POYNETTE — The howl of a wolf is a rare sound in most of southern Wisconsin.Â
A wolf howls in its enclosure at MacKenzie Environmental Center and provides visitors a rare, up-close experience with an animal that is typically found in the forests of western and far northern Wisconsin.
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Don Lucke and Carl Bujanowski, members of the Friends of MacKenzie Center, are advocating that educational programs and the wildlife exhibits at MacKenzie Environmental Center near Poynette remain. The DNR is considering four options for the 287-acre property that would alter the center's uses.
Many of the wildlife enclosures at MacKenzie Environmental Center are empty. The DNR has proposed doing away with the captive wildlife due to costs and facility needs, but the Friends of MacKenzie want to see the animals, all of which are native to Wisconsin, remain.
Don Lucke and Carl Bujanowski show off the more than 100-year-old cabin that was moved from northwestern Wisconsin to the MacKenzie Environmental Center. The cabin hosts a logging museum that is one of the educational opportunities at the center near Poynette.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are among the activities offered at MacKenzie Environmental Center in Poynette. The gear is stored in the center's lodge, which is also home to exhibits, classrooms and a commercial kitchen.
The wildlife at MacKenzie Environmental Center includes a bald eagle, giving visitors, including thousands of school children each year, an up-close view of the bird.
Under some plans by the DNR, educational programming would be moved out of the MacKenzie Environmental Center. The lodge, seen here, is home to classrooms and scores of wildlife mounts, like this opossum.
Photos: MacKenzie Environmental Center in Poynette
Carl Bujanowski, left, and Don Lucke, of Friends of MacKenzie, stand near the center's wolf that roams daily in an enclosure that is part of a wildlife exhibit featuring native Wisconsin animals.
Wildlife area at the MacKenzie Center in Poynette.
Don Lucke and Carl Bujanowski, members of the Friends of MacKenzie Center, are advocating that educational programs and the wildlife exhibits at MacKenzie Environmental Center near Poynette remain. The DNR is considering four options for the 287-acre property that would alter the center's uses.
Don Lucke of Friends of MacKenzie Center, walks through the logging museum housed in a log cabin at MacKenzie Environmental Center.
Friends of MacKenzie Center members, including, from left, Reggie Finn, Carl Bujanowski and Don Lucke, talk about proposals by the Department of Natural Resources to make changes to the facility. The trio were in the Friends’ clubhouse constructed in 2007.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are among the activities offered at MacKenzie Environmental Center in Poynette. The gear is stored in the center's lodge, which is also home to exhibits, classrooms and a commercial kitchen.
Don Lucke and Carl Bujanowski walk toward the barred owl enclosure at MacKenzie Environmental Center.
Many of the wildlife enclosures at MacKenzie Environmental Center are empty. The DNR has proposed doing away with the captive wildlife due to costs and facility needs, but the Friends of MacKenzie want to see the animals, all of which are native to Wisconsin, remain.
Don Lucke of the Friends of MacKenzie Center shows off records from maple syrup production. The annual spring event draws thousands of school children to MacKenzie Environmental Center near Poynette.
The lodge building at the MacKenzie Environmental Center near Poynette.
A wolf howls in its enclosure at MacKenzie Environmental Center and provides visitors a rare, up-close experience with an animal that is typically found in the forests of western and far northern Wisconsin.
Under some plans by the DNR, educational programming would be moved out of the MacKenzie Environmental Center. The lodge, seen here, is home to classrooms and scores of wildlife mounts, like this opossum.
The wildlife at MacKenzie Environmental Center includes a bald eagle, giving visitors, including thousands of school children each year, an up-close view of the bird.
Don Lucke and Carl Bujanowski show off the more than 100-year-old cabin that was moved from northwestern Wisconsin to the MacKenzie Environmental Center. The cabin hosts a logging museum that is one of the educational opportunities at the center near Poynette.
Two dormitories at the MacKenzie Environmental Center near Poynette.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
