WHYSCONSIN
The Regal Fritillary Is In Danger Of Going Extinct. Why Haven’t More People Heard Of It?
WHYsconsin received a question from listener Rachel Potter of Fitchburg wondering, "Why don’t more Wisconsinites know about the majestic regal fritillary butterfly?"
To find out more about this rare insect, WPR traveled to a restored prairie outside of Barneveld in southwestern Wisconsin with guide Rich Henderson, a board member of the Prairie Enthusiasts and a former state Department of Natural Resources ecologist.
This story is part of Wisconsin Life and WPR's WHYsconsin project. What have you always wondered about Wisconsin, its people or its culture that you want WHYsconsin to look into? You ask the questions, and we find the answers!
LATEST STORIES
Talented Water Skier Bringing Increased Accessibility To The Sport
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Puppet Maker Holds the Strings on Hobby Turned Livelihood
When Ken Vogel started making puppets in the 1970s, he didn’t actually believe he would still be making them to this day. “People ask me how many puppets I made in my life and I, for a long time, have said 10,000 or so,” he says.
‘I Would Do Anything For Them’: Siblings Reflect On Separation
Family separation can be extremely traumatic, especially for children. At Camp To Belong-Wisconsin in Plymouth, brothers and sisters who have been separated by the foster care system have an opportunity to spend time together once again.
Summer Camp Reunites Siblings Separated By Foster Care System
As groups of siblings sit around a large campfire, they begin to share stories while eating a few snacks. They’re starting to make memories that will have to last them until they can see each other again.
Middleton Teen Using Indian Classical Dance To Help Others
Shruti Parthasarathy is a dancer from Middleton, Wisconsin. She practices Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance form that originated in southern India thousands of years ago. It tells mythological tales of gods and goddesses through movement and music.
Meet The Athletes Who Ran For Six Days Straight
Jim Fiste of Cedarburg has been running for five days straight. He has 17 hours left and a goal of 250 miles.
With a mop of grey and white hair and full beard, he looks younger than his 77 years.
Saw Mill Workers Use Unique Sign Language To “Talk” On Noisy Mill Floor
Saw mills are loud places. Menominee Tribal Enterprises in Neopit is no exception. Talking across the mill floor is nearly impossible because of the noise. That’s why for more than a century, the workers in this mill carry on conversations in a different way.
WPR’s Glen Moberg Supported Young Journalists Throughout His Career. I Was One Of Them.
Wisconsin Public Radio lost a dear colleague and friend to cancer over the weekend. Glen Moberg covered central Wisconsin for WPR for 15 years. As a reporter and talk show host of WPR’s “Route 51,” Glen’s love for his community was apparent on the airwaves and off.
Fashion Designer Brings Historic Hotel’s Paintings To Life
Stephanie Schultz is a fashion designer and the tenth artist-in-residence at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. “I’m working on high fashion garments inspired by the Victorian paintings that are here at the hotel,” says Schultz.
First Day of School
“First Day of School” is an animated version of the story written by Joe Shaffer describing the dreadful anxieties that come with his experience of the first day of every school year.
An Industry On The Line: Commercial Fishing The Mighty Mississippi
Mike Valley is perched in his fishing boat, taking in the scene around him. It’s idyllic — birds are chirping and small waves gently brush up against the side of the boat.
For Hundreds Of Paddlers, PaddleQuest Is Fantasy ‘Magic’ On Wisconsin River Backwaters
At Stevens Point, the Wisconsin River fans out into a flowage, with branches and channels and swirls and broad, still expanses. On the map, the flowage looks a little like a low, gnarled tree.
