late 2028. The spectacle will be visible Tuesday morning from North America, Central America and western part of South America.
Snowy season boosts northern Wisconsin tourism, but winters are becoming unreliable
In some ways, the winter of 2025-26 feels like the exception that proves the rule. For many who participate in winter activities or rely on winter tourism, a “normal” winter feels like an increasingly rare thing.
Citing increased pressures, Minnesota DNR proposes dropping walleye limit from 6 to 4
The DNR says Minnesota’s iconic state fish is not currently in crisis. But walleye are facing a number of complicating factors that could affect their long-term health, including climate change, invasive species and increased pressure from anglers armed with better gear and technology.
Blizzard breaks up ice pack at Apostle Islands caves, likely ending foot access for the winter
After one glorious, fleeting day — access to the Apostle Islands ice caves is likely done for the season. The blizzard sweeping across Lake Superior broke up the ice pack along the shore overnight.