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Huge White Grubs Found In Firewood, Rotting Logs

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Closeup of large white grub larvae discovered inside logs being split for firewood.

Large white grub larvae discovered while splitting firewood. The insects are living in a piece of firewood with a lot of decay. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

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

Hermit flower beetles (Osmoderma spp.) are very large scarab beetles, sometimes called leather beetles.

Three Osmoderma species can be found in Wisconsin, though none are common. Adult beetles look big and beefy but are harmless, eating a little pollen, feeding on ripe fruit and sipping nectar and tree sap during their adult life.

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Salt Spray Damage Impacts White Pine

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A closeup of white pine needles showing browning due to damage from roadside salt spraying.

White pine with browning needles and needle tips from roadside salt spray damage. The uninjured overwintering buds at the base of the shoot will produce a new flush of growth in the spring, thereby reducing the visual appearance and health impact of the damage. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Paul Cigan, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Hayward
Paul.Cigan@wisconsin.gov or 715-416-4920

An active winter weather season for snow, freezing rain and fluctuating freeze/thaw temperatures has exposed white pine along roadways to salt spray damage.

Vaporized salt spray droplets from vehicle traffic can drift into the air and settle onto vegetation, with the heaviest deposits occurring within 150 feet of a roadway.

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Jumping Worms A Threat To Gardens And Forests

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Closeup of a jumping worm on soil.

Closeup of a jumping worm (Amynthas agrestis). / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

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

Invasive jumping worms are worrisome for several reasons, but here’s one of the main ones: It can be difficult to tell you even have them until they’ve already done their damage.

That makes this time of year important, because the best way to avoid damage from jumping worms, which can be substantial and long-lasting, is to prevent them from getting into your garden, yard or forestland in the first place.

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Keep Invasive Plants Out Of Spring Planting Plans

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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

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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

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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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