Science on Tap: Marten on the Apostle Islands — What a Story!

Julie Van Stappen, Resource Stewardship Director and Kasey Arts, Biological Technician with the Apostle Islands NL, National Park Service

The mystery and intrigue of the “little hunter” (Waabizheshi) of our archipelago – learn about how the state endangered American marten, an Ojibway clan animal, were “discovered” on the Apostle Islands and how a collaboration of Park, Academic, Tribal and State scientists have been working to uncover their secrets: How long have marten been on the islands? Where and how many are there? Which islands appear most important to the population? What’s special about the islands while their populations truly struggle on the mainland? What are they eating out there? Do they travel from island to island? Are they genetically related to mainland marten? How are they so stinking cute?! Are they as soft as they look? And what in heaven’s name is subnivean?! The more we’ve looked, the more we continue to learn.

Kasey Arts graduated from Northland College in 2016 with a degree in Biology and Natural Resources. During her time at Northland she spent time in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore volunteering on the early stages of the still functioning camera project. She went on to earn her Masters of Science from the University of West Georgia in Biology, focusing on the adaptive behaviors of federally threatened eastern spotted skunks. She was lucky enough to return to the area in 2020, and has worked for the park seasonally and now permanently as a biological technician. Her current interests include the management of publicly controversial species (aka skunks, bats, wolves), and the early response to incoming forest health threats to the park (emerald ash borer, Oak wilt disease, spongy moth). What has kept her at Apostle Islands is not only the astounding natural resources but the amazing people she gets to work with.

Julie Van Stappen, recently retired from an awesome career of over 40 years with the National Park Service, where she had the opportunity to do work she loved. She found her “park” early in her career at Apostle Islands where she has worked in resource stewardship for the last 35 years. Her most recent position was the Resource Stewardship Director where she led the natural and cultural resource stewardship, park-wide planning, environmental compliance, lands and public affairs programs for several years. Prior to that she helped develop and led the park’s natural resource and research program. Before coming to Apostle Islands she was a seasonal at Glacier National Park, where her passion for National Parks began. She did her thesis work at Olympic National Park, worked at Regional Offices in Washington and Nebraska, and a Washington level office in Colorado. She earned her M.S. Degree in Aquatic Ecology from U.W. Stevens Point and B.S. Degree in Geology from U.W. Oshkosh. On a personal note, she’s an avid cross-country skier and hiker, loves to explore wild places, travel and garden, but mostly spend time with family and friends – especially her little grand-daughters.