DCCL News

Lesa Kardash, Wildlife Biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

I am a native Wisconsinite and grew up in Verona, not too far from the DCCL farm property.  I received my Bachelor and Masters degrees in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  For the past 20 years, I have served as a Wildlife Biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  During that time, I have been responsible for implementing the wildlife management program in Portage and Wood Counties.  A significant portion of my work involves the management of 17,000 acres of grassland habitat on the Buena Vista and Paul J. Olson Wildlife Areas.  In 2022, I took on the role of Greater Prairie-chicken staff specialist.

My husband and four children live next to the Buena Vista Wildlife Area grasslands and spend as much time as we can outdoors together.  We enjoy camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, biking, gardening, and simply exploring the natural world as a family.

Here are some ways to increase membership (including youth): 

• more collaboration with other conservation organizations, 

• involve high school students such as 4H and FFA from Verona/Mt. Horeb,

• allowing youth to operate power equipment (once trained and with parental permission)

• bird banding and allow youth to release birds once banded,

• more effort helping out at Buena Vista and Paul Olson (DCCL land), 

• archery lane at farm, 

• option of virtual membership meetings,

• reach out to hunter safety instructors about youth joining and include new youth membership info.,

• need to define programming, 

• Scouts could be a source of new members, 

• coordinate activities to get kids more involved, 

• have a monthly activity listed on the calendar, 

• allow youth to build bluebird, kestrel and bat houses.  

• allow youth members to help release birds (similar to AAW).

What are your thoughts? Email or discuss them with any board member.