Dr. Ray Anderson

Following the passing of researcher and mentor Professor Ray Anderson of UW-Stevens Point in 2000, Heino was named Field Coordinator for black bear research throughout northern Wisconsin.

Raymond Anderson, a friend to the tribes, walks on
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On September 26, 2000 Dr. Raymond Anderson, professor of wildlife at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, passed on to the spirit world.Ray was a great friend of the tribes and will be missed in this world. Ray had a long and accomplished career.He has been deeply involved in many different projects working with many different species of animals from prairie chickens to American marten to elk to black bears.He earned a Ph.D. in wildlife ecology from UW-Madison and taught for many years in the College of Natural Resources at the UW-Stevens Point. I would like to talk about Ray from a personal perspective and especially as he interacted with the Ojibwe Indian tribes in Wisconsin. I first met Ray Anderson in 1984 in Glidden, Wisconsin at an annual meeting of wildlife biologists and managers from the USDA Forest Service (USFS) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
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This began a 16 year friendship with Ray, a relationship which was about friends sharing their love for the out-of-doors, their respect for education and the environment, their wish to "do that which is right for the wild ones."It was also a mentoring relationship where Ray took me under his wing to provide advise and council when needed. Ray was involved with the tribes in the Voigt treaty litigation case.He was the tribes' outside wildlife expert who was there to provide unbiased evaluations of our wildlife management proposals.He was very useful as an expert and provided some of the more memorable moments. One example occurred when the WDNR was trying to establish a "biological" reason for a hunting season limited to particular months of the year.Ray was asked by a Department of Justice lawyer if there was a time when deer should not be hunted.Ray replied, "Hell, lady, I don't care when a deer is shot.Just tell me how many deer you want and I'll tell how many one can shoot.When a deer is shot is irrelevant." Ray and I worked together on several graduate student projects.
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Ray was the major advisor, at least on paper.He was very willing to let John and I work out the details of the project, and he then discussed them with us.In this way Ray encouraged independence in his students. Ray had a passion for the reintroduction of extirpated wildlife species.Perhaps his most well known effort was the reintroduction of elk to northern Wisconsin. Ray was instrumental in resurrecting a plan which was originally rejected by the WDNR.He took the idea of reintroducing elk on the Chequamegon National Forest in Bayfield County and implemented it near Clam Lake.One of the highlights of this reintroduction program was the early involvement of Ojibwe people. There are stories which are told on some Ojibwe reservations of the people who used to hunt elk from that tribe.There are historical records of elk bones and antlers being found near Indian encampments.Clearly, the elk was a part of the northern ecosystems prior to European settlement. As Ray was making plans for the reintroduction, he asked an elder from the Lac Courte Oreilles tribe to come to the introduction site on the National Forest and conduct a welcoming ceremony.
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Ray also had a long history of black bear research in Wisconsin.Makwa is an important animal for the Ojibwe people.It is a clan animal and is revered by many in Indian Country.Ray conducted research on the reproductive capacity of bears by visiting hibernating female bears, and documenting any reproduction.This included counting, sexing and marking cubs or yearlings. I accompanied Ray on many of the den site visits.I was always impressed that Ray made an effort to place tobacco near the den as a sign of reverence for the creature and the clan it represents.This was not done in the public eye, but rather as a quiet gesture while Ray was alone. Ray will be missed by us in Indian Country.He was a good friend, a good biologist, a good teacher and a person who always treated me and the people I work for with respect and honor. Even though he has passed, his legacy will live on in the animals he worked with.Everyone who ever sees a marten, hears an elk bugle, or is fortunate enough to capture a fisher, will have Ray Anderson to thank.Miigwech, Ray!

• Raymond K. Anderson

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Raymond K. AndersonRaymond K. Anderson , 72 , 10498 County Road MM , Amherst Junction , a noted wildlife researcher and retired University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point natural resources professor , died Tuesday , Sept.26 , 2000 , at his home in the town of New Hope.

There will be no public service.

A Ray Anderson Memorial Fund has been set up at the UW-SP Foundation , 212 Old Main Building , 2100 Main St. , Stevens Point.

Voie Funeral Home of Iola assisted the family with arrangements.

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Mr. Anderson was born and raised in White Lake , a son of Marian Anderson of Amherst Junction and the late Raymond D. Anderson.

After graduating from high school , he served in the U.S. Air Force and then attended UW-SP , receiving a bachelor of science degree in conservation education and biology.

He then taught at Nekoosa and Marshfield high schools , working during the summer on his master's degree in conservation biology at the University of Michigan.

He returned to UW-SP as a faculty member in the Conservation Department in 1958.

He took a leave of absence in 1961 to earn a Ph.D. from UW-Madison in wildlife ecology.

After returning to UW-SP , he was given the responsibility of drafting the curricular plan that was used to develop a new major in wildlife management.The program grew to become on of the largest and best known in the U.S. and was enhanced by the Wildlife Society that he founded and advised throughout his career at the university.

