Have you ever walked through a patch of poison ivy or brushed up against wild parsnip? If so, you probably learned an uncomfortable lesson about encountering harmful plants. Luckily, there is a less painful way to learn about dangerous vegetation hidden among Wisconsin’s natural beauty. Now is the time to brush up on hazards you may encounter while working or recreating outdoors.

Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin, a guide published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, will help you recognize, avoid and handle potential problems caused by wildlife, insects and plants.

Contents include:

• Amphibians (salamanders, toads)
• Reptiles (turtles, snakes)
• Birds (defending territory, handling birds)
• Mammals (short-tailed shrews, bats, skunks, porcupines, coyotes, gray wolves, deer, black bears)
• Stinging insects (bees and wasps)
• Blood-feeding insects (mosquitoes, deerflies and horseflies, blackflies, biting midges, ticks, chiggers)
• Plants that are poisonous when ingested (poison hemlock, spotted water hemlock, bittersweet nightshade, black nightshade, jimsonweed)
• Plants that are poisonous on contact (poison ivy, poison sumac, wild parsnip, stinging nettle)
• Plants that cause hay fever (common ragweed, giant ragweed)
• Thorny, barbed plants (bull thistle, beggarticks, burdock, cocklebur, sandbur)

Are you an arborist or urban forester who conducts tree risk assessments?

Researchers from the Universities of Toronto, Florida and Wisconsin-Stevens Point are researching how arborists perceive the likelihood of failure of included bark. They’ve put together a survey with scenarios and photos and are looking for tree care professionals to rate the likelihood of failure. As an incentive, there will be a drawing for one of ten $100 gift cards to an arborist supply store.

Please feel free to distribute this survey to other arborists who might be interested in taking the survey. Any comments or questions can be directed to the principal investigator Alexander Martin (University of Toronto – Mississauga) at alexjf.martin@mail.utoronto.ca.

Complete the survey online.

Public, Private Forestry Experts Encouraged To Apply For Membership In State Advisory Committee

Are you a forestry expert interested in working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), forest industry professionals and natural resource leaders to ensure sustainable management practices of Wisconsin’s forest resources?

The DNR and Wisconsin Council on Forestry are seeking representatives from a variety of partner interest groups to fill several current and upcoming vacancies on the Silviculture Guidance Team (SGT), which provides crucial oversight and input to ensure the responsible and effective management of Wisconsin’s forest resources.

The SGT is a partnership group that reviews and provides input on silvicultural guidance and best management practices for forest management in Wisconsin, helping to ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of silvicultural practices.

Key functions of the SGT:

• Review and provide input on silvicultural guidance: The team reviews existing guidelines, including the Wisconsin Silviculture Guide (WSG) and other related guidance, to ensure they are up to date and relevant.
• Collaborate with diverse stakeholders: The team includes representatives from various sectors, including the DNR, county forests, industry, universities and conservation organizations. This diverse participation ensures a comprehensive and practical approach to silviculture.
• Promote best practices: The SGT helps to develop and promote best management practices for forest management in Wisconsin, contributing to sustainable forest ecosystems.

Applications are now being accepted to fill several standing and upcoming vacancies on the SGT:

• University/Forest Service Research
• Resource Conservation
• Consulting Foresters
• Sawtimber Industry, Northern Wisconsin
• Sawtimber Industry, Southern Wisconsin
• Logging Professionals
• Paper and Pulp Industry

To submit an application to represent one of the aforementioned interest groups, please download and complete the application form [PDF] and submit it to Kori Schroeder, DNR Forest Economics and Ecology Section Chief, at Kori.Schroeder@wisconsin.gov  Applications are due June 2, 2025.

The 2025 Partners in Community Forestry Conference: Nov. 19-20, 2025.
This gathering unites passionate individuals, communities, organizations and leaders to explore innovative solutions, share insights and collaborate on the future of urban forestry. Join leaders across the industry to focus on strengthening the bonds between people and trees, fostering sustainable practices and creating green, thriving urban landscapes.

Keep an eye on the website or sign up for emails for more information.

WAA Summer Conference: July 31
Location: Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI
Watch the WAA website for more information and registration.

*These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

See below for information on chainsaw classes, UFIA training, i-Tree workshops and educational resources.

Texas A&M Forest Service

Urban Forest Inventory And Analysis Training
Participate in this free online webinar to explore the power of My City’s Trees and Urban Forest Stats. These user-friendly tools are powered by i-Tree and built on Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis (UFIA) data. They allow anyone, from city planners to community members, to explore, analyze and communicate the value of tree canopy in urban environments.

The webinar will also include a communications training component, offering practical guidance on how to talk about and advocate for UFIA data. You will gain tools to help share the story trees tell in our communities and make a stronger case for urban forestry in your city.

When: May 29, 2025, 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Where: Online
Register online.

University of Wisconsin Extension Forestry

SAWW Training For Women
The University of Wisconsin Extension Forestry is partnering with Blue Heron Stewardship for a workshop geared towards participants with little or no experience with a chainsaw. The principal focus will be on safety, including safe posture, safe practices, safe clothing and safe habits. This workshop will empower women to be comfortable with running a saw and saw knowledge. You will walk away with the skills to clear brush, maintain your property, harvest firewood and more!

If you have your own chaps, helmet and chainsaw, please bring them to the workshop. A limited supply of these items will be available to use for those who do not have their own equipment. Space is limited to 12 per workshop so register early! For questions, please email Olivia Kovacs (olivia.kovacs@wisc.edu) with Chainsaw Workshop in the subject line of the email.

When: May 31, 2025 and June 1, 2025
Where: Lancaster Agricultural Research Station, 7396 WI-35 & 81, Lancaster, WI 53813
Register online.

i-Tree

i-Tree Open Academy 2025
The i-Tree Open Academy virtual learning series returns in 2025, with everything you need to explore the latest in tree benefits through the i-Tree tools. This interactive technical training series serves as both a refresher and an introduction to the newest tools and features, with one-hour virtual sessions over a six-week period. There are no fees or pre-requisites for the Academy, and you can join all live sessions, or drop in just for those that meet your schedule and interests.

Each session is one hour long and offered on Wednesdays at noon (CT).

May 7 – Introduction to i-Tree
May 14 – Online with MyTree, i-Tree Design, and i-Tree Planting
May 21 – The view from the top: i-Tree Canopy and OurTrees
May 28 – i-Tree Landscape: Data and tree benefits map portal
June 4 – i-Tree Eco, the flagship tool
June 11 – Putting i-Tree to Work
Register online.

Educational Resources Of The Month

NOVA: Secrets Of The Forest
Can forests help cool the planet? Follow scientists through spectacular landscapes as they study complex networks of trees, fungi, and creatures large and small – all in a quest to tackle the twin threats of climate change and species extinction.

Supercool Podcast Ep. 13: Crime Fighters And Therapists: How Urban Trees Improve City Life
While saving the Amazon grabs headlines, the trees right outside your front door shape your life in important ways. The more trees in your city neighborhood, the less crime, the fewer prescriptions for antidepressants and the lower rates of asthma, childhood leukemia and other immune diseases. These leafy giants affect everything from healthier newborns to longer life expectancy to higher property values.  Geoffrey Donovan, an urban forester and economist with the U.S. Forest Service, joins the show. His groundbreaking research over the two decades is reshaping how urban planners and policymakers think about the essential public health and economic role of trees in city life.