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Keep Invasive Plants Out Of Spring Planting Plans

Posted on by akabelowsky
The invasive plant japanese barberry growing in a woodland area.

Originally planted as a garden ornamental, Japanese barberry can quickly escape cultivation and invade Wisconsin’s woodlands. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Wisconsin DNR

As winter begins to loosen its grip on Wisconsin, many gardeners have turned their thoughts to that unmistakable harbinger of spring: Planting season.

While dreaming of spring blooms and designing your next garden or landscape layout, consider that invasive plants may try to weed their way into your plans.

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Yard Tree Owners, Send In Your Questions

Posted on by akabelowsky
The niversity of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program's webpage for "Ask A Gardening Question."

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program’s webpage for “Ask A Gardening Question,” the best place for homeowners to ask questions about the health of their yard trees. / Graphic Credit: UW-Madison Division of Extension

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

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a team of Forest Health specialists that focus on problems affecting state, county and municipal forests and private forests larger than 10 acres.

But, to twist a cliché, if you can’t see the forest for the trees when it comes to your yard trees, expert help is a few clicks away.

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Open MFL And FCL Updates Shown In Public Access Land Map

Posted on by akabelowsky
Sample area of a map showing representation of private forest lands open for recreation.

Updated private forest lands open for recreation layer showing the approximate area of enrolled lands. / Map Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Managed Forest Land (MFL) and Forest Crop Land (FCL) open for public recreation have been updated in the DNR Public Access Land (PAL) mapping application to show the approximate on-the-ground area of these private forest lands open for recreation.

These areas are based on the MFL or FCL map, the tax parcel(s) and legal description(s) of the enrolled land. The features replace the point representation, which only identified the public land survey system (PLSS) quarter-quarter section of open MFL and FCL land. Users then had to download an MFL or FCL map to see the area of open land.

This update will allow users to see the approximate open MFL and FCL areas in relation to other basemap layers, such as roads, other public lands and tax parcels. The MFL and FCL maps are still available for download after selecting a specific property and viewing the detailed information for that enrollment.

Additionally, an access point layer has been created showing the access point and a description of the access for open MFL and FCL properties where access is not from an adjacent public road or other public land.

The MFL/FCL PAL help document has also been updated.

Questions or comments can be submitted through the PAL Help link available in the Terms of Use upon opening PAL, or by clicking the “Info” button in the lower right corner of the map.

 

 

 

Forest Health Specialists Plan Appearances

Posted on by akabelowsky
Tim Shively, Wisconsin DNR Forest Health specialist for the West Central zone.

Tim Shively, Wisconsin DNR Forest Health specialist for the West Central zone. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Wisconsin DNR

A list of public appearances planned by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Health specialists over the coming weeks:

  • Tim Shively, DNR Forest Health specialist for the West Central zone, will present a forest health overview tailored for landowners, land managers and volunteers at a meeting of the Chippewa County Land Conservancy, set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at Lafayette Town Hall, 5765 197th Street, Chippewa Falls
  • Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health specialist for the Northeast zone, will present a forest health overview to loggers, truckers and foresters at the 21st annual Sustainable Forestry Conference, set for Wednesday, April 15, inside the ski lodge at the Keyes Park Recreation Area, 4960 County Hwy. 101, Florence. Registration is required. More event information can be found on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension website.
Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist for the Northeast Zone, addresses forestry workers.

Linda Williams (left), DNR Forest Health specialist for the Northeast zone, addresses workers during a forestry seminar. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

Look For Spongy Moth Egg Masses And Take Action

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Closeup of a person scraping spongy moth egg masses into a cup.

A putty knife, plastic knife or similar object can be used to gently scrape spongy moth egg masses into a cup of soapy water. The water can be discarded after two days. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages property owners to examine their trees for spongy moth egg masses and determine whether control measures are needed this spring.

Property owners who have oak, birch, crabapple, aspen, willow and linden (basswood) trees should be particularly watchful because the caterpillars of this invasive insect prefer these species. However, they will feed on many other kinds of trees and shrubs.

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Oak Wilt Information Updated

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University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension online tool to help with oak wilt decisions.

A University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension online tool provides users localized information about the estimated emergence status of the two most important insects that transmit oak wilt in Wisconsin. / Graphic Credit: University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension

By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist, Fitchburg
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov

In 2025, oak wilt was detected for the first time in Hughes Township, Bayfield County, a northern Wisconsin location where oak wilt remains uncommon. There were no new county finds in 2025.

Based on the findings in 2025, the maps in the Oak Harvesting Guidelines To Reduce The Risk Of Introduction And Spread Of Oak Wilt (the oak wilt guidelines), oak wilt fact sheet and were updated. The maps in the oak wilt guidelines are good through the end of 2026.

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Stilt Grass StoryMap Updated For 2026

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Main page of the Wisconsin DNR's StoryMap on Japanese stilt grass.

The main page of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ StoryMap titled “Japanese Stilt Grass on the Coulee Experimental State Forest.” / Graphic Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Carter Hellenbrand, DNR Invasive Plant Field Specialist, Fitchburg
Carter.Hellenbrand@wisconsin.gov

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Health program has updated the Japanese stilt grass StoryMap to reflect all the work completed in 2025. The StoryMap documents the history of this invasive species on the Coulee Experimental State Forest in La Crosse County.

A StoryMap is a web-based content creation and communication tool that allows creators to share maps, apps and multimedia in the context of a narrative. Users can see an overview of Japanese stilt grass, how to identify it and what control efforts have been implemented since the plant was first detected in Wisconsin in 2020.

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Oak Wilt High Risk Period Quickly Approaches

Posted on by akabelowsky
A closeup of a fungal pressure pad under the bark of an oak tree infected with oak wilt.

A fungal pressure pad formed on the outside of the sapwood underneath the bark of an infected tree. The pad will create cracks in the bark, where beetles can enter and visit the pad and become covered in spores. They will then leave and move on to infect new trees through open wounds. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Alex Hornung, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Plover
Alexandra.Hornung@wisconsin.gov or 715-340-3810

It is again that time of year to pause operating in oak stands or pruning oak trees during the high-risk period for oak wilt, which begins in April. The high-risk period begins April 1 in the South, April 15 in the North, and ends in both zones on July 15.

The high-risk period is determined by when the beetles that carry the fungus that causes oak wilt have emerged for the year and when they are carrying the highest number of fungal spores. When wounds are created by logging operations or other activities that expose sapwood, the beetles carry the fungus to the wounded tree, and the disease process begins.

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Watch For Squirrel, Porcupine Damage In Spring

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Closeup of small squirrel tooth marks on a tree's mainstem.

Squirrel tooth marks are small and look like narrow scratches from which the animals have removed the tree’s bark. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

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

As winter transitions into spring, you may notice patches of tree bark that have been removed. But what did the damage?

Several animals, including squirrels and porcupines, can chew or strip bark from trees. This can occur on hardwoods and conifers, older trees and young saplings. Damage can be enough to kill branches or even the entire tree.

Continue reading “Watch For Squirrel, Porcupine Damage In Spring” →