Mr. Anderson was most enthusiastic in research with his graduate students and the projects included prairie chickens , coopers hawks , black bears , frogs , loons , bald eagles and the reintroduction of pine marten and elk into Wisconsin.

Survivors include his wife , Bobbi ; three sons , Mark ( Melissa ) , Morton Grove , Ill. , Peter , Amherst Junction , and Scott , Clam Lake ; one daughter , Jan , Amherst Junction ; one sister , Marian ( Jim ) Spaciel , Milwaukee ; and six grandchildren.

The study, underwritten by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), was designed and carried out by Dr. Ray Anderson, a retired UW-Stevens Point wildlife researcher.
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Anderson said calf survival has been excellent with few losses to winter stress, though two elk calves were killed by bears.

The north has a large bear population and "we knew bears could prey on young elk much as they do on deer fawns," Anderson explained.
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Elk calf survival is encouraging considering that predators annually take about 23 percent of the deer fawn crop in Wisconsin, Anderson noted.

The elk also survived two severe winters during 1995-1996 and 1996-1997.Elk pellet studies, browse surveys and urine analysis found the animals were eating well and remaining healthy despite 30 plus inches of snow and record low temperatures in the Clam Lake area.The long-legged elk plowed through deep snow and pawed through it to get to food.Winter elk pellets had a mix of grass and woody browse.

"Elk and deer inhabited the same area yet remained apart and we've found they can co-exist quite nicely," Anderson said.He related similar Michigan experiences where 35 deer per square mile inhabit an area that supports about 1,200 elk.

Researchers are also studying how elk are affected by logging, snowmobiling, and hound hunting for bear.Few effects have been noted.
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Anderson said local acceptance is good, but elk tend to get conditioned to people and autos."Elk can become almost tame," he said, "especially if people feed the animals, which is undesirable."
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However, if the herd expands, elk foraging on agricultural and private forest crops, will need to be addressed . Anderson believes elk will be accepted in Wisconsin and crop depredation can be managed to minimize problems, as it is in Michigan.

At their current growth rate, Anderson projects a state population of 500 to 600 animals in 11 years.More animals could also be brought in to boost the herd.

"We have the habitat," he said, "and elk are extremely adaptable."He noted large areas of public lands with little agriculture in northeastern Wisconsin and open prairie lands in western portions of the state.

The study , underwritten by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation ( RMEF ) , was designed and carried out by Dr. Ray Anderson , a retired UW-Stevens Point wildlife researcher.The money to move , release and track the herd included $ 100 , 000 from RMEF , $ 50 , 000 in state funds , $ 50 , 000 from the Navy and funds from the U.S. Forest Service , private donors and businesses.
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Anderson said calf survival has been excellent with few losses to winter stress , though two elk calves were killed by bears.

The north has a large bear population and we knew bears could prey on young elk much as they do on deer fawns , Anderson explained.The big difference between deer and elk , the researcher said , is that elk cows try to protect their young while deer flee.Flight allows deer to protect themselves so they can reproduce again.Elk are big enough to discourage most predators and elk calves are very mobile within three to five days.Elk can elude bears whereas deer fawns are vulnerable for about 12 days.

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Elk calf survival is encouraging considering that predators annually take about 23 percent of the deer fawn crop in Wisconsin , Anderson noted.

The elk also survived two severe winters during 1995-1996 and 1996-1997.Elk pellet studies , browse surveys and urine analysis found the animals were eating well and remaining healthy despite 30 plus inches of snow and record low temperatures in the Clam Lake area.The long-legged elk plowed through deep snow and pawed through it to get to food.Winter elk pellets had a mix of grass and woody browse.

Elk and deer inhabited the same area yet remained apart and we've found they can co-exist quite nicely , Anderson said.
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Anderson said local acceptance is good , but elk tend to get conditioned to people and autos.Elk can become almost tame , he said , especially if people feed the animals , which is undesirable..

Please don't feed the elk.
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However , if the herd expands , elk foraging on agricultural and private forest crops , will need to be addressed . Anderson believes elk will be accepted in Wisconsin and crop depredation can be managed to minimize problems , as it is in Michigan.

At their current growth rate , Anderson projects a state population of 500 to 600 animals in 11 years.More animals could also be brought in to boost the herd.

We have the habitat , he said , and elk are extremely adaptable. He noted large areas of public lands with little agriculture in northeastern Wisconsin and open prairie lands in western portions of the state.He noted the work of Jon Gilbert , a wildlife biologist for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission who is mapping potential elk habitat using computer mapping techniques.Other researchers have done thesis projects on the elk's winter food habits , site preparation for elk release locations and habitat use throughout the year.

Anderson has resigned from the position of athletic director and coach to take a position at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as the football team's linebacker coach and special teams coordinator.
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Under Anderson, McFarlane was in charge of the defensive backs, running backs and linebackers.
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Anderson believes McFarlane will have no problem handling the position.
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"I think he's going to be a good coach, and he'll do fine," Anderson said.

