A Sand County Blog

Explore the latest in conservation thinking and practical land stewardship with special insights, stories, and reflections.

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2027 Phenology Calendar Explores Climate and Weather Impacts

Observing seasonal changes via phenology is a long-standing Leopold tradition – and keeping records of these recurring events is an important tool to understand how the land is responding to climate change. In the 2027 edition of our annual phenology calendar, we highlight various ways weather and climate are affecting Wisconsin’s wildlife.

Learning in Partnership with the Land

Reflections on the life and work of Dick Cates: farmer, conservationist, former Leopold Fellow, and recent guest on Land Ethic Live!

Conservation History Ignored to Weaken the Endangered Species Act – by Dr. Stanley Temple

Senior Fellow Dr. Temple outlines the history of endangered species protections through the decades―and why the current proposals to undo the meaning of "harm" will have devastating consequences.

Camp Long Run: Aldo Leopold and the Yale Forest School Camp of 1907

Originally published in Forest History Today, this article by Julie Dunlap explores an underappreciated period in the formation of Leopold's conservation awareness: a fieldwork summer camp during his studies at the Yale Forest School.

Chainsaw-in-Hand

The essay "Axe-in-Hand" from A Sand County Almanac is perhaps the closest thing the stewardship team has to a guidebook on land management. But deciding which trees to fell―and why―doesn't get any easier just because our tools are faster.

Live out Your Land Ethic with My Wisconsin Woods

In partnership with The Aldo Leopold Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, American Forest Foundation, and the U.S. Forest Service, My Wisconsin Woods is a program designed to assist property owners in their land management, connect landowners, and allow for everyone to build their own land ethic.

Jack's Summer of Monitoring

Wildlife monitoring fellow Jack Lindaas spent his summer in the fields and prairies, gathering data. His surveys will help establish baselines for future prairie restoration projects.

A Voice for Conservation: Metalcore Meets Leopold

Shane Murphy, young conservationist and drummer for metalcore band Vacant Voice, unites his two passions in a new song inspired by Aldo Leopold.

The Restorative Power of Ecosystem Disturbance

Land Stewardship Fellow Cate reflects on the destructive side of conservation work, and why disturbance is critical for ecosystems to thrive.

Benefits of Prescribed Burns

How is fire used as a stewardship tool? And what are the benefits for our land restoration work?

Of Meadowlarks & Men

The author describes a brief tour of his grassland buffalo ranch in South Dakota.

Aldo Leopold and Environmental Citizenship

What does it mean to be part of a community? How do ideas of citizenship - of reciprocal rights and obligations - apply in the context of conservation? Revisit Susan Flader's 1999 essay on Leopold's notion of civic environmentalism.

Bumble Bees and VIPs

What's all this buzz about bumble bees? Learn how and why we're working to protect the native bees of the Leopold-Pines Conservation Area in this feature from Land Stewardship Fellow Cate Nelson.

Dancing with Dickcissels

Ecological restoration is a key pillar of our work at the Aldo Leopold Foundation. Wildlife Monitoring Fellow Jack has been helping to restore and maintain beneficial habitats for many species all over the Leopold-Pines Conservation Area this summer and is here to share a story of a special experience with a winged friend.

Lightning's Return: Another Good Oak Meets Its End

Lightning struck and killed an oak tree just fifty feet from the Shack's front door. Much like the immortalized Good Oak, this tree has a story all its own.

Leopold's Prodigies Saved the Boomers

Mentor, leader, inspiration—all words that described Professor Leopold. But his legacy as an educator and dedicated naturalist surpassed even his own lifetime. Meet Fred and Fran Hamerstrom, the Leopold students who saved a beloved Wisconsin bird.

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