Found an item? Your responsibilities

What to do when you find someone else's property — your responsibilities and how to return it safely.

Found something in Northern WI? Handling it responsibly protects both you and the owner. Rules vary by location, but the principles are consistent.

Make a reasonable effort to find the owner. Check for ID, contact details, or anything that identifies who it belongs to.
Don't assume it's yours to keep. Keeping found property without trying to return it can have legal consequences. When in doubt, hand it in.
Hand valuables to the authorities. Report significant or high-value finds to the police non-emergency line for Northern WI; they'll log it and may issue a reference.
Store it safely. Keep the item secure and unchanged while you try to return it.
Post a found listing. Add a found-item listing for Northern WI with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Northern WI

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Northern WI

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Found radios near Rotary Park, Rhinelander

Hi, I'm Grace Becker. I found two portable radios on a bench near Rotary Park in Rhinelander around 6:15 PM on Saturday. They’re rugged black units with a few stickers from a local fishing club, one with a blue wave sticker and a red tag that says 'Lakeside.' It felt like they were waiting for someone to claim them, so I brought them to the park office to hold until the owner arrives. I know how easy it is to lose gear on a trail, and I hope the rightful owner finds them soon.

Rotary Park entrance, Rhinelander 10 days ago

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Found item labeled 'Breeds' in Northern WI.

I was walking along the Lakefront Park area in Superior, roughly 5:20 PM yesterday, when I found a small folder tucked beneath a bench. It's labeled Breeds in bold handwriting, filled with loose notes and several dog-breed cards. From the look of it, someone was compiling information for a project or a kennel. I picked it up, kept it dry, and brought it here, hoping it reaches its owner through the Lost & Found system after posting here. It seems like a sincere collection, and I’d hate for it to be misplaced for good.

by the Lakefront Park, Superior Harbor 12 days ago

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FOUND: Postcards found in Northern WI

I was strolling along the Chequamegon Bay waterfront in Ashland, Wisconsin at 6:45 PM on Tuesday when I spotted a stack of postcards tucked under a bench near the Ashland Public Library. The backs carry a Wisconsin postmark and the photos show old lighthouses and pine forests, their corners worn from years of handling. It felt like a small time capsule. I picked them up to keep them safe and hope to reunite them with the owner. If these belong to you, they were found on the steps outside the Ashland Public Library, along the riverfront path, around 6:45 PM on Tuesday.

Ashland Public Library steps, Chequamegon Bay waterfront 3 months ago

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Neon green Nike running shorts

I found a pair of neon green Nike running shorts this afternoon around 2pm behind the Walmart on Tower Ave in Superior. They’re size M, moisture-wicking fabric with a black drawstring and a small zip pocket on the back. The left leg has a tiny blue hem stitch and there’s a faint coffee stain on the waistband from a gym visit. They look barely worn, like someone might have forgotten them in the parking lot. If these belong to you, send me a message here and we can figure out a pickup time.

Northern WI 4 months ago

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Black portable Bluetooth speaker with orange paw sticker

I found a black Sony portable Bluetooth speaker this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Bayfield Public Library on Second Street, Northern WI. It's about the size of a soda can, with a matte plastic body and a rubberized edge, and there’s a bright orange paw-print sticker on the back. The initials 'KT' are scratched into the bottom, and the unit powers on and pairs, though the battery cover feels a bit loose from a tiny dent. If this belongs to you, I’d really like to get it back and I’m happy to arrange a pickup near the library.

Northern WI 4 months ago

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Gray insulated parka with pine-tree patch

I found a gray insulated parka this afternoon around 4:10pm in the parking lot behind the Walmart on US Highway 8 in Rhinelander, Northern WI. It's a men's XL Columbia parka, thick and quilted, with a bit of wear on the outer shell. The inside lining is a bright orange, and there’s a small pine-tree patch sewn on the left sleeve for quick ID. The zipper pull is missing from the upper pocket, but otherwise it’s in decent shape. It was sitting near a snowbank by the curb after the last snowfall, and I figured someone might be missing it. If it's yours, tell me the approximate time you last wore it, the brand and size, and the patch detail and I’ll help get it back to you.

Northern WI 5 months ago