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A recent rescue of kayakers near Sand Island in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore chain was successful. (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

APOSTLE ISLANDS - After teaming up with U.S. Coast Guard crews to handle the rescues of kayakers and others this summer, one national park is warning people that Mother Nature is the boss - and there's no guarantee of a rescue on the Great Lakes.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore posted a sternly-worded note about this recently on its Facebook page, under the all-caps heading "Safety is Your Responsibility."

The grouping of 21 islands is spread out among 500 square miles in Lake Superior, near the Wisconsin coast. Park staff wants to remind people it's their responsibility to be aware of the risks on the lake and its islands.

"Response times to areas on Lake Superior can be far greater than for similar distances on the mainland," they said. "The National Park Service will make reasonable efforts to respond in emergency situations, but the lake IS the boss. So be careful out there, because maybe we can save you, and maybe we can't."

They referred to a pronouncement from a longtime commercial fisherman from the area, Julian Nelson, who said: "The lake is the boss. No matter how big you are or what kind of a boat you've got, the lake is still the boss."

This warning on social media came just before rescue crews were called to search for three people - including a 9-year old boy - who did not return from a fishing trip in the Upper Peninsula. Michigan State police say the trio was headed to Lake Superior in a 16-foot boat Saturday, Sept. 17, but did not return by that evening.

Last week, rescue workers near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, also in Lake Superior, rescued three kayakers who overturned in rough water. These three men wore wet suits and life preservers, and had cell phones in waterproof cases, allowing them to call for helping after floating in the water for several hours.