The transition has gone smoothly, in large part because of the assistance of UW-SP researchers Dr. Ray Anderson and John Schmidt, who helped DNR personnnel during this phase to learn more about the Clam Lake elk and the methods used to study them.
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The purpose of these meetings was to provide interested people with information on initial results of the research conducted by Dr. Anderson and his students from UW-SP, along with elk management issues and options.
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UW-SP emeritus professor Ray Anderson, who has directed the Elk Wisconsin study for the past five years, is finalizing his report and management recommendations.
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With the help of Dr. Ray Anderson (Elk Project Leader), several potential viewing areas have been located.
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It is normal for some yearling bulls to disperse from their natal areas in a fashion similar to that of the adult bulls who move into bachelor quarters after the fall mating season. (Provided by Prof. Ray Anderson, February 5, 1999)

Late November, 1998: One of my Clam Lake neighbors spotted about 10 elk swimming across her lake in late November, 1998.
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The 25 elk released in the Chequamegon National Forest in 1995 produced at least 14 calves this spring, putting the population at a minimum of 45 animals, project coordinator Ray Anderson said.

‘It is excellent, ‘ Anderson said. ‘The last two years, we had good production and very minor and very acceptable mortality of the calf crop.'

The herd may be larger than 45 elk because seven cows are unaccounted for and they may also have calves, he said.

‘We may not get to check on four of those because we donât have (radio) transmitters on them.The other three are still transmitting,' Anderson said.

Although he canât verify it, Anderson believes there are t least 49 elk in he herd.

‘At this rate of productivity and survivorship, we could have about 500 elk in 11 years,' he said.

The researcher, a retired University of Wisconsin Stevens Point professor, said at least one of the 14 verified calves born this spring was killed by a female black bear and an other may have died of unknown causes.

Researchers were able to catch and collar eight of the new calves with transmitters so their whereabouts can be monitored daily, he said.
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The state's experimental herd has grown to more than 34 bulls, cows, and calves in the Clam Lake area according to Ray Anderson, leader of a four-year elk reintroduction study.

The elk are roaming pairs of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Deer Management Units 6, 7, 23, 14 and 28.Most are near Clam Lake with others in the southwest study area bounded by Round, Spider, Lost Land, Teal, Moose, and Chippewa Lakes, and west of Highway 13 north of Park Falls.

Bull calves born in 1996, now yearlings with spiked antlers, venture farther afield at times. ‘Hunters need to know that this year's calves are about the size of a full-grown white-tailed doe,' Anderson said.
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Report prepared by Prof. Ray Anderson, Project Director.
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Report prepared by Prof. Ray Anderson, Project Director.
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could be born through the second week in July, according to Ray Anderson,project director and professor emeritus of wildlife at the University ofWisconsin-Stevens Point.

The newborn calves include three bulls and two heifers, he said.

Anderson, along with three college students and volunteers, have placedradio-transmitter collars around the calves' necks to determine how well theysurvive.

Except for bark-like warning vocalizations, the mothers of the calves have shownno physical threats to the researchers when placing the radio-transmitter collars onthe calves, said Anderson.

"With the new calves, the herd now numbers between 35 and 36 animals," saidAnderson.
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the area of the herd will assist Anderson and the Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources with monitoring any predation on the adult elk and calves.

"I don't expect either one of these predators to have an effect on the calves," saidAnderson.
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Report prepared by Prof. Ray Anderson, Project Director.
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"The rut developed well last fall," said lead researcher, Prof. Ray Anderson.
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Anderson.
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Report prepared by Prof. Ray Anderson, Project Director.

IF WISCONSIN'S elk reintroduction succeeds , and from all indications it will , a huge round of applause will be owed Ray Anderson.The retired professor of wildlife at UW-Stevens Point promoted the idea persistently in the face of some big obstacles , and he oversaw the project from its outset in 1995 until the DNR took it over a year ago.

The initial herd of 25 animals , obtained from Michigan and released in northwestern Wisconsin , has grown to an estimated 60 to 65 , including perhaps 25 calves born this spring.This past winter was an easy one for the elk , but they've survived tough weather up there , too.They've also survived predation by bears and wolves.

Biologists are still studying the herd to better identify elk-habitat relationships.The next big elk decision in Wisconsin may be whether , or where , to establish another herd.
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Wherever it goes , it will follow a pattern drawn by Ray Anderson.

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AN ARTICLE IN the Gazette last August told about a project to test the ability of bats to control insect pests on farms.

Sponsored by the Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Council in cooperation with other agencies and individuals , the idea is to see if bats can reduce the need for pesticides , and if so , whether bat houses can increase their numbers near farms.It's a long-range project and it'll take awhile to get answers.

Following the passing of researcher and mentor Professor Ray Anderson of UW-Stevens Point in 2000, Heino was named Field Coordinator for black bear research throughout northern Wisconsin.