Over the two evenings of the August bat walks, the Echometer sensors gave plenty of indications of the presence of bats, even if we can't absolutely rely on the exact IDs. The sensors suggested the possible presence of six of Wisconsin's eight species: Little Brown, Big Brown, Hoary, Silver-haired, Tricolored, and Eastern Red.

Scout Cynthia has been working steadily since February on her Eagle Scout project, with sponsorship and guidance from the Friends of Cherokee Marsh. She has now completed her project of planting a native plant pollinator garden, with the help of many Scout volunteers.

We had more than 40 enthusiastic volunteers this year to survey 24 Dane County sites for aquatic invasive species.

There’s a fire here, too. One of life. One that continues regardless of temperature or the level of particulate matter wafting through the air.

If you’ve paddled or viewed the shoreline of the upper Yahara at Cherokee Marsh this summer, you have noticed large numbers of aquatic plants growing on, above, and under the water’s surface.

Wildflower, Butterfly, Bat, & Bird Walks  We're pleased to offer some new events!

The Upper Sugar River Watershed Association (USRWA) is sponsoring a project to map and manage the non-native phragmites population in Cherokee Marsh. The participating partners in the project are the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, Dane County Department of Land and Water Resources, City of Madison, Friends of Cherokee Marsh, Wisconsin DNR, and some private landowners along the Upper Yahara River.

She was an acorn once. She’s an oak now. An oak, and maybe a branch, too, of a mighty oak: our family.

Enter stage right, the muskrat, a resident of Cherokee Marsh. The muskrat, the not-often-thought-about rodent. O muskrat! O you, the poor man’s beaver! Ondatra zibethicus is its scientific name, and it is found almost everywhere in Canada and the United States. Yet, how often do we think about it? How often are muskrats championed?

UPDATES: American Family Insurance golf championship & Cherokee Marsh North Unit

The PGA Tour Champions American Family Insurance Championship will take place June 6–8, 2025, at the TPC Wisconsin golf course.