MUHS students spent their Sunday afternoon exploring the beautiful Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area. Tom Hayssen, a MUHS parent and landowner in the bog, led us through the UWM field station’s boardwalk and did a wonderful job explaining the formation and workings of this special place. We were also joined by a few other adult friends from Heiliger Huegel Ski Club who were curious to see and explore this Wisconsin gem. As a result of a bog being a bog, it is best seen in its entirety when it is frozen over. There was a few inches of meltwater on top of the ice and we followed the trail made by the Friends of Cedarburg Bog all the way to Long Lake (pictured above). Thankfully the temperatures were not any warmer as there would have been much more breaking through the ice into knee deep muck. The path weaved through thickets of tamarack and stunted white cedar and beautiful openings of sedge hummocks and cattails. We were able to see our fair share of the insect eating pitcher plants that digest bugs that fall into their water filled reservoir’s (pictured below). We also came across a Wood Frog that was overwintering in the ice. These frogs have the ability to freeze solid and thaw out in spring to go about their business (pictured below).

Wood Frogs that are able to freeze solid in winter

The Insect Eating Pitcher Plant