Michael Stelpflug grew up in Cottage Grove, WI. Growing up Michael always enjoyed the outdoors and had a fascination with fire. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in 2014 with a degree in Wildlife Ecology Research and Management. Michael was first exposed to the unique ecosystems of the Driftless area and their restoration when he accepted a summer internship with The Prairie Enthusiasts in 2014. He spent the summer working in Western Dane County restoring and learning about the unique ecology of the Driftless area. After the internship Michael got a position with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation (Endangered Resources) as a Conservation Biologist. He spent the next 4.5 years on the Driftless area State Natural Area crew helping restore and manage State Natural Areas such as Rush Creek SNA, Hogback Prairie SNA, Battle Bluff Prairie SNA, as well as various other public lands across Western Wisconsin. His time with the WDNR allowed him to put his fascination with fire to good use. He has participated in 100+ prescribed fires and has led burns as burn boss on both public and private lands. He spent a brief stint working in the medical field for Mayo Clinic as a Laboratory Technician in therapeutic drug monitoring and the emergency Covid-19 testing efforts, as well as the agricultural sector as a Research Associate. He decided in 2023 to take a shot at making his dreams come true and started Open Oak Land Services LLC. He hopes to share his passion for restoring the Driftless area and the unique ecosystems that inhabit it.
Founded in 2023, the goal of our company is to help restore and maintain the ecological health of the unique ecosystems that inhabit the Driftless area. The rugged topography of the bluffs and the diverse microclimates they create have made it one of the most biologically diverse and scenic areas in the Upper Midwest. The extreme topography of the bluffs prevented much of the landscape from being converted into agricultural land. Because of this the Driftless area offers some of the best opportunities for restoring and preserving some of Wisconsin’s most critically endangered ecosystems. Over 97% of the Driftless area is privately owned, so getting private landowners onboard with its restoration and preservation is crucial. We help landowners identify remnants of these endangered ecosystems on their property and provide them with the tools and expertise to care for them. Using the best available practices, we develop a plan for landowners to break the feedback loop of mesic conversion and restore the land to its natural state.
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