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Don’t Be Blinded By Invasives While Hunting

Posted on by akabelowsky
Photo of a turkey hunter in a blind.

Whether hunting for turkey, deer or other prey, don’t use invasive plants as a natural hunting blind. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Erika Segerson-Mueller, DNR Invasive Plant Program Specialist, Oshkosh Service Center;
Erika.SegersonMueller@wisconsin.gov or 715-492-0391

As fall settles in and hunting seasons start to open across the state, many Wisconsinites’ thoughts have turned to tree stands, blinds and all things hunting.

Planning out your perfect capture means giving yourself the best chance possible, whether slipping into or out of your tree stand or ground blind. One popular idea is camouflaging your path – using plants or trees as a natural blind so you can reach your spot without being seen by deer or other animals.

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Galls On Oak Leaves Are Plentiful, Varied

Posted on by akabelowsky
Closeup photo of Callirhytis piperoides, a gall that seems to erupt from an oak leaf's midrib and can be on top or bottom of the leaf.

Callirhytis piperoides is a gall that seems to erupt from an oak leaf’s midrib and can be on top or bottom of the leaf. It is found on the leaves of young northern red oak. Galls will fall off the leaf so that the insect can complete its development within the gall on the ground. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff;
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Have you noticed any galls on oak leaves or twigs? Don’t be too surprised. There are many different types of galls that form on oaks – some are smooth, some are spiky and others are fuzzy.

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Fall Webworm Spins Up Attention

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Photo of a web spun by fall webworms seen on a tree branch in Oshkosh in September 2024.

Fall webworm is seen on a tree branch in Oshlkosh on Sept. 9, 2024. / Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR

By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health specialist, Oshkosh;
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942

The native insect known as fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is back in the news.

The caterpillars don’t draw much attention on their own; instead, what catches the eye at this time of year are the large webs (or “tents”) that they create on the tips of tree branches.

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Pine False Webworm Makes Appearance

Posted on by akabelowsky
A closeup photo shows that pine false webworm eggs look like a string of sausages, displayed here on a white pine needle.

A closeup photo shows that pine false webworm eggs look like a string of sausages, displayed here on a white pine needle. / Photo Credit: Liunda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff;
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Pine false webworm (Acantholyda erythrocephala) is not a very common insect in Wisconsin, but damage from larval feeding can occasionally be seen. The insects prefer to feed on white pine in Wisconsin, although reference material says they will also feed on red pine, jack pine and scotch pine.

Damage was reported as minor in the central part of the state from 1953 to 1961. In 1995, 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2006, it was once again observed as a minor pest feeding on red or white pine in the central part of the state, particularly Portage, Waupaca and Waushara counties. In 2024, a few scattered young white pine trees in Oneida and Vilas counties were observed with significant defoliation.

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Listen Up: Forest Health Chats On WPR

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Wisconsin Public Radio's logo.

By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg;
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov , 608-335-0167

The members of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s Forest Health team are often asked by media to educate their listeners, readers and viewers about the forest health topics of the day.

Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) is in frequent contact with Forest Health team members and makes its broadcasts and articles available to the public online.

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CISMAs Offer Invasive Plants Events

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A map of the current Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) in Wisconsin.

A map of the current Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) in Wisconsin. / Map Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Erika Segerson-Mueller, DNR Invasive Plant Program Specialist, Oshkosh Service Center;
Erika.SegersonMueller@wisconsin.gov or 715-492-0391

When it comes to fighting invasive plants, Wisconsin’s Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) are often the first line of defense (and offense).

These regional groups provide a localized resource for landowners looking for invasive plant education, identification support and assistance with controlling invasives on their properties.

With 13 CISMAs operating throughout Wisconsin, these groups accomplish a lot each year. CISMA efforts range from fieldwork outings and landowner education workshops to tool-share programs and day-long, control-based field trips.

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Winter Squirrel Damage Killing Maple Branches

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Two photos show maple branches that died recently due to previous damage from squirrels.

Two photos show maple branches that died recently due to previous damage from squirrels. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

Have you noticed maple branches suddenly dying this summer?

Sudden mortality of maple branches during the summer in northern Wisconsin is often a result of squirrel damage that occurred in late winter and early spring.

In late winter and early spring, gray squirrels strip the bark of maples to get at the sweet maple sap. When the damage is extensive or severe, entire trees or branches will be killed immediately and will not leaf out in the spring.

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Japanese Beetles Finding New Locations

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By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

A closeup photo of Japanese beetles defoliating basswood leaves. The invasive pest is becoming more prevalent in northern Wisconsin.

A closeup photo of Japanese beetles defoliating basswood leaves. The invasive pest is becoming more prevalent in northern Wisconsin. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is an invasive insect that feeds on many plant species. The pests “skeletonize” leaves by eating the material between the veins.

Adult Japanese beetles feed on the flowers and leaves of more than 300 plant species, including trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Forest trees can be defoliated, with open-grown or edge trees suffering the highest defoliation rates.

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CISMAs Plan Invasive Plant Events

Posted on by akabelowsky

When it comes to fighting invasive plants, Wisconsin’s Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) are often the first line of defense (and offense).

These regional groups provide a localized resource for landowners looking for invasive plant education, identification support and assistance with controlling invasives on their properties.

Continue reading “CISMAs Plan Invasive Plant Events” →

Japanese Stilt Grass An Aggressive New Invasive

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Erika Segerson-Mueller, DNR Invasive Plant Program Specialist, Oshkosh Service Center
Erika.Segersonmueller@wisconsin.gov or 715-492-0391

The slightly off-center silvery midrib of Japanese stilt grass leaves provides a key to identification. / Photo Credit: Leslie J. Merhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Want an advantage over your taller friends? Try propping yourself up on a pair of stilts. As its name suggests, this is precisely how Japanese stilt grass operates. It uses “stilts” (branching rootlets near its base) both as support and to sprawl over nearby plants.

Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum) is an invasive, warm-season annual grass. It grows one to three feet tall and has an aggressive, mat-like growth that creates dense patches and discourages native plants from establishing. It is also a prolific seed producer, with each plant producing up to 1,000 seeds that can easily spread over land and water during its growing season.